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LouisianaHB 1332026 Regular SessionHouse

CRIME/BATTERY: Provides relative to certain battery offenses against school employees (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

Sponsored By: Candace N. Newell (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Judiciary CAdministration of Criminal Justice

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Youth confinement, counseling costs, and reentry

Children found responsible for felony-level teacher battery must receive at least six months in secure placement, without probation or sentence suspension. Courts must place them with the state corrections department or a secure public or private institution. Court-approved counseling is required, paid for by the child or a financially responsible parent, tutor, guardian, or other person. Under these juvenile rules, children in secure placement qualify to seek a shorter court-ordered placement after serving 24 months. For placements shorter than 36 months, they qualify after serving half the term. A hearing cannot occur sooner than 30 days after notice to the district attorney. Approval requires a finding of reduced risk, supported by a favorable facility report, education or work achievements, and a low-risk assessment approved by the Office of Juvenile Justice. It also requires that office's recommendation and a reentry plan with suitable placement and follow-up care goals; courts consider other supporting evidence. The department must prepare an individual transition plan at least six months before release and mail it to the sentencing court. The juvenile custody provisions apply to children in state corrections or juvenile justice custody on or after August 1, 2018.

Broader legal protection for school teachers

The teacher-battery crime covers battery without consent committed because the victim is a school teacher. It also applies when the offender reasonably believes the victim is a school teacher performing job duties. The law uses the state's existing legal definition of developmental disability.

Stronger penalties for battery against teachers

Students who cause no serious bodily injury face a fine up to $1,000 or imprisonment for 30 days to six months. Students who cause serious bodily injury face a fine up to $5,000 or imprisonment for 30 days to one year. That longer student prison term can include hard labor; any student prison sentence requires at least 72 hours without suspension. Nonstudents face a fine up to $5,000, one to five years with or without hard labor, or both, regardless of injury. Any nonstudent prison sentence requires six months without parole, probation, or suspension; the separate penalty tier for injuries requiring medical attention is removed.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Candace N. Newell

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Adrian Fisher

    Democratic • House

  • Barbara Carpenter

    Democratic • House

  • C. Denise Marcelle

    Democratic • House

  • Chasity Martinez

    Democratic • House

  • Dana Henry

    Democratic • House

  • Delisha Boyd

    Democratic • House

  • Dustin Miller

    Democratic • House

  • Ed Larvadain III

    Democratic • House

  • Ed Murray

    Democratic • House

  • John R. Illg Jr.

    Republican • House

  • Kyle M. Green Jr.

    Democratic • House

  • Marcus Anthony Bryant

    Democratic • House

  • Pat Moore

    Democratic • House

  • Steven Jackson

    Democratic • House

  • Sylvia Elaine Taylor

    Democratic • House

  • Tammy T. Phelps

    Democratic • House

  • Vanessa Caston LaFleur

    Democratic • House

  • Vincent E. Cox III

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 241 • No: 0

House vote • 5/29/2026

Read by title, roll called, yeas 99, nays 0, Senate amendments concurred in.

Yes: 99 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/26/2026

The 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.

Yes: 35 • No: 0

House vote • 4/8/2026

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 96, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

Yes: 96 • No: 0

House vote • 3/31/2026

Reported with amendments

Yes: 11 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 617.

    6/2/2026House

  2. Effective date: 08/01/2026.

    6/2/2026House

  3. Signed by the President of the Senate.

    6/1/2026Senate

  4. Sent to the Governor for executive approval.

    6/1/2026House

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

    5/31/2026House

  6. Read by title, roll called, yeas 99, nays 0, Senate amendments concurred in.

    5/29/2026House

  7. Scheduled for concurrence on 05/29/2026.

    5/27/2026House

  8. Rules suspended. Called from the Calendar.

    5/26/2026Senate

  9. The 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.

    5/26/2026Senate

  10. Received from the Senate with amendments.

    5/26/2026House

  11. Rules suspended.

    5/13/2026Senate

  12. Read by title and returned to the Calendar, subject to call.

    5/13/2026Senate

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

    5/7/2026Senate

  14. Committee amendments read and adopted. Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.

    5/6/2026Senate

  15. Rules suspended. Reported with amendments.

    5/5/2026Senate

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

    4/13/2026Senate

  17. Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 96, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

    4/8/2026House

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

    4/8/2026Senate

  19. Scheduled for floor debate on 04/08/2026.

    4/7/2026House

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

    4/1/2026House

  21. Reported with amendments (11-0).

    3/31/2026House

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

    3/9/2026House

  23. Prefiled.

    2/13/2026House

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

    2/13/2026House

  25. First appeared in the Interim Calendar on 2/13/2026.

    2/13/2026House

Bill Text

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