Louisiana 2026 Regular Session Status: Enacted Bipartisan · 8 D · 3 R cosponsors

HB 251 — CRIMINAL/PROCEDURE: Provides with respect to criminal resentencing

Last action — Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 538.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed House
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 20, 2026. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Jeff Landry (Republican) on May 29, 2026.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 98% · high confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 12 sponsors

    1 primary, 11 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (8 D · 3 R) — cross-party backing.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 2 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

In plain language

This bill updates procedures for criminal resentencing.

The bill provides new guidelines for how sentences can be modified in criminal cases. It aims to streamline the process for resentencing individuals.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

15 added · 51 removed

Plain-language change summary

In the latest version of Bill HB 251, a specific reference to "ACT No. 538" has been removed. This change likely simplifies the language of the bill by eliminating unnecessary references, which could make it clearer and easier to understand for everyone. Removing outdated or irrelevant information helps ensure that the bill stays focused on its current purpose and intentions.

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Latest
HLS 26RS-815 REENGROSSED Regular Session HOUSE BILL NO.
ENROLLED Regular Session HOUSE BILL NO.
251 BY REPRESENTATIVES MANDIE LANDRY, AMEDEE, BILLINGS, BOUDREAUX, BOYD, CHASSION, FREEMAN, LAFLEUR, TERRY LANDRY, LYONS, MARTINEZ, AND TAYLOR CRIMINAL/PROCEDURE:
251 BY REPRESENTATIVES MANDIE LANDRY, AMEDEE, BILLINGS, BOUDREAUX, BOYD, CHASSION, FREEMAN, LAFLEUR, TERRY LANDRY, LYONS, MARTINEZ, AND TAYLOR AN ACT ToenactR.S.46:1844(K)(4),relativetovictimrights;toprovideforacontradictoryhearing pursuanttoamotiontovacateorresentence;toprovideforvictimimpactstatements;
Provides with respect to criminal resentencing AN ACT ToenactR.S.46:1844(K)(4),relativetovictimrights;toprovideforacontradictoryhearing pursuanttoamotiontovacateorresentence;toprovideforvictimimpactstatements;
* * * (4) No trial court shall grant a motion that would effectuate vacating an otherwisefinalconvictionorresentencinganimprisonedpersonto alessersentence without ahearingwherethevictim shallhavetheright to makeastatementpursuant to this Subsection.
* * * (4) No trial court shall grant a motion that would effectuate vacating an otherwisefinalconvictionorresentencinganimprisonedpersonto alessersentence without ahearingwherethevictim shall havetheright to makeastatementpursuant to this Subsection.
When the victim Page 1 of 3 CODING:
When the victim is deceased or unable to appear due to disability, every reference in this Paragraph tothevictimshallinsteadapplytothevictim'sdesignatedfamilymemberasdefined Page 1 of 2 CODING:
HLS 26RS-815 REENGROSSED HB NO.
HB NO.
251 is deceased or unable to appear due to disability, every reference in this Paragraph tothevictimshallinsteadapplytothevictim'sdesignatedfamilymemberasdefined in R.S.
251 ENROLLED in R.S.
DIGEST ThedigestprintedbelowwaspreparedbyHouseLegislative Services.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA APPROVED:
It constitutes nopart of the legislative instrument.
Page 2 of 2 CODING:
The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent.
[R.S.
1:13(B) and 24:177(E)] HB 251 Reengrossed 2026 Regular Session Mandie Landry Abstract:
Requires a trial court to hold a hearing where the victim of a crime has a right to testify prior to the court vacating or reducing the offender's sentence.
Present law (R.S.
46:1844) provides for the basic rights for victims and witnesses.
Present law provides the right of the victim to be present and heard at all critical stages of trial.
Proposed law retains present law.
Proposed law prohibits a court from reducing or vacating a sentence without first holding a hearing where the victim has a right to be heard.
Proposed law requires the clerk of court to provide written notice to the victim of the pending motion to vacate or resentence.
Proposed law provides that any motion granted without compliance with proposed law is voidable as a patent error.
Proposed law allows the victim's family to testify if the victim is deceased or unable to appear due to disability.
Proposed law provides that proposed law does not create or permit individual standing to intervene in a criminal proceeding.
(Adds R.S.
46:1844(K)(4)) Summary of Amendments Adopted by House The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice to the original bill:
1.
Providethatmotionsgrantedwithoutcompliancewithproposedlawarevoidable as a patent error pursuant to present law (C.Cr.P.
Art.
920(2)).
2.
Provide that proposed law does not create or permit individual standing to intervene in a criminal proceeding.
Page 2 of 3 CODING:
Wordsinstruckthroughtypearedeletionsfromexistinglaw;wordsunderscored are additions.
HLS 26RS-815 REENGROSSED HB NO.
251 The House Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill:
1.
Remove the requirement that the hearing be contradictory.
2.
Modifyproposedlawtorequiretheclerkofcourttoprovidewrittennoticetothe victim of the pending motion to vacate or resentence.
3.
Provide for the prospective application of proposed law.
Show all 43 changed rows (3 more)
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4.
Make technical changes.
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Amendments

4 amendments

Click Show changes on an amendment above to see how it modifies the bill.

Action History

  1. Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 538.

  2. Effective date: 08/01/2026.

  3. Sent to the Governor for executive approval.

  4. Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.

  5. Signed by the President of the Senate.

  6. Rules suspended. Read by title, passed by a vote of 38 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

  7. Received from the Senate without amendments.

  8. Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.

  9. Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.

  10. Reported favorably.

  11. Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Judiciary C.

  12. Received in the Senate. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.

  13. Called from the calendar.

  14. Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 94, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

  15. Called from the calendar.

  16. Read by title, returned to the calendar.

  17. Notice given.

  18. Scheduled for floor debate on 05/13/2026.

  19. Read by title, returned to the calendar.

  20. Notice given.

  21. Scheduled for floor debate on 05/12/2026.

  22. Read by title, amended, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.

  23. Scheduled for floor debate on 05/11/2026.

  24. Reported with amendments (9-0).

  25. Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice.

  26. Prefiled.

  27. Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice.

  28. First appeared in the Interim Calendar on 2/20/2026.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 11 co-sponsors · 135 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (11)

Not signed on (135)

135 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 135 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

FINAL PASSAGE (#1316)

Passed 38 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 1000
Republican 27000
Democrat 10001
Total 38001
% of votes cast 97%0%0%3%
How each member voted (39)
Member Party Vote
Mr. President — Yea
Edward J. Price Democrat Yea
Gary Carter Democrat Yea
Gerald Boudreaux Democrat Yea
Jay Luneau Democrat Yea
Jimmy Harris Democrat Yea
Katrina R. Jackson-Andrews Democrat Yea
Larry Selders Democrat Not Voting
Regina Barrow Democrat Yea
Royce Duplessis Democrat Yea
Sam Jenkins Democrat Yea
Sidney Barthelemy II Democrat Yea
Adam Bass Republican Yea
Alan Seabaugh Republican Yea
Beth Mizell Republican Yea
Blake Miguez Republican Yea
Bob Hensgens Republican Yea
Brach Jerad Myers Republican Yea
Caleb Kleinpeter Republican Yea
Eddie J. Lambert Republican Yea
Franklin J. Foil Republican Yea
Glen Womack Republican Yea
Gregory A. Miller Republican Yea
Heather Cloud Republican Yea
Jeremy Stine Republican Yea
John C. "Jay" Morris Republican Yea
Jr., William "Bill" Wheat Republican Yea
Kirk Talbot Republican Yea
Mark Abraham Republican Yea
Michael "Big Mike" Fesi Republican Yea
Mike Reese Republican Yea
Patrick Connick Republican Yea
Patrick McMath Republican Yea
Rick Edmonds Republican Yea
Robert "Bob" Owen Republican Yea
Robert Allain Republican Yea
Stewart Jr. Cathey Republican Yea
Thomas A. Pressly Republican Yea
Valarie Hodges Republican Yea

Official roll call →

FINAL PASSAGE (#1258)

Passed 94 Yea · 0 Nay · 11 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 6001
Republican 61007
Democrat 27003
Total 940011
% of votes cast 90%0%0%10%
How each member voted (105)
Member Party Vote
Mr. Speaker — Yea
Amedee — Yea
Galle — Yea
Stagni — Not Voting
Johnson, T. — Yea
Landry, T. — Yea
St. Blanc — Yea
Adrian Fisher Democrat Yea
Aimee Adatto Freeman Democrat Yea
Alonzo L. Knox Democrat Yea
Barbara Carpenter Democrat Not Voting
C. Denise Marcelle Democrat Yea
Candace N. Newell Democrat Not Voting
Chasity Martinez Democrat Yea
Dana Henry Democrat Yea
Delisha Boyd Democrat Yea
Ed Murray Democrat Yea
Edmond Jordan Democrat Yea
Gerald Boudreaux Democrat Yea
III, Ed Larvadain Democrat Yea
Joy Walters Democrat Yea
Jr., Kyle M. Green Democrat Yea
Ken Brass Democrat Yea
Mandie Landry Democrat Yea
Marcus Anthony Bryant Democrat Yea
Pat Moore Democrat Yea
Rashid Armand Young Democrat Not Voting
Robby Carter Democrat Yea
Rodney Lyons Democrat Yea
Roy Daryl Adams Democrat Yea
Shaun Raphael Mena Democrat Yea
Sr., Wilford Carter Democrat Yea
Steven Jackson Democrat Yea
Sylvia Elaine Taylor Democrat Yea
Tammy T. Phelps Democrat Yea
Tehmi Jahi Chassion Democrat Yea
Vanessa Caston LaFleur Democrat Yea
Annie Spell Republican Yea
Barbara Reich Freiberg Republican Yea
Beth Anne Billings Republican Yea
Brett F. Geymann Republican Not Voting
Brian Leonard Glorioso Republican Yea
Bryan Fontenot Republican Yea
Chad Michael Boyer Republican Yea
Chance Keith Henry Republican Yea
Christopher Turner Republican Yea
Danny McCormick Republican Yea
Daryl Andrew Deshotel Republican Yea
Debbie Villio Republican Yea
Dixon Wallace McMakin Republican Yea
Dodie Horton Republican Yea
Emily Chenevert Republican Yea
Foy Bryan Gadberry Republican Yea
Francis C. Thompson Republican Not Voting
Gregory A. Miller Republican Yea
III, Roger William Wilder Republican Yea
III, Vincent E. Cox Republican Yea
IV, Gerald "Beau" Beaullieu Republican Yea
Jack McFarland Republican Not Voting
Jacob Braud Republican Yea
Jacob Jules Landry Republican Yea
Jason Brian DeWitt Republican Yea
Jeffrey "Jeff" Fons Wiley Republican Yea
Jeremy LaCombe Republican Yea
Jerome Zeringue Republican Yea
Jessica Domangue Republican Yea
John E. Wyble Republican Yea
Joseph A. Orgeron Republican Yea
Josh Carlson Republican Not Voting
Jr., Dennis Bamburg Republican Yea
Jr., John R. Illg Republican Yea
Jr., Michael Robert Bayham Republican Not Voting
Kathy Edmonston Republican Yea
Kellee Hennessy Dickerson Republican Yea
Kim Carver Republican Yea
Kimberly Landry Coates Republican Yea
Larry A. Bagley Republican Yea
Lauren Ventrella Republican Yea
Laurie Schlegel Republican Yea
Les Farnum Republican Yea
Mark Wright Republican Yea
Michael "Gabe" Firment Republican Yea
Michael Charles Echols Republican Not Voting
Michael Melerine Republican Yea
Mike Johnson Republican Not Voting
Neil Riser Republican Yea
Nicholas Muscarello Republican Yea
Paul Sawyer Republican Yea
Phillip Eric Tarver Republican Yea
Polly Thomas Republican Yea
R. Dewith Carrier Republican Yea
Raymond J. Crews Republican Yea
Reese "Skip" Broussard Republican Yea
Rhonda Gaye Butler Republican Yea
Robert "Bob" Owen Republican Yea
Rodney Schamerhorn Republican Yea
Ryan Bourriaque Republican Yea
Shane Mack Republican Yea
Sr., Peter F. Egan Republican Yea
Stephanie H. Berault Republican Yea
Stephanie Hilferty Republican Yea
Timothy P. Kerner Republican Yea
Tony Bacala Republican Yea
Troy Jude Hebert Republican Yea
Wayne McMahen Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 251?
HB 251 is sponsored by Landry, T., Sylvia Elaine Taylor (Democrat), Chasity Martinez (Democrat), Rodney Lyons (Democrat), Vanessa Caston LaFleur (Democrat), Aimee Adatto Freeman (Democrat), Tehmi Jahi Chassion (Democrat), Delisha Boyd (Democrat), Doyle Boudreaux (Republican), Beth Anne Billings (Republican), Beryl Amedée (Republican), and Mandie Landry (Democrat).
What is the current status of HB 251?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 20, 2026. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 251?
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