CRIMINAL/PENALTIES: Provides relative to sentencing for arson of a religious building (EG SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

Crime

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Mike Bayham
Last action: 2026-05-27
Official status: Pending Senate Judiciary C
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Increasing Penalties for Arson at Religious Buildings

This bill increases the penalties for setting fire to a religious building, including higher fines and longer prison sentences.

What This Bill Does

Increases the maximum fine from $15,000 to $20,000 for simple arson of a religious building.
Raises the minimum sentence from two years to eight years and the maximum sentence from fifteen years to thirty years for simple arson of a religious building.
Requires at least two years without parole, probation, or suspension of sentence for those convicted of simple arson of a religious building.
Adds new penalties if someone is injured or dies because of the fire, including fines up to $20,000 and prison time from twelve to thirty years.

Who It Names or Affects

People who set fires at religious buildings will face stricter punishments under this law.

Terms To Know

Arson: The crime of deliberately setting fire to property, especially a building.
Penalties: Punishments given by the government for breaking laws.

Limits and Unknowns

This bill does not specify how it will be enforced or funded.
The exact impact on religious communities is unclear without further details.

Bill History

2026-05-27 S
Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Judiciary C.
2026-05-26 S
Received in the Senate. Rules suspended. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.
2026-05-26 H
Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 76, nays 22. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
2026-05-25 H
Scheduled for floor debate on 05/26/2026.
2026-05-20 H
Read by title, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.
2026-05-19 H
Reported favorably (10-0).
2026-04-01 H
Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice.
2026-03-31 H
Read by title. Lies over under the rules.

Official Summary Text

CRIMINAL/PENALTIES: Provides relative to sentencing for arson of a religious building (EG SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HLS 26RS-2733 ENGROSSED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 1090
BY REPRESENTATIVE BAYHAM
CRIMINAL/PENALTIES: Provides relative to sentencing for arson of a religious building
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 14:52.1(B) and to enact R.S. 14:52.1(C), relative to simple arson
3 of a religious building; to increase penalties for violations; to provide penalties in
4 cases involving injury or death; and to provide for related matters.
5 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 14:52.1(B) is hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 14:52.1(C) is
7 hereby enacted to read as follows:
8 §52.1. Simple arson of a religious building
9 * * *
10 B. Whoever commits the crime of simple arson of a religious building shall
11 be fined not more than fifteen twenty thousand dollars and imprisoned at hard labor
12 for not less than two eight nor more than fifteen thirty years. At least two years of
13 the sentence of imprisonment shall be imposed without benefit of parole, probation,
14 or suspension of sentence.
15 C. When injury or death occurs due to a violation of this Section, the
16 offender shall be fined not more than twenty thousand dollars and imprisoned at hard
17 labor for not less than twelve nor more than thirty years. At least two years of the
18 sentence of imprisonment shall be imposed without benefit of parole, probation, or
19 suspension of sentence.
Page 1 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-2733 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 1090
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 1090 Engrossed 2026 Regular Session Bayham
Abstract: Increases the penalty for simple arson of a religious building.
Present law provides for the crime of simple arson of a religious building.
Present law provides a penalty of a fine up to $15,000 and between eight and 15 years of
imprisonment.
Proposed law increases the maximum fine from $15,000 to $20,000.
Proposed law increases the sentence for violations from between two to 15 years to between
eight to 30 years.
Proposed law provides that when injury or death occurs due to a violation, the offender shall
be fined not more than $20,000 and imprisoned not more than 12 nor more than 20 years.
(Amends R.S. 14:52.1(B); Adds R.S. 14:52.1(C))
Page 2 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.