LouisianaAvoyelles courts would handle wider areas and set court fees
Bunkie and Marksville courts would cover specified Avoyelles Parish wards, with local elections, case-transfer rules, and stated court-cost limits.
What it does
Bunkie and Marksville city courts would cover wider parts of Avoyelles Parish and share authority over certain criminal, civil, and juvenile cases filed starting January 1, 2027.
Voters in specified Avoyelles Parish wards would elect the Bunkie and Marksville city judges and marshals beginning in November 2026, after initial Marksville appointments.
Marksville's court could charge up to $20 in criminal and civil court costs, while an approved study could explore online fine payments and virtual appearances.
Argument forShared city-court jurisdiction could give residents in more Avoyelles wards a local place to handle qualifying cases and appeals.
Argument againstHigher stated court-cost limits could make criminal and civil cases more expensive for people who must use the Marksville court.
More detail
The Bunkie and Marksville city courts would handle specified criminal, civil, juvenile, and small-claims matters within expanded areas. Bunkie would cover Avoyelles Parish wards 7 through 10. Marksville would cover the town and wards 1 through 6 and 11. The courts would share jurisdiction with the Twelfth Judicial District Court for misdemeanor cases, civil disputes under $50,000, and juvenile matters. The expanded jurisdiction would apply to cases filed on or after January 1, 2027. Cases filed before January 1, 2027, would stay in the court where they were filed and continue there unless another law provides otherwise.
Qualified voters would elect the Bunkie and Marksville city judges and marshals at the 2026 congressional election and every six years afterward. Bunkie voters would be those in wards 7 through 10. Marksville voters would be those in wards 1 through 6 and 11. The Marksville judge and marshal would initially be appointed by the governor. The enrolled text says the appointed Marksville officials serve until successors are elected. The stated elections would occur on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2026 and every six years after that.
The Marksville city judge could assess court costs of up to $20 in criminal matters and up to $20 in civil matters. The criminal limit would include traffic cases. The civil limit would apply in addition to other legally allowed costs or fees. The judge could study or seek grants for online fine payments and virtual court appearances. Any study would require approval from the city and parish governing authorities and payment from the court's criminal fund. The act's text makes these provisions effective when the governor signs it or when the constitutional time for an unsigned bill to become law expires.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 25Becomes Act No. 972 without the Governor's signature.Latest
- Jun 25Effective date: 06/25/2026.
- Jun 4Sent to the Governor for executive approval.To Governor
- Jun 1Notice House Conference Committee members appointed.
- Vote recorded ADOPT (#1646). Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded ADOPT CONFERENCE REPORT (#1845). Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 1Conference Committee report received.
- Jun 1Rules suspended.
- Jun 1Conference Committee Report read, roll called, yeas 95, nays 0. Having received two-thirds vote of the elected members, the Conference Committee Report was adopted.
- Jun 1Notice House adopted the Conference Committee Report.
- Jun 1Conference Committee Report read; adopted by a vote of 36 yeas and 0 nays.
- Jun 1Notice of Senate adoption of Conference Committee Report.
- Jun 1Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.Minor
- Jun 1Signed by the President of the Senate on 6/2/2026.
- May 31Read by title, roll called, yeas 95, nays 0. The Senate amendments, not having received two-thirds vote of the elected members, were rejected. Conference committee appointment pending.
- Vote recorded REJECT SENATE AMENDMENTS (#1780). Result: pass.Lower
- May 31House conferees appointed: Deshotel, Robby Carter, and Beaullieu.
- May 31Notice House rejected the Senate amendments.
- May 31Senate conference committee members appointed: Reese, Talbot, and Harris.
- May 31Notice of Senate conferees appointed.
- May 29Received from the Senate with amendments.Minor
- May 29Scheduled for concurrence on 05/31/2026.
- May 28Called from the Calendar.
- Vote recorded FINAL PASSAGE (#1536). Result: pass.Upper
- May 28The amended bill was read by title, passed by a vote of 35 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.Passed Senate
- May 26Rules suspended.
- May 26Read by title and returned to the Calendar, subject to call.
- May 20Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.Minor
- May 19Committee amendments read and adopted. Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
- May 18Reported with amendments.Minor
- May 12Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Judiciary B.Minor
- May 11Received in the Senate. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.Minor
- May 7Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 96, nays 0. The bill, having received two-thirds vote of the elected members, was finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.Passed House
- Vote recorded FINAL PASSAGE (#980). Result: pass.Lower
- May 6Read by title, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.Minor
- May 6Scheduled for floor debate on 05/07/2026.
- May 5Read by title, substitute title adopted, lies over in the same order of business, substitute for HB No. 1165 reported by the Committee on Judiciary (17-0).Introduced
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