All Roll Calls
Yes: 215 • No: 11
LouisianaHB 62025 Regular SessionHouseWALLET
CRIME/THEFT: Creates the crime of misappropriation of funds in connection with the payment of utility services (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)
Sponsored By: Steven Jackson (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
Judiciary CAdministration of Criminal Justice
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
New penalties protect renters’ utility payments
Louisiana law creates a crime for misusing money received under a lease or rental agreement to pay utility bills. It covers knowingly failing to apply that money within 60 days after receiving the bill, including failures involving deception or false promises. Covered services are water, electricity, gas, heat, and sewer, regardless of who owns the utility. The law covers individuals, businesses, other legal entities, and their representatives responsible for payments. For $25,000 or more misused, punishment is up to 20 years at hard labor, a $50,000 fine, or both. For $5,000 to under $25,000, it is up to 10 years in prison, a $10,000 fine, or both. For $1,000 to under $5,000, it is up to five years in prison, a $3,000 fine, or both. For less than $1,000, it is up to six months in jail, a $1,000 fine, or both. With at least two prior convictions, that under-$1,000 penalty rises to up to two years, a $2,000 fine, or both. Courts must also order full repayment to victims and anyone else who suffered a financial loss. The offense does not apply when the recipient cannot pay because the tenant failed to provide enough money on time. It also does not apply when a utility company's administrative, clerical, or technical error or omission delays the bill or payment and prevents payment. The legislature states that the law targets patterns of intentional nonpayment, misrepresentation, or deception—not isolated errors or good-faith disputes.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Steven Jackson
Democratic • House
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 6/9/2025
Read by title, roll called, yeas 99, nays 0, Senate amendments concurred in.
Yes: 99 • No: 0
Senate vote • 6/8/2025
Rules suspended. The amended bill was read by title, passed by a vote of 34 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
Yes: 34 • No: 0
House vote • 5/20/2025
Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 74, nays 9. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
Yes: 74 • No: 9
House vote • 5/14/2025
Reported with amendments
Yes: 8 • No: 2
Actions Timeline
Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 231.
6/11/2025HouseEffective date: 08/01/2025.
6/11/2025HouseSigned by the President of the Senate.
6/10/2025SenateSent to the Governor for executive approval.
6/10/2025HouseRead by title, roll called, yeas 99, nays 0, Senate amendments concurred in.
6/9/2025HouseEnrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.
6/9/2025HouseRules suspended. The amended bill was read by title, passed by a vote of 34 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
6/8/2025SenateReceived from the Senate with amendments.
6/8/2025HouseScheduled for concurrence on 06/09/2025.
6/8/2025HouseReported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.
6/4/2025SenateReported with amendments. Rules suspended. Committee amendments read and adopted. Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
6/3/2025SenateRead second time by title and referred to the Committee on Judiciary C.
5/27/2025SenateReceived in the Senate. Rules suspended. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.
5/21/2025SenateRead third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 74, nays 9. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
5/20/2025HouseScheduled for floor debate on 05/20/2025.
5/19/2025HouseRead by title, amended, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.
5/15/2025HouseReported with amendments (8-2).
5/14/2025HouseRead by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice.
4/14/2025HouseFirst appeared in the Interim Calendar on 2/21/2025.
2/21/2025HousePrefiled.
2/17/2025HouseUnder the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice.
2/17/2025House
Bill Text
Engrossed
Enrolled
Introduced
Reengrossed
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