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LouisianaSB 4482026 Regular SessionSenate

PUBLIC DEFENDER: Provides relative to the office of the state public defender. (8/1/26)

Sponsored By: Jay Luneau (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Administration of Criminal JusticeJudiciary B

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Protected defense funds and new eligibility checks

Beginning August 1, 2026, Louisiana courts must weigh financial need and ability to pay when first reviewing eligibility for appointed lawyers. Courts may consider income, property, debts and other obligations, dependents, work and job-training history, and education. The law sets no fixed payment amount or eligibility formula. State, district, and local public-defense money must fund only defense administration and representation of public defender clients. Effective local defense programs are preserved, but they must meet statewide standards and Office of the Public Defender guidelines.

No appeal filing fees for indigent people

Beginning August 1, 2026, Louisiana court clerks cannot charge or collect filing fees for covered writ applications or appeals. This protection applies when the person filing has been formally found indigent, meaning unable to afford the legal costs. Convenience fees are also barred. The law does not specify fee amounts.

New funding hurdles and defense expert appeals

Beginning August 1, 2026, courts cannot order public-defender payments unless the person completes the required indigency application. Expert funding requests go first to the district or state public defender. After denial, applicants can request a closed hearing without the prosecutor; recordings and transcripts are sealed. Applicants must prove each required fact is more likely true than not. They must show actual indigence and that private counsel lacks expert funds and counsel's funding source cannot pay. They must describe the expert's type and purpose in reasonable detail and show a reasonable probability of a fundamentally unfair trial without that help. An appeals court can review the ruling immediately, before the case ends. The law also removes districts' prior authority to accumulate expert funds and district defenders' authority to choose experts and administer those payments.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Jay Luneau

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 142 • No: 3

House vote • 5/26/2026

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 96, nays 3. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.

Yes: 96 • No: 3

House vote • 5/19/2026

Reported with amendments

Yes: 10 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/20/2026

Read by title, passed by a vote of 36 yeas and 0 nays, and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

Yes: 36 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 769.

    6/1/2026Senate

  2. Effective date 8/1/2026.

    6/1/2026Senate

  3. Signed by the Speaker of the House.

    5/29/2026House

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

    5/29/2026Senate

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

    5/28/2026Senate

  6. Read by title, returned to the calendar.

    5/26/2026House

  7. Called from the calendar.

    5/26/2026House

  8. Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 96, nays 3. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.

    5/26/2026House

  9. Received from the House with amendments.

    5/26/2026Senate

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

    5/25/2026House

  11. Scheduled for floor debate on 05/26/2026.

    5/25/2026House

  12. Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.

    5/20/2026House

  13. Reported with amendments (10-0). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.

    5/19/2026House

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

    4/21/2026House

  15. Read by title, passed by a vote of 36 yeas and 0 nays, and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

    4/20/2026Senate

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

    4/20/2026House

  17. Read by title. Ordered engrossed and passed to third reading and final passage.

    4/15/2026Senate

  18. Reported favorably.

    4/14/2026Senate

  19. Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Judiciary B.

    3/31/2026Senate

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

    3/30/2026Senate

Bill Text

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