This amendment moves a new rule about court powers in East Baton Rouge Parish to the correct state law book and updates how election districts are drawn for local judges.
Louisiana2026Enacted
HB708
Court Jurisdiction Changes for East Baton Rouge Parish
Last scannedAug 25, 2026, 3:26 AM
In one sentence
This law defines six specific districts for justice of the peace courts in East Baton Rouge Parish and gives them shared authority with city courts to handle eviction cases.
What it does
- Defines six justice of the peace court districts by listing which voting precincts belong to each one.
- States that a justice of the peace court's area does not shrink if land is added to a nearby municipality.
- Gives city courts and justice of the peace courts shared authority over eviction cases in areas where their boundaries overlap.
- Allows both types of courts to handle evictions for residential, commercial, or farmland leases with monthly rent up to $5,000.
- Requires that justices of the peace elected in 2026 and after be chosen from these new districts.
Who it affects
- Justice of the peace courts in East Baton Rouge Parish
- City courts in East Baton Rouge Parish
- Landlords and tenants involved in eviction cases with monthly rent up to $5,000
- Voters who elect justices of the peace starting in 2026
Limits and unknowns
- The exact boundaries depend on precinct files available from the Louisiana Legislature website as of January 27, 2026.
- This law does not change cases already filed with justice of the peace courts before it takes effect.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Concurrent jurisdiction
- When two different courts have the legal power to hear and decide the same type of case.
- Precincts
- Specific geographic areas used for voting that make up a court district in this law.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
COURTS/JUSTICE OF PEACE: Authorizes concurrent jurisdiction for justice of the peace and city courts in East Baton Rouge Parish
Official activity
Bill history
- Effective date: 06/22/2026.H
- Becomes Act No. 950 without the Governor's signature.H
- Sent to the Governor for executive approval.H
- Signed by the President of the Senate.S
- Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.H
- Read by title, roll called, yeas 87, nays 7, Senate amendments concurred in.H
- Scheduled for concurrence on 05/27/2026.H
- Received from the Senate with amendments.H
- Rules suspended. Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title, passed by a vote of 27 yeas and 8 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.S
- Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.S
- Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.S
- Reported favorably.S
- Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Judiciary A.S
- Received in the Senate. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.S
- Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 70, nays 22. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.H
- Scheduled for floor debate on 04/29/2026.H
- Read by title, amended, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.H
- Reported with amendments (13-3-1).H
- Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Judiciary.H
- First appeared in the Interim Calendar on 2/27/2026.H
Changes
Amendments
5 stored
This amendment updates Louisiana state law to define specific voting precincts for six justice of the peace court districts in East Baton Rouge Parish and ensures these courts share authority with city courts when areas are annexed.
This amendment updates the law to define six specific voting precincts for each justice of the peace court in East Baton Rouge Parish and allows city courts to share authority with these local courts if their areas overlap.
This amendment records the House vote to agree with changes made by the Senate to a bill about court authority in East Baton Rouge Parish.
This amendment updates the legal text to give Justice of the Peace courts in East Baton Rouge Parish shared authority with city courts to handle eviction cases where monthly rent is $5,000 or less.