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HB299 • 2026

COURTS: Provides relative to the filing of jury bonds by person, mail, or commercial courier

COURTS: Provides relative to the filing of jury bonds by person, mail, or commercial courier

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Michael Melerine
Last action
2026-05-22
Official status
Signed by the Governor - Act 298
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on how the new rule will affect other types of legal documents beyond jury bonds.

Court Rules for Jury Bonds

This act changes Louisiana's court rules to allow jury bonds to be filed by mail or commercial courier, not just in person.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the law so that people can now file a jury bond with the court through the mail or using a delivery service like FedEx or UPS.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who need to file a jury bond in Louisiana courts.
  • Courts that receive jury bonds filed through the mail or commercial courier services.

Terms To Know

Jury Bond
A type of legal document required by some courts when someone requests a trial with a jury.
Commercial Courier
A company that delivers packages and documents quickly, like FedEx or UPS.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The new rule only applies to filing jury bonds in Louisiana courts.
  • This act will take effect on August 1, 2026.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-22 H

    Effective date: 08/01/2026.

  2. 2026-05-22 H

    Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 298.

  3. 2026-05-19 H

    Sent to the Governor for executive approval.

  4. 2026-05-19 S

    Signed by the President of the Senate.

  5. 2026-05-19 H

    Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.

  6. 2026-05-19 H

    Received from the Senate without amendments.

  7. 2026-05-18 S

    Rules suspended. Read by title, passed by a vote of 33 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

  8. 2026-05-07 S

    Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.

  9. 2026-05-06 S

    Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.

  10. 2026-05-05 S

    Rules suspended. Reported favorably.

  11. 2026-04-20 S

    Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Judiciary A.

  12. 2026-04-15 S

    Received in the Senate. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.

  13. 2026-04-15 H

    Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 97, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

  14. 2026-04-14 H

    Scheduled for floor debate on 04/15/2026.

  15. 2026-04-13 H

    Read by title, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.

  16. 2026-04-09 H

    Reported favorably (12-0).

  17. 2026-03-09 H

    Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

  18. 2026-02-27 H

    First appeared in the Interim Calendar on 2/27/2026.

  19. 2026-02-24 H

    Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

  20. 2026-02-24 H

    Prefiled.

Official Summary Text

COURTS: Provides relative to the filing of jury bonds by person, mail, or commercial courier

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
ENROLLED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 299
BY REPRESENTATIVE MELERINE
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact Code of Civil Procedure Article 253(B)(3)(introductory paragraph)
3 and to enact Code of Civil Procedure Article 253(B)(3)(e), relative to documents
4 filed in court; to provide for the filing of a jury bond in person, by United States
5 mail, or by commercial courier; and to provide for related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. Code of Civil Procedure Article 253(B)(3)(introductory paragraph) is
8 hereby amended and reenacted and Code of Civil Procedure Article 253(B)(3)(e) is hereby
9 enacted to read as follows:
10 Art. 253. Pleadings, documents, and exhibits to be filed with clerk
11 * * *
12 B.
13 * * *
Page 1 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HB NO. 299 ENROLLED
1 (3) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subparagraph (2) of this Paragraph,
2 the following original documents may be filed in paper form, either in person, by
3 U.S. mail United States Postal Service, or by commercial courier:
4 * * *
5 (e) A jury bond.
6 * * *
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
Page 2 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.