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LouisianaHB 4792025 Regular SessionHouse

CRIMINAL/VICTIMS: Provides relative to witness or victim notification (EN +$3,795,206 GF EX See Note)

Sponsored By: Mandie Landry (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Judiciary CAdministration of Criminal Justice

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Escape alerts for victims and witnesses

When notified of an unauthorized departure from a parish prison or jail, sheriffs or designated staff must immediately issue alerts. They must notify law enforcement agencies, local news outlets, known witnesses, and the victim of the inmate's crime. After learning of recapture, they must notify designated people and agencies as soon as possible, within one working day.

More court support for witnesses

Witnesses and designated family members get rights to emergency, social, or medical services and a notice and registration form. They also get required case notices and notice of scheduling changes. They can get help telling employers about prosecution-related absences and use secure waiting areas during court proceedings. These rights apply to witnesses and family members covered by the law's definitions.

Rights and cost relief for victims

The law establishes a single Bill of Rights for crime victims and designated family members, preserving other legal rights. It covers emergency, social, and medical services, registration forms, case notices, and help telling employers about prosecution-related absences. Victims have rights to attend proceedings, give impact statements, discuss case outcomes and restitution with prosecutors, and comment on sentencing. They can seek restitution from defendants without court filing fees and have property returned; violent-crime victims get free initial police reports. Interview rights include private meetings with prosecutors, support from advocates or counselors, refusal of defense interviews, and private counsel. Victims also have rights to secure court waiting areas and to review and comment on pre-sentence and post-sentence reports. Privacy protections cover minors and victims of sex crimes or human trafficking; victims can request sealed impact statements. Parole rights include hearing notices and impact statements proposing contact or proximity limits as release conditions. Death-penalty cases include rights to execution notices, attendance, and protection from offender contact.

Statewide help for victims and witnesses

Louisiana's Department of Public Safety and Corrections must run a statewide victims' services system by July 1, 2026. It must coordinate with prosecutors and law enforcement to provide information and services throughout criminal cases. The system must include input from victim-service providers and follow state criminal justice information standards. The governor's office must prepare and distribute an accessible, printable Crime Victims' Bill of Rights.

Defendants face limits on conviction challenges

Defendants cannot seek to overturn a conviction or sentence because the Crime Victims' Bill of Rights was violated. This applies to cases involving victims, witnesses, or designated family members covered by that law.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Mandie Landry

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Aimee Adatto Freeman

    Democratic • House

  • Barbara Reich Freiberg

    Republican • House

  • Chad Michael Boyer

    Republican • House

  • Delisha Boyd

    Democratic • House

  • Dodie Horton

    Republican • House

  • Jacob Braud

    Republican • House

  • Jason Brian DeWitt

    Republican • House

  • Jason Hughes

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Jessica Domangue

    Republican • House

  • Josh Carlson

    Republican • House

  • Kathy Edmonston

    Republican • House

  • Ken Brass

    Democratic • House

  • Kimberly Landry Coates

    Republican • House

  • Marcus Anthony Bryant

    Democratic • House

  • Peter F. Egan Sr.

    Republican • House

  • Rhonda Gaye Butler

    Republican • House

  • Stephanie Hilferty

    Republican • House

  • Tony Bacala

    Republican • House

  • Vincent E. Cox III

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 286 • No: 0

House vote • 6/11/2025

Read by title, roll called, yeas 97, nays 0, Senate amendments concurred in.

Yes: 97 • No: 0

Senate vote • 6/11/2025

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

Senate vote • 6/10/2025

Read by title. The Senate approved consideration after 6:00 p.m. on the 57th calendar day by a vote of 32 yeas and 0 nays.

Yes: 32 • No: 0

House vote • 5/21/2025

Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 95, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

Yes: 95 • No: 0

House vote • 5/19/2025

Reported with amendments

Yes: 16 • No: 0

House vote • 4/16/2025

Reported favorably

Yes: 11 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 370.

    6/20/2025House

  2. Effective date: 06/20/2025.

    6/20/2025House

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

    6/12/2025House

  4. Signed by the President of the Senate.

    6/12/2025Senate

  5. Sent to the Governor for executive approval.

    6/12/2025House

  6. Notice Senate approved consideration after the 57th calendar day.

    6/11/2025House

  7. By a vote of 87 yeas, 0 nays, having received two-thirds vote of the elected members, the House approved consideration after the 57th calendar day.

    6/11/2025House

  8. Notice House approved consideration after 6:00 p.m. on the 57th calendar day.

    6/11/2025Senate

  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.

    6/11/2025Senate

  10. Received from the Senate with amendments.

    6/11/2025House

  11. Rules suspended.

    6/11/2025House

  12. Read by title, roll called, yeas 97, nays 0, Senate amendments concurred in.

    6/11/2025House

  13. Read by title. The Senate approved consideration after 6:00 p.m. on the 57th calendar day by a vote of 32 yeas and 0 nays.

    6/10/2025Senate

  14. Rules suspended. Recalled from Committee.

    6/9/2025Senate

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

    6/9/2025Senate

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

    6/9/2025Senate

  17. Reported with amendments. Rules suspended. Committee amendments read and adopted. Read by title; recommitted to the Committee on Finance.

    6/3/2025Senate

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

    5/28/2025Senate

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

    5/27/2025Senate

  20. Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 95, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

    5/21/2025House

  21. Read by title, amended, ordered reengrossed, passed to 3rd reading.

    5/20/2025House

  22. Scheduled for floor debate on 05/21/2025.

    5/20/2025House

  23. Reported with amendments (16-0).

    5/19/2025House

  24. Read by title, ordered engrossed, recommitted to the Committee on Appropriations.

    4/22/2025House

  25. Reported favorably (11-0).

    4/16/2025House

Bill Text

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