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HB306 • 2026
DOMESTIC ABUSE: Provides relative to court costs and fees in domestic abuse cases
DOMESTIC ABUSE: Provides relative to court costs and fees in domestic abuse cases
Passed Legislature
This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.
- Sponsor
- Kathy Edmonston
- Last action
- 2026-04-27
- Official status
- Subject to call - House final passage
- Effective date
- Not listed
Plain English Breakdown
Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.
DOMESTIC ABUSE: Provides relative to court costs and fees in domestic abuse cases
DOMESTIC ABUSE: Provides relative to court costs and fees in domestic abuse cases
What This Bill Does
- DOMESTIC ABUSE: Provides relative to court costs and fees in domestic abuse cases
Limits and Unknowns
- This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.
Amendments
These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.
Plain English: HCAHB306 4469 3640
HOUSE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS
2026 Regular Session
Amendments proposed by House Committee on Civil Law and Procedure to Original House
Bill No.
- HCAHB306 4469 3640
HOUSE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS
2026 Regular Session
Amendments proposed by House Committee on Civil Law and Procedure to Original House
Bill No.
- 306 by Representative Edmonston
1 AMENDMENT NO.
- 1
2 On page 1, line 3, after "cases;" delete the remainder of the line and at the beginning of line
3 4, delete "relative to costs after the initial hearing;"
4 AMENDMENT NO.
- 2
5 On page 1, line 8, after "A." and before "Except" delete "(1)"
6 AMENDMENT NO.
Plain English: HCAHB306 4469 2097
HOUSE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS
2026 Regular Session
Amendments proposed by House Committee on Civil Law and Procedure to Original House
Bill No.
- HCAHB306 4469 2097
HOUSE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS
2026 Regular Session
Amendments proposed by House Committee on Civil Law and Procedure to Original House
Bill No.
- 306 by Representative Edmonston
1 AMENDMENT NO.
- 1
2 On page 1, line 3, after the semicolon ";" delete the remainder of the line and at the
3 beginning of line 4 delete "relative to costs after the initial hearing;"
4 AMENDMENT NO.
- 2
5 On page 1, line 8, after "A." and before "Except" delete "(1)"
6 AMENDMENT NO.
Bill History
-
2026-04-27
H
Read by title, returned to the calendar.
-
2026-04-27
H
Called from the calendar.
-
2026-04-21
H
Scheduled for floor debate on 04/27/2026.
-
2026-04-21
H
Notice given.
-
2026-04-21
H
Read by title, returned to the calendar.
-
2026-04-21
H
Called from the calendar.
-
2026-04-20
H
Scheduled for floor debate on 04/21/2026.
-
2026-04-20
H
Notice given.
-
2026-04-20
H
Read by title, returned to the calendar.
-
2026-04-15
H
Scheduled for floor debate on 04/20/2026.
-
2026-04-14
H
Read by title, amended, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.
-
2026-04-13
H
Reported with amendments (8-0-1).
-
2026-03-09
H
Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Civil Law and Procedure.
-
2026-02-27
H
First appeared in the Interim Calendar on 2/27/2026.
-
2026-02-24
H
Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Civil Law and Procedure.
-
2026-02-24
H
Prefiled.
Official Summary Text
DOMESTIC ABUSE: Provides relative to court costs and fees in domestic abuse cases
Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
HLS 26RS-864 ENGROSSED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 306
BY REPRESENTATIVE EDMONSTON
DOMESTIC ABUSE: Provides relative to court costs and fees in domestic abuse cases
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 46:2136.1(A), relative to court costs in domestic abuse cases; to
3 provide relative to costs incurred in enforcing domestic violence cases; and to
4 provide for related matters.
5 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 46:2136.1(A) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
7 §2136.1. Costs paid by abuser
8 A. Except as provided in Subsection B of this Section, all court costs,
9 attorney fees a reasonable attorney fee, costs of enforcement and modification
10 proceedings, costs of appeal, court approved evaluation fees, and expert witness fees
11 incurred in maintaining or defending any proceeding concerning domestic abuse
12 assistance in accordance with the provisions of this Part shall be paid by the
13 perpetrator of the domestic violence, including all costs of medical and
14 psychological care for the abused adult, or for any of the children, necessitated by
15 the domestic violence.
16 * * *
Page 1 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-864 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 306
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 306 Engrossed 2026 Regular Session Edmonston
Abstract: Provides relative to costs and fees in maintaining or defending domestic violence
cases.
Present law (R.S. 46:2136.1(A)) requires all court costs, attorney fees, costs of enforcement
and modification proceedings, cost of appeal, evaluation fees, and expert witness fees
incurred in maintaining or defending domestic abuse cases to be paid by the perpetrator of
the domestic violence unless the court determines that the petition was frivolous.
Proposed law changes present law to provide for a reasonable attorney fee and to specify that
evaluation fees be court approved. Otherwise retains present law.
(Amends R.S. 46:2136.1(A))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Civil Law and
Procedure to the original bill:
1. Modify present law to provide for a reasonable attorney fee and to specify that
evaluation fees be court approved.
2. Remove the language that provides each party is responsible for attorney fees
after the initial hearing.
3. Make technical changes.
Page 2 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.