LouisianaLouisiana courts send a $45 cost to indigent defense funds
Louisiana law directs covered criminal courts to send a $45 cost to a fund for legal help, with exceptions that include some mayors’ courts.
What it does
Covered courts send a $45 cost to the district fund that supports lawyers for people who cannot afford them. The text also names exceptions for two places and some mayors’ courts.
Argument forSending the cost to the indigent defense fund could help support legal help for people who cannot afford a lawyer.
Argument againstDefendants may have to pay an extra $45 after certain case outcomes, which could add to the burden for people who cannot afford it.
More detail
Covered courts remit a $45 special cost to the district indigent defender fund. The text names Jonesville and Plaquemine as exceptions and also excludes some mayors’ courts based on a municipality’s population. The cost applies after a conviction at trial, a guilty or no-contest plea, or a bond forfeiture. It applies to state, parish, and municipal violations, except parking violations, and is added to other fines, costs, or forfeitures. The cost applies when one of the listed case outcomes occurs. The text gives no separate start date.
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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 23Becomes Act No. 930 without the Governor's signature.Latest
- Jun 23Effective date: 08/01/2026.
- May 28Sent to the Governor for executive approval.To Governor
- May 27Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.Minor
- May 27Signed by the President of the Senate.
- May 26Rules suspended. 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
- Vote recorded FINAL PASSAGE (#1282). Result: pass.Upper
- May 26Received from the Senate without amendments.Minor
- May 20Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.Minor
- May 19Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
- May 18Reported favorably.Minor
- May 4Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Judiciary B.Minor
- Apr 29Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 92, nays 2. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.Passed House
- Vote recorded FINAL PASSAGE (#827). Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 29Received in the Senate. Rules suspended. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.Minor
- Apr 27Read by title, amended, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.Minor
- Apr 27Scheduled for floor debate on 04/29/2026.
- Apr 23Reported with amendments (12-0).Minor
- Mar 18Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice.Minor
- Mar 17Read by title. Lies over under the rules.Introduced
Criminal Justice