What is the status of HB59?

Signed into law as of June 2, 2026. Latest action: Effective date: 08/01/2026. (June 2, 2026).

Marcelle, Denise (D, 61), with 11 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for HB59?

On the Louisiana Legislature website: https://legis.la.gov/legis/BillInfo.aspx?s=26RS&b=HB59

Louisiana legislation · 2026 Regular Session

Louisiana HB59: INDIGENT DEFENSE: Provides relative to the funding of the office of the district public defender in the 19th Judicial District Court (EN SEE FISC NOTE LF EX)

Q: What is HB59?

HB59 is a bill in the Louisiana Legislature (2026 Regular Session): INDIGENT DEFENSE: Provides relative to the funding of the office of the district public defender in the 19th Judicial District Court (EN SEE FISC NOTE LF EX).

Q: What does HB59 do?

In its own words: An act To enact R.S. 15:161.1, relative to the funding of the district public defender in the 19th Judicial District Court; to provide for funding of the office personnel; to provide for funding of the expenses of the office; to provide for allocation of responsibility for funding the office personnel and expenses of the office; and to provide for related matters. Notice of intention to introduce this Act has been published as provided by Article III, Section 13 of the Constitution of Louisiana.

Status: Signed into law, June 2, 2026

What the bill says

An act To enact R.S. 15:161.1, relative to the funding of the district public defender in the 19th Judicial District Court; to provide for funding of the office personnel; to provide for funding of the expenses of the office; to provide for allocation of responsibility for funding the office personnel and expenses of the office; and to provide for related matters. Notice of intention to introduce this Act has been published as provided by Article III, Section 13 of the Constitution of Louisiana.

From the introduced text:

AN ACT To enact R.S. 15:161.1, relative to the funding of the district public defender in the 19th Judicial District Court; to provide for funding of the office personnel; to provide for funding of the expenses of the office; to provide for allocation of responsibility for funding the office personnel and expenses of the office; and to provide for related matters. Notice of intention to introduce this Act has been published as provided by Article III, Section 13 of the Constitution of Louisiana. Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana: Section 1. R.S. 15:161.1 is hereby enacted to read as follows: §161.1. District public defender; 19th Judicial District Court; East Baton Rouge Parish A. In addition to any funding provided by the office of the state public defender, the office of the district public defender for the 19th Judicial District Court, East Baton Rouge Parish shall be entitled to an expense allowance for the salaries of the public defenders, stenographers, clerks, and secretaries, and salaries for special officers, investigators, and other employees, and an expense allowance for stationery forms, telephone, transportation, travel, postage, hotel, and other expenses incurred in the discharge of their official duties. Page 1 of CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. HLS 26RS-299 ORIGINAL HB NO. B. …

Read the full official text

Louisiana HB59: INDIGENT DEFENSE: Provides relative to the funding of the office of the district public defender in the 19th Judicial District Court (EN SEE FISC NOTE LF EX)

What the bill says

Sponsors

Latest actions

Votes

Common questions