COURTS: Provides relative to the subject matter jurisdiction of the Twenty-Third Judicial District

HLS 26RS-1268 ORIGINAL
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 567
BY REPRESENTATIVE WILEY
COURTS: Provides relative to the subject matter jurisdiction of the Twenty-Third Judicial
District
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 13:621.23, relative to the jurisdiction of the Twenty-Third
3 Judicial District Court; to provide for limited jurisdiction in Division F of the court;
4 to provide for the definition of family matters; to provide for the jurisdiction of the
5 remaining divisions of the court; and to provide for related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 13:621.23 is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
8 §621.23. Twenty-Third Judicial District
9 A. The Twenty-Third Judicial District Court shall have six judges. One
10 judge shall be elected from election section one, and five judges shall be elected
11 from election section two.
12 B.(1) Beginning August 1, 2026, the subject matter jurisdiction of Division
13 F of the Twenty-Third Judicial District Court is limited, in accordance with Article
14 V, Section 15(A) of the Constitution of Louisiana, to family matters as provided by
15 law. The limited subject matter jurisdiction of Division F shall also include all
16 incidental actions involving family matters, including but not limited to contempt,
17 civil warrants, writs of habeas corpus, curatorship, change of name, prenuptial or
18 separate property agreements, interspousal donations, lesions, and challenges to
19 consent judgments.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-1268 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 567
1 (2) For the purposes of this Subsection, "family matters" includes all actions
2 arising under Titles V and VII of Book I and Title VI of Book III of the Civil Code;
3 adoptions arising under the Civil Code and the Children's Code; actions involving
4 domestic abuse pursuant to R.S. 46:2132 et seq.; and actions for the enforcement or
5 collection of support and paternity pursuant to R.S. 46:236.5.
6 (3) The subject matter jurisdiction of the remaining divisions of the Twenty-
7 Third Judicial District Court shall not be divested or reduced by the subject matter
8 limitation of Division F. The remaining divisions of the court may continue
9 exercising jurisdiction over family matters. If the judge of Division F is recused or
10 is unable to act on a family matter for any reason, that matter shall be randomly
11 allotted to a different division of the Twenty-Third Judicial District Court.
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 567 Original 2026 Regular Session Wiley
Abstract: Provides relative to the subject matter jurisdiction of Division F of the
Twenty-Third Judicial District.
Present law provides for six judgeships in the 23rd Judicial District Court (Ascension,
Assumption, and St. James Parishes).
Proposed law provides that the jurisdiction for Division F of the 23rd Judicial District Court
will be limited to "family matters".
Proposed law defines "family matters" as all actions arising under Titles V and VII of Book
I and Title VI of Book III of the Civil Code; adoptions arising under the Civil Code and the
Children's Code; actions involving domestic abuse pursuant to present law (R.S. 46:2132 et
seq.); and actions for the enforcement or collection of support and paternity pursuant to
present law (R.S. 46:236.5).
Proposed law provides that the subject matter of the remaining divisions will remain the
same. Further provides that if the judge from Division F is unavailable, the matter will be
randomly assigned to one of the remaining divisions.
(Amends R.S. 13:621.23)
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.