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HB52 • 2026

CRIMINAL/PROCEDURE: Provides relative to trial of misdemeanors (EN SEE FISC NOTE LF EX)

CRIMINAL/PROCEDURE: Provides relative to trial of misdemeanors (EN SEE FISC NOTE LF EX)

Crime
Enacted

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

Sponsor
Debbie Villio
Last action
2026-05-15
Official status
Became law without the Governor's signature - Act 192
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and digest do not provide specific details about the exact wording or implications of prospective and retroactive application beyond the effective date.

Changes to Misdemeanor Trials

This act changes the rules for misdemeanor trials, requiring a jury trial if the fine is over $2,500 or imprisonment exceeds six months.

What This Bill Does

  • Amends Article 779 of the Code of Criminal Procedure to require a jury trial for certain misdemeanors.
  • Specifies that defendants charged with misdemeanors where fines exceed $2,500 or jail time is more than six months must have a jury trial.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People charged with certain misdemeanors in Louisiana.
  • Courts handling misdemeanor cases where fines or jail time exceed specified limits.

Terms To Know

Misdemeanor
A criminal offense that is less serious than a felony and typically punishable by a fine, imprisonment for up to one year, or both.
Jury trial
A legal proceeding where a group of citizens (the jury) listens to evidence and decides whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty.

Limits and Unknowns

  • It's unclear how many cases will be affected by this change.
  • The act does not specify what happens if the governor vetoes it, but since it became law without the Governor's signature, this scenario did not occur.

Amendments

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

Adopted

Plain English: HFAHB52 4274 3599 FOR OFFICE USE ONLY HOUSE FLOOR AMENDMENTS 2026 Regular Session Amendments proposed by Representative Villio to Engrossed House Bill No.

  • HFAHB52 4274 3599 FOR OFFICE USE ONLY HOUSE FLOOR AMENDMENTS 2026 Regular Session Amendments proposed by Representative Villio to Engrossed House Bill No.
  • 52 by Representative Villio 1 AMENDMENT NO.
  • 1 2 On page 1, line 10, after "misdemeanor" delete the remainder of the line and at the beginning 3 of line 11, delete "a non-jury trial misdemeanor " 4 AMENDMENT NO.
  • 2 5 On page 1, delete lines 15 through 22 in their entirety and on page 2, delete lines 1 and 2 in 6 their entirety and insert: 7 "* * *" Page 1 of 1 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions.
Adopted

Plain English: HCAHB52 4274 1958 HOUSE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS 2026 Regular Session Amendments proposed by House Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice to Original House Bill No.

  • HCAHB52 4274 1958 HOUSE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS 2026 Regular Session Amendments proposed by House Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice to Original House Bill No.
  • 52 by Representative Villio 1 AMENDMENT NO.
  • 1 2 On page 1, line 12, delete "one thousand" and insert "two thousand five hundred" 3 4 AMENDMENT NO.
  • 2 5 On page 1, line 14, delete "must" and insert "shall" 6 AMENDMENT NO.
Draft

Plain English: HCAHB52 4274 1499 HOUSE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS 2026 Regular Session Amendments proposed by House Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice to Original House Bill No.

  • HCAHB52 4274 1499 HOUSE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS 2026 Regular Session Amendments proposed by House Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice to Original House Bill No.
  • 52 by Representative Villio 1 AMENDMENT NO.
  • 1 2 On page 1, line 12, delete "one thousand" and insert "two thousand five hundred" 3 4 AMENDMENT NO.
  • 2 5 On page 1, line 14, delete "must" and insert "shall" 6 AMENDMENT NO.
Draft

Plain English: SCAHB52 4769 2399 SENATE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS 2026 Regular Session Amendments proposed by Senate Committee on Judiciary C to Reengrossed House Bill No.

  • SCAHB52 4769 2399 SENATE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS 2026 Regular Session Amendments proposed by Senate Committee on Judiciary C to Reengrossed House Bill No.
  • 52 by Representative Villio 1 AMENDMENT NO.
  • 1 2 On page 1, delete lines 16 and 17 3 AMENDMENT NO.
  • 2 4 On page 1, line 18, change "Section 3." to "Section 2." Page 1 of 1

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-15 H

    Effective date: 05/17/2026.

  2. 2026-05-15 H

    Becomes Act No. 192 without the Governor's signature.

  3. 2026-05-07 H

    Sent to the Governor for executive approval.

  4. 2026-05-07 S

    Signed by the President of the Senate.

  5. 2026-05-06 H

    Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.

  6. 2026-05-06 H

    Received from the Senate without amendments.

  7. 2026-05-05 S

    Read by title, passed by a vote of 33 yeas and 2 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

  8. 2026-04-27 S

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

  9. 2026-04-22 S

    Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.

  10. 2026-04-21 S

    Reported favorably.

  11. 2026-04-15 S

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

  12. 2026-04-14 S

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

  13. 2026-04-13 H

    Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 85, nays 3. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

  14. 2026-04-13 H

    Called from the calendar.

  15. 2026-04-08 H

    Scheduled for floor debate on 04/13/26.

  16. 2026-04-08 H

    Notice given.

  17. 2026-03-31 H

    Read by title, returned to the calendar.

  18. 2026-03-31 H

    Called from the calendar.

  19. 2026-03-24 H

    Scheduled for floor debate on 03/31/2026.

  20. 2026-03-24 H

    Notice given.

  21. 2026-03-24 H

    Read by title, returned to the calendar.

  22. 2026-03-23 H

    Scheduled for floor debate on 03/24/2026.

  23. 2026-03-23 H

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

  24. 2026-03-18 H

    Reported with amendments (12-0).

  25. 2026-03-09 H

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

  26. 2026-01-30 H

    First appeared in the Interim Calendar on 1/30/2026.

  27. 2026-01-30 H

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

  28. 2026-01-30 H

    Prefiled.

Official Summary Text

CRIMINAL/PROCEDURE: Provides relative to trial of misdemeanors (EN SEE FISC NOTE LF EX)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
ENROLLED
ACT No. 1922026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 52
BY REPRESENTATIVE VILLIO
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 for certain misdemeanors
4 which may be tried by the court without a jury; to provide for prospective and
5 retroactive application; to provide for an effective date; and to provide for related
6 matters.
7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. Code of Criminal Procedure Article 779(A) is hereby amended and
9 reenacted to read as follows:
10 Art. 779. Trial of misdemeanors
11 A. A defendant charged with a misdemeanor in which the punishment, as set
12 forth in the statute defining the offense, may be a fine in excess of one two thousand
13 five hundred dollars or imprisonment for more than six months must be tried by a
14 jury of six jurors, all of whom must shall concur to render a verdict.
15 * * *
16 Section 2. The provisions of this Act shall be given prospective application and
17 retroactive application to June 8, 2025.
18 Section 3. 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. 52 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.