LouisianaEast Baton Rouge justice courts can hear some eviction cases
Landlords may bring certain eviction cases in an East Baton Rouge justice court when monthly rent is $5,000 or less.
What it does
Landlords may bring certain eviction cases in a justice of the peace court as well as the city court. Monthly rent must be $5,000 or less.
The law lists which parish precincts belong to each of the six justice of the peace court districts.
When annexation extends a city or mayor's court into a justice court's area, the courts share that territory.
Justice of the peace courts keep authority over matters properly filed with them by the Act's effective date.
Argument forLandlords could bring eligible eviction cases to a justice court as well as the city court, giving them another court option.
Argument againstTenants could face added difficulty if eligible eviction cases can be heard in either a justice court or the city court.
More detail
Justice of the peace courts share authority with the East Baton Rouge city court to hear certain eviction cases. This applies within each justice of the peace court's area in East Baton Rouge Parish. The case must be brought by a landlord against an occupant or tenant of leased residential, commercial, or farm property. Monthly rent must be $5,000 or less, regardless of rent already owed or rent for the rest of the lease. The Act takes effect when the time for the governor to act without signing expires.
The law lists the precincts in each of East Baton Rouge Parish's six justice of the peace court districts. The boundaries cover the six justice of the peace court districts in East Baton Rouge Parish. The precincts are those in the Legislature's named 2026 precinct files, including their subdivisions. The boundaries stay in effect until changed by law, even if the parish later changes precincts. Justices of the peace and constables elected in the regularly scheduled 2026 election, and their successors, are elected from these districts.
City and mayor's courts share territory with justice of the peace courts when annexation extends their area. This provision concerns justice of the peace court areas in East Baton Rouge Parish. This applies when annexation extends a city or mayor's court into all or part of an existing justice of the peace court's area.
Each justice of the peace court keeps authority over matters properly filed with it on or before the Act's effective date. This applies to matters properly filed with any justice of the peace court in East Baton Rouge Parish. The filing must be made on or before the Act's effective 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. 950 without the Governor's signature.Latest
- Jun 23Effective date: 06/22/2026.
- Jun 1Sent to the Governor for executive approval.To Governor
- May 28Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.Minor
- May 28Signed by the President of the Senate.
- May 27Read by title, roll called, yeas 87, nays 7, Senate amendments concurred in.
- Vote recorded CONCUR IN SENATE AMENDMENTS (#1605). Result: pass.Lower
- May 26Scheduled for concurrence on 05/27/2026.
- May 25Received from the Senate with amendments.Minor
- May 21Rules suspended. Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title, passed by a vote of 27 yeas and 8 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.Passed Senate
- Vote recorded FINAL PASSAGE (#1144). Result: pass.Upper
- May 14Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.Minor
- May 13Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
- May 12Reported favorably.Minor
- May 4Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Judiciary A.Minor
- Apr 29Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 70, nays 22. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.Passed House
- Vote recorded FINAL PASSAGE (#823). Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 29Received in the Senate. 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 (13-3-1).Minor
- Mar 9Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Judiciary.Minor
- Feb 27Prefiled.Minor
- Feb 27Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Judiciary.Minor
- Feb 27First appeared in the Interim Calendar on 2/27/2026.Introduced
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