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HB57 • 2026

EVIDENCE: Provides relative to evidence in temporary restraining order proceedings

EVIDENCE: Provides relative to evidence in temporary restraining order proceedings

Enacted

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

Sponsor
Debbie Villio
Last action
2026-04-30
Official status
Signed by the Governor - Act 26
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on how the act will affect the number or outcome of temporary restraining orders, leaving this as an open question.

Evidence Rules for Temporary Restraining Orders

This act allows Louisiana courts to consider past criminal history and abuse records when deciding on temporary restraining orders, and ensures that affected parties have a chance to respond.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows judges to look at past criminal records of people involved in temporary restraining order cases.
  • Requires judges to think about any history of abuse or threats when deciding if there is an immediate danger.
  • Gives the person who might be hurt by the order a chance to say why they should not get it.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People applying for temporary restraining orders
  • People being asked to leave their home or stay away from someone due to a temporary restraining order

Terms To Know

Temporary Restraining Order (TRO)
A court order that stops someone from doing something harmful for a short time until there is a full hearing.
Ex Parte Proceeding
A legal process where only one side of the case is heard by the judge, usually in emergency situations.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The act does not specify what kind of evidence can be used beyond criminal history and abuse records.
  • It's unclear how this change will affect the number or outcome of temporary restraining order cases.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-30 H

    Effective date: 08/01/2026.

  2. 2026-04-30 H

    Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 26.

  3. 2026-04-28 H

    Sent to the Governor for executive approval.

  4. 2026-04-27 S

    Signed by the President of the Senate.

  5. 2026-04-27 H

    Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.

  6. 2026-04-23 H

    Received from the Senate without amendments.

  7. 2026-04-22 S

    Read by title, passed by a vote of 37 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

  8. 2026-04-13 S

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

  9. 2026-04-08 S

    Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.

  10. 2026-04-07 S

    Reported favorably.

  11. 2026-03-31 S

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

  12. 2026-03-30 S

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

  13. 2026-03-30 H

    Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 95, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

  14. 2026-03-26 H

    Scheduled for floor debate on 03/30/2026.

  15. 2026-03-25 H

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

  16. 2026-03-24 H

    Reported favorably (12-0).

  17. 2026-03-09 H

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

  18. 2026-01-30 H

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

  19. 2026-01-30 H

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

  20. 2026-01-30 H

    Prefiled.

Official Summary Text

EVIDENCE: Provides relative to evidence in temporary restraining order proceedings

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
ENROLLED
ACT No. 262026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 57
BY REPRESENTATIVE VILLIO
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 46:2135(A)(introductory paragraph), (B), and (D), relative to
3 temporary restraining orders; to permit the consideration of certain evidence; to
4 provide an opportunity to respond; and to provide for related matters.
5 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 46:2135(A)(introductory paragraph), (B), and (D) are hereby
7 amended and reenacted to read as follows:
8 §2135. Temporary restraining order
9 A. Upon good cause shown in an ex parte proceeding, the court may enter
10 a temporary restraining order, without bond, as it deems necessary to protect from
11 abuse the petitioner, any minor children, or any person alleged to be an incompetent.
12 Any person who shows immediate and present danger of abuse shall constitute good
13 cause for purposes of this Subsection. The court shall consider any and all past
14 history of abuse, or threats thereof, in determining the existence of an immediate and
15 present danger of abuse. There is no requirement that the abuse itself be recent,
16 immediate, or present. The court, on its own motion, may also obtain and consider
17 any and all past criminal history of the parties. The order may include but is not
18 limited to the following:
19 * * *
20 B. If a temporary restraining order is granted without notice, the matter shall
21 be set within twenty-one days for a rule to show cause why the protective order
22 should not be issued, at which time the petitioner must prove the allegations of abuse
23 by a preponderance of the evidence. If any criminal history has been considered, the
Page 1 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HB NO. 57 ENROLLED
1 affected party shall be given the opportunity to rebut and to respond to the evidence
2 used in the underlying proceeding. The defendant shall be given notice of the
3 temporary restraining order and the hearing on the rule to show cause by service of
4 process as required by law within twenty-four hours of the issuance of the order.
5 * * *
6 D. If no temporary restraining order has been granted, the court shall issue
7 a rule to show cause why the protective order should not be issued, and set the rule
8 for hearing on the earliest day that the business of the court will permit, but in any
9 case within ten days from the date of service of the petition, at which time the
10 petitioner must prove the allegations of abuse by a preponderance of the evidence.
11 If any criminal history has been considered, the affected party shall be given the
12 opportunity to rebut and to respond to the evidence used in the underlying
13 proceeding. The defendant shall be given notice by service of process as required
14 by law.
15 * * *
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.