PARDON/PAROLE: Provides relative to parole eligibility, consideration, and hearings for persons convicted by a non-unanimous jury

HLS 26RS-2668 ORIGINAL
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 1065
BY REPRESENTATIVE WILFORD CARTER
PARDON/PAROLE: Provides relative to parole eligibility, consideration, and hearings for
persons convicted by a non-unanimous jury
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 15:574.2(C)(2)(introductory paragraph) and to enact R.S.
3 15:574.2(C)(4), 574.4(L), and 574.4.1(F), relative to parole; to provide relative to
4 parole eligibility and consideration for certain offenders; to provide relative to the
5 duties of the committee on parole; and to provide for related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 15:574.2(C)(2)(introductory paragraph) is hereby amended and
8 reenacted and R.S. 15:574.2(C)(4), 574.4(L), and 574.4.1(F) are hereby enacted to read as
9 follows:
10 §574.2. Committee on parole, Board of Pardons; membership; qualifications;
11 vacancies; compensation; domicile; venue; meetings; quorum; panels;
12 powers and duties; transfer of property to committee; representation of
13 applicants before the committee; prohibitions
14 * * *
15 C.
16 * * *
17 (2) Except as provided in Paragraph Paragraphs (3) and (4) of this
18 Subsection, three votes of a three-member panel shall be are required to grant parole
19 or, if the number of members of the panel exceeds three, a unanimous vote of those
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-2668 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 1065
1 present shall be is required to grant parole and only if all of the following conditions
2 are met:
3 * * *
4 (4) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary in this
5 Section, a majority of a three-member panel is required to grant parole or, if the
6 number of members of the panel exceeds three, a majority vote of those present is
7 required to grant parole for a person serving a sentence that was imposed pursuant
8 to a non-unanimous jury verdict.
9 * * *
10 §574.4. Parole; eligibility; juvenile offenders
11 * * *
12 L. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, an offender serving
13 a sentence that was imposed pursuant to a non-unanimous jury verdict shall
14 immediately be eligible for parole consideration.
15 §574.4.1. Parole consideration and hearings
16 * * *
17 F.(1) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the committee
18 shall consider or reconsider the application for parole of any prisoner who is serving
19 a sentence that was imposed pursuant to a non-unanimous jury verdict.
20 (2) If the prisoner is not granted parole, the prisoner shall be notified in
21 writing of the reason for the denial and may file a new application to the board no
22 earlier than one year from the date of action by the board. Any subsequent
23 applications shall not be filed earlier than one year after the immediately preceding
24 action taken by the board.
25 Section 2. Beginning August 1, 2026, the committee on parole shall consider or
26 reconsider applications for parole for sentences described in R.S. 15:574.4.1(F)(1), as
27 enacted by Section 1 of this Act.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-2668 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 1065
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 1065 Original 2026 Regular Session Wilford Carter
Abstract: Provides relative to parole eligibility, consideration, and hearings for persons
convicted by a non-unanimous jury.
Present law (R.S. 15:574.2) provides relative to the duties and procedures of the committee
on parole.
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law provides that a unanimous vote of the committee is required to grant parole.
Proposed law amends present law to provide that a majority of a three-member panel of the
committee is required to grant parole or, if the number of members of the panel exceeds
three, a majority vote of those present is required to grant parole for a person serving a
sentence that was imposed pursuant to a non-unanimous jury verdict.
Present law (R.S. 15:574.4) provides for parole eligibility.
Proposed law retains present law.
Proposed law provides that an offender serving a sentence that was imposed pursuant to a
non-unanimous jury verdict is immediately eligible for parole consideration.
Present law (R.S. 15:574.4.1) provides for parole consideration and hearings.
Proposed law retains present law.
Proposed law requires the committee, beginning on Aug. 1, 2026, to consider or reconsider
the parole application of any prisoner who is serving a sentence that was imposed pursuant
to a non-unanimous jury verdict.
Proposed law requires the committee to notify the prisoner in writing of the reason for denial
if the prisoner is not granted parole and permits the prisoner to file a new application to the
board no earlier than one year from the date of action by the board.
Proposed law prohibits the filing of any subsequent applications any earlier than one year
after the immediately preceding action taken by the board.
(Amends R.S. 15:574.2(C)(2)(intro. para.); Adds R.S. 15:574.2(C)(4), 574.4(L), and
574.4.1(F))
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.