PRIA Logo™
LouisianaSB 4252026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

PUBLIC EMPLOYEES: Provides for removal by suit of certain elected officials. (8/1/26) (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

Sponsored By: John C. "Jay" Morris (Republican)

Signed by Governor

House and Governmental AffairsSenate and Governmental Affairs

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Louisiana officials lose pay during suspension

Beginning August 1, 2026, covered Louisiana public officers face automatic suspension without pay after a felony conviction or committing serious misconduct in office. Coverage includes elected and appointed officers at state, district, parish, ward, and municipal levels, but excludes judges of courts of record. Suspended officers cannot perform official duties or receive pay, allowances, other office compensation, or privileges. For felony convictions, suspension lasts until the conviction is final and all appeals are exhausted. A temporary appointee performs the duties and receives the officer’s previous pay and specified office benefits. The appointment ends when the misconduct finding or conviction is overturned, or the officer’s term expires, whichever comes first. If an appeal reverses a felony conviction, the officer receives full back pay with legal interest from the suspension date. The officer’s specified rights and benefits are also restored.

Louisiana officials face court removal rules

Beginning August 1, 2026, Louisiana establishes two court-removal paths for covered public officers: felony convictions and serious misconduct in office. Judges of courts of record and officers protected from removal by the state constitution are excluded. Felonies include Louisiana and federal offenses. The district attorney must file a removal suit within 10 days after a conviction becomes final and all appeals are exhausted. The district court where the officer lives decides the case. Suits against the attorney general go to the Nineteenth Judicial District and are filed by that district’s attorney. The attorney general files suits against district attorneys. Misconduct removal requires a final court finding based on clear and convincing evidence. Malfeasance follows Louisiana’s existing criminal-law definition. Gross misconduct means intentional, knowing, or recklessly indifferent conduct involving serious abuse of power, material legal or ethical violations, or substantial harm to the office’s integrity, functioning, or public trust. It must make the officer unfit to continue serving. Either legislative house can start a misconduct case with a written-ballot vote of two-thirds of its elected members. The case is filed in that house’s presiding officer’s name. The attorney general needs the same legislative approval to start a misconduct case, but not a felony-removal case. Misconduct cases go to the parish where the officer lives or where the conduct occurred. A special judge appointed with majority approval of the Louisiana Supreme Court hears the misconduct case.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • John C. "Jay" Morris

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 96 • No: 46

House vote • 5/13/2026

Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 58, nays 32. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.

Yes: 58 • No: 32

House vote • 5/6/2026

Reported with amendments

Yes: 10 • No: 5

Senate vote • 4/22/2026

Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title and passed by a vote of 28 yeas and 9 nays; ordered reengrossed and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

Yes: 28 • No: 9

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 510.

    5/29/2026Senate

  2. Effective date 8/1/2026.

    5/29/2026Senate

  3. Signed by the Speaker of the House.

    5/25/2026House

  4. Sent to the Governor by the Secretary of the Senate.

    5/21/2026Senate

  5. Enrolled. Signed by the President of the Senate.

    5/20/2026Senate

  6. Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 58, nays 32. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.

    5/13/2026House

  7. Received from the House with amendments.

    5/13/2026Senate

  8. Scheduled for floor debate on 05/13/2026.

    5/12/2026House

  9. Read by title, amended, passed to 3rd reading.

    5/11/2026House

  10. Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.

    5/7/2026House

  11. Reported with amendments (10-5). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.

    5/6/2026House

  12. Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on House and Governmental Affairs.

    4/27/2026House

  13. Received in the House from the Senate, read by title, lies over under the rules.

    4/23/2026House

  14. Called from the Calendar.

    4/22/2026Senate

  15. Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title and passed by a vote of 28 yeas and 9 nays; ordered reengrossed and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

    4/22/2026Senate

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

    4/21/2026Senate

  17. Read by title. Committee amendments read and adopted. Ordered engrossed and passed to third reading and final passage.

    4/20/2026Senate

  18. Reported with amendments.

    4/15/2026Senate

  19. Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs.

    3/30/2026Senate

  20. Rules suspended. Introduced in the Senate. Read by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.

    3/25/2026Senate

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation