CRIMINAL/PROCEDURE: Provides relative to trial of misdemeanors

HLS 26RS-1052 ORIGINAL
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 279
BY REPRESENTATIVE EGAN
CRIMINAL/PROCEDURE: Provides relative to trial of misdemeanors
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact Code of Criminal Procedure Article 779(A), relative to trial without
3 jury; to provide for the trial of misdemeanors; to provide relative to the monetary
4 threshold for certain misdemeanors which may be tried by the court without a jury;
5 to provide for applicability; and to provide for related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. Code of Criminal Procedure Article 779(A) is hereby amended and
8 reenacted to read as follows:
9 Art. 779. Trial of misdemeanors
10 A. A defendant charged with a misdemeanor in which the punishment, as set
11 forth in the statute defining the offense, may be a fine in excess of one two thousand
12 five hundred dollars or imprisonment for more than six months shall be tried by a
13 jury of six jurors, all of whom must shall concur to render a verdict.
14 * * *
15 Section 2. The provisions of this Act shall apply both prospectively and retroactively
16 and shall be applied to all cases pending on the effective date of this Act.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-1052 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 279
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 279 Original 2026 Regular Session Egan
Abstract: Provides for the trial of misdemeanor offenses.
Present law requires a defendant charged with a misdemeanor punishable by a fine in excess
of $1,000 or imprisonment for more than six months to be tried by a jury of six jurors, all
of whom must concur to render a verdict.
Proposed law amends present law to change the monetary threshold that must be exceeded
to invoke a jury trial from $1,000 to $2,500. Otherwise retains present law.
Proposed law applies both prospectively and retroactively to all cases pending on the
effective date of proposed law.
(Amends C.Cr.P. Art. 779(A))
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.