Louisiana legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Louisiana SB81: CRIMINAL PROCEDURE: Provides relative to waiver of a trial by jury in a noncapital felony case. (See Act)
Status: Signed into law, May 29, 2026
What the bill says
An act To amend and reenact Code of Criminal Procedure Art. 780(C), relative to the right to waive trial by jury; to provide for requiring written prosecutorial consent to jury trial waivers in noncapital felony cases; to provide for effectiveness; and to provide for related matters.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT To amend and reenact Code of Criminal Procedure Art. 780(C), relative to the right to waive trial by jury; to provide for requiring written prosecutorial consent to jury trial waivers in noncapital felony cases; to provide for effectiveness; and to provide for related matters. Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana: Section 1. Code of Criminal Procedure Art. 780(C) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows: Art. 780. Right to waive trial by jury * * * C. With the consent of the district attorney the defendant may waive trial by jury within forty-five days prior to the commencement of trial The court shall deny a defendant's motion to waive a jury trial unless the prosecuting authority provides written consent to the waiver. * * * Section 2. This Act shall take effect and become operative if and when the proposed amendment to Article 1, Section 17(A) of the Constitution of Louisiana contained in the Act Page 1 of Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SLS 26RS-26 ORIGINAL SB NO. which originated as Senate Bill No. ____ of the 2026 Regular Session of the Legislature is finally adopted at a statewide election and becomes effective. The original instrument and the following digest, …
Sponsors
- Morris, John (R, 35) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : Effective date: See Act.
- : Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 455.
- : Signed by the Speaker of the House.
- : Sent to the Governor by the Secretary of the Senate.
- : Enrolled. Signed by the President of the Senate.
- : Received from the House without amendments.
- : Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 59, nays 41. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate..
- : Called from the calendar.
- : Scheduled for floor debate on 05/19/2026.
- : Notice given.
Votes
- House Vote on SB 81, FINAL PASSAGE (#1402) (May 19, 2026): 59 yea, 41 nay, passed
- Senate Vote on SB 81, FINAL PASSAGE (#136) (March 24, 2026): 27 yea, 11 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is SB81?
- SB81 is a bill in the Louisiana Legislature (2026 Regular Session): CRIMINAL PROCEDURE: Provides relative to waiver of a trial by jury in a noncapital felony case. (See Act).
- What does SB81 do?
- In its own words: An act To amend and reenact Code of Criminal Procedure Art. 780(C), relative to the right to waive trial by jury; to provide for requiring written prosecutorial consent to jury trial waivers in noncapital felony cases; to provide for effectiveness; and to provide for related matters.
- What is the status of SB81?
- Signed into law as of May 29, 2026. Latest action: Effective date: See Act. (May 29, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB81?
- Morris, John (R, 35).
- Where is the official record for SB81?
- On the Louisiana Legislature website: https://legis.la.gov/legis/BillInfo.aspx?s=26RS&b=SB81
Source: official Louisiana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.