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HB394 • 2026

PARDON/PAROLE: Provides relative to conditional parole (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

PARDON/PAROLE: Provides relative to conditional parole (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

Crime
Enacted

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

Sponsor
Emily Chenevert
Last action
2026-06-02
Official status
Signed by the Governor - Act 641
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on the requirements for extensions beyond nine months or the exact impact on public safety and prisoner success rates.

Parole Rules for Louisiana

This act changes the rules about when a prisoner can be released on parole after completing certain programs.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the law to allow prisoners who need extra time in rehabilitation programs before release to stay longer than nine months, up to twenty-four months from their parole hearing or last case review.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Prisoners who need extra time in rehabilitation programs.
  • The parole committee that decides on prisoner releases.

Terms To Know

Parole
A system where prisoners are released early but must follow certain rules and check in with a parole officer.
Rehabilitative programs
Programs designed to help prisoners learn new skills, get treatment for addiction or mental health issues, and prepare them for life after prison.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The act does not specify what happens if a prisoner cannot complete the required rehabilitation program within twenty-four months.
  • It is unclear how this change will affect overall public safety and prisoner success rates.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Adopted

Plain English: HCAHB394 4274 3743 HOUSE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS 2026 Regular Session Amendments proposed by House Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice to Original House Bill No.

  • HCAHB394 4274 3743 HOUSE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS 2026 Regular Session Amendments proposed by House Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice to Original House Bill No.
  • 394 by Representative Chenevert 1 AMENDMENT NO.
  • 1 2 On page 1, line 3, delete "to provide for eligibility;" 3 AMENDMENT NO.
  • 2 4 On page 1, line 4, delete "to provide for conditional parole in certain circumstances;" 5 AMENDMENT NO.
Draft

Plain English: HCAHB394 4274 2862 HOUSE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS 2026 Regular Session Amendments proposed by House Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice to Original House Bill No.

  • HCAHB394 4274 2862 HOUSE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS 2026 Regular Session Amendments proposed by House Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice to Original House Bill No.
  • 394 by Representative Chenevert 1 AMENDMENT NO.
  • 1 2 On page 1, line 3, delete "to provide for eligibility;" 3 AMENDMENT NO.
  • 2 4 On page 1, line 4, delete "to provide for conditional parole in certain circumstances;" 5 AMENDMENT NO.

Bill History

  1. 2026-06-02 H

    Effective date: 08/01/2026.

  2. 2026-06-02 H

    Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 641.

  3. 2026-05-28 H

    Sent to the Governor for executive approval.

  4. 2026-05-27 S

    Signed by the President of the Senate.

  5. 2026-05-27 H

    Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.

  6. 2026-05-26 H

    Received from the Senate without amendments.

  7. 2026-05-26 S

    Rules suspended. Read by title, passed by a vote of 36 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

  8. 2026-05-21 S

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

  9. 2026-05-20 S

    Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.

  10. 2026-05-19 S

    Reported favorably.

  11. 2026-04-22 S

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

  12. 2026-04-21 S

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

  13. 2026-04-21 H

    Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 74, nays 17. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

  14. 2026-04-20 H

    Scheduled for floor debate on 04/21/2026.

  15. 2026-04-15 H

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

  16. 2026-04-14 H

    Reported with amendments (10-0).

  17. 2026-03-09 H

    Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice.

  18. 2026-02-27 H

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

  19. 2026-02-25 H

    Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice.

  20. 2026-02-25 H

    Prefiled.

Official Summary Text

PARDON/PAROLE: Provides relative to conditional parole (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
ENROLLED
ACT No. 6412026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 394
BY REPRESENTATIVES CHENEVERT AND FREIBERG
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 15:574.4.1(D)(2), relative to parole; to provide relative to parole
3 consideration and hearings; to provide relative to release on parole; and to provide
4 for related matters.
5 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 15:574.4.1(D)(2) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as
7 follows:
8 §574.4.1. Parole consideration and hearings
9 * * *
10 D.
11 * * *
12 (2) If the committee on parole determines that it is necessary for the prisoner
13 to complete one or more rehabilitative programs prior to his release to ensure public
14 safety and enhance the prisoner's opportunity for success, the release date of the
15 prisoner may be extended to no later than nine twenty-four months after the parole
16 hearing or the most recent reconsideration of the prisoner's case.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
Page 1 of 1
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.