HB322 • 2026

PARDON/PAROLE: Prohibits the assessment of any fees or costs against certain individuals who request a copy of testimony presented in executive session before the Board of Pardons and committee on parole

Crime Parental Rights Taxes

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 300
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide details on enforcement mechanisms or the impact on individuals other than those specified in the act.

No Fees for Testimony Copies

This act stops the Board of Pardons and committee on parole from charging fees to victims, their spouses or next of kin, or legal guardians who ask for copies of testimony given in private meetings.

What This Bill Does

Removes any costs that can be charged when a victim, spouse or next of kin of a deceased victim, or legal guardian requests a copy of testimony presented during closed sessions before the Board of Pardons and committee on parole.

Who It Names or Affects

Victims of crimes
Spouses of crime victims
Next of kin of deceased crime victims
Legal guardians of victims

Terms To Know

Board of Pardons: A group that reviews cases for pardons or clemency.
Executive session: A private meeting where discussions are not open to the public.

Limits and Unknowns

The act does not specify what happens if someone other than a victim, spouse of a deceased victim, next of kin, or legal guardian requests copies of testimony.
It is unclear how this change will be enforced or monitored by the Board of Pardons and committee on parole.

Bill History

2026-05-22 H
Effective date: 05/22/2026.
2026-05-22 H
Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 300.
2026-05-19 H
Sent to the Governor for executive approval.
2026-05-19 S
Signed by the President of the Senate.
2026-05-19 H
Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.
2026-05-19 H
Received from the Senate without amendments.
2026-05-18 S
Rules suspended. Read by title, passed by a vote of 35 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
2026-05-07 S
Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.
2026-05-06 S
Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
2026-05-05 S
Rules suspended. Reported favorably.
2026-04-15 S
Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Judiciary B.
2026-04-14 S
Received in the Senate. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.
2026-04-14 H
Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 99, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
2026-04-13 H
Scheduled for floor debate on 04/14/2026.
2026-04-09 H
Read by title, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.
2026-04-08 H
Reported favorably (10-0).
2026-03-09 H
Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice.
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 Administration of Criminal Justice.
2026-02-24 H
Prefiled.

Official Summary Text

PARDON/PAROLE: Prohibits the assessment of any fees or costs against certain individuals who request a copy of testimony presented in executive session before the Board of Pardons and committee on parole

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

ENROLLED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 322
BY REPRESENTATIVE MELERINE
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 15:574.12.1(F) and to enact R.S. 15:574.12.1(G), relative to
3 records of testimony provided at certain hearings of the Board of Pardons and
4 committee on parole; to prohibit the assessment of certain fees and costs; to provide
5 for an effective date; and to provide for related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 15:574.12.1(F) is hereby amended and reenacted and R.S.
8 15:574.12.1(G) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
9 §574.12.1. Testimony provided in executive session before the Board of Pardons
10 and committee on parole; confidentiality
11 * * *
12 F. No fees or costs provided by law shall be assessed against a victim,
13 spouse or next of kin of a deceased victim, or legal guardian of a victim who requests
14 a copy of the testimony pursuant to this Section.
15 G. Nothing in this Section shall prevent the Department of Public Safety and
16 Corrections or law enforcement from sharing information as authorized or required
17 by state or federal law.
18 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
19 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
20 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
Page 1 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HB NO. 322 ENROLLED
1 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
2 effective on the day following such approval.
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.