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LouisianaSB 812026 Regular SessionSenate

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE: Provides relative to waiver of a trial by jury in a noncapital felony case. (See Act)

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

Signed by Governor

Administration of Criminal JusticeJudiciary C

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Defendants need prosecutor approval to skip juries

For Louisiana felony cases without the death penalty, the law requires courts to deny jury-waiver requests unless prosecutors give written consent. It replaces language allowing waivers with district attorney consent within 45 days before trial. The new rule takes effect only if voters adopt the constitutional amendment proposed in Senate Bill 97 of the 2026 session. That amendment must also take effect before this rule applies.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • John C. "Jay" Morris

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 93 • No: 55

House vote • 5/19/2026

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 59, nays 41. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate..

Yes: 59 • No: 41

House vote • 5/6/2026

Reported favorably

Yes: 7 • No: 3

Senate vote • 3/24/2026

Read by title, passed by a vote of 27 yeas and 11 nays, and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

Yes: 27 • No: 11

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 455.

    5/29/2026Senate

  2. Effective date: See Act.

    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. Called from the calendar.

    5/19/2026House

  7. Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 59, nays 41. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate..

    5/19/2026House

  8. Received from the House without amendments.

    5/19/2026Senate

  9. Called from the calendar.

    5/18/2026House

  10. Read by title, returned to the calendar.

    5/18/2026House

  11. Notice given.

    5/18/2026House

  12. Scheduled for floor debate on 05/19/2026.

    5/18/2026House

  13. Read by title, returned to the calendar.

    5/13/2026House

  14. Notice given.

    5/13/2026House

  15. Scheduled for floor debate on 05/18/2026.

    5/13/2026House

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

    5/12/2026House

  17. Read by title, passed to 3rd reading.

    5/11/2026House

  18. Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.

    5/7/2026House

  19. Reported favorably (7-3). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.

    5/6/2026House

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

    3/25/2026House

  21. Read by title, passed by a vote of 27 yeas and 11 nays, and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

    3/24/2026Senate

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

    3/24/2026House

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

    3/18/2026Senate

  24. Reported favorably.

    3/17/2026Senate

  25. Introduced in the Senate; read by title. Rules suspended. Read second time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary C.

    3/9/2026Senate

Bill Text

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