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HLS 26RS-1464 ORIGINAL
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 1147
BY REPRESENTATIVE TAYLOR
JUDGES/JUSTICE OF PEACE: Increases the jurisdiction of justice of the peace courts for
civil claims in parishes with a population of less than 26,000 persons
1 AN ACT
2 To enact Code of Civil Procedure Article 4911(D), relative to the jurisdiction of the justice
3 of the peace courts; to provide for an increase in the jurisdictional amount for justice
4 of the peace courts in parishes with a population of less than 26,000 persons; to
5 provide for exceptions; and to provide for related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. Code of Civil Procedure Article 4911(D) is hereby enacted to read as
8 follows:
9 Art. 4911. Jurisdiction in justice of the peace courts; concurrent with district court;
10 amount in dispute
11 * * *
12 D. The civil jurisdiction of a justice of the peace court, in a parish having a
13 population of twenty-six thousand or less, is concurrent with the district court in
14 cases where the amount in dispute does not exceed eight thousand dollars. This
15 Subsection does not apply in a parish that has a municipal, city, or parish court.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-1464 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 1147
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 1147 Original 2026 Regular Session Taylor
Abstract: Increases the jurisdiction of justice of the peace courts to $8,000 for civil claims
in parishes with a population of less than 26,000 persons.
Present law provides that the justice of the peace courts have concurrent jurisdiction with
the district courts in cases where the amount in dispute does not exceed $5,000.
Proposed law retains present law but increases the amount from $5,000 to $8,000 in parishes
having a population of less than 26,000 people.
Proposed law exempts parishes from the increase if the parish has a municipal, city, or parish
court.
(Adds C.C.P. Art. 4911(D))
Page 2 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.