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HB719 • 2026

DISTRICT ATTORNEYS/ASST: Provides relative to the number of assistant district attorneys in each judicial district (REF +$3,411,000 GF EX See Note)

DISTRICT ATTORNEYS/ASST: Provides relative to the number of assistant district attorneys in each judicial district (REF +$3,411,000 GF EX See Note)

Budget Labor
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Peter Egan
Last action
2026-05-29
Official status
Pending House concurrence - Sched. for 5/31/26
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official summary does not provide details about increases for all judicial districts, only mentioning specific ones. The candidate explanation includes claims that are not supported by the provided source material.

Increasing Assistant District Attorneys

This bill changes the number of assistant district attorneys required for each judicial district in Louisiana, increasing it in several districts.

What This Bill Does

  • Increases the number of assistant district attorneys in the First Judicial District from 35 to 40.
  • Increases the number of assistant district attorneys in the Third Judicial District from nine to ten.
  • Increases the number of assistant district attorneys in the Fourth Judicial District from 26 to 28.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Assistant district attorneys and their employers in various judicial districts across Louisiana.

Terms To Know

Judicial District
A specific area within a state where courts have jurisdiction to hear cases.
Assistant District Attorney
An attorney who works under the supervision of a district attorney, handling legal matters in their assigned judicial district.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill requires additional funding for these new positions to be approved before it can take effect.
  • It is not clear how many assistant district attorneys are currently employed in each district.

Amendments

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

Filed

Plain English: The amendment increases the number of assistant district attorneys in many judicial districts and decreases it in Orleans Parish, with some exceptions pending approval from a commission.

  • Increases the number of assistant district attorneys in several judicial districts, such as First Judicial District from 35 to 39, Fourth Judicial District from 26 to 27, Eighth Judicial District from 4 to 5, and others listed in the amendment text.
  • Decreases the number of assistant district attorneys in Orleans Parish from 83 to 73.
  • Some increases in assistant district attorney numbers are contingent on approval by the Governor’s Advisory and Review Commission before becoming effective.
Adopted

Plain English: The amendment changes how and when certain parts of HB719 will take effect, depending on whether the Louisiana Legislature provides specific funding for it.

  • Removes lines that previously outlined the effective date of Section 1's provisions.
  • Adds new language stating that Section 1’s provisions will only become active once the Louisiana Legislature allocates specific funds for its implementation.
  • Specifies that Sections 2 and 3 of the amendment will take effect upon the governor's signature or after a certain period if not signed, with additional conditions if vetoed.
  • The exact details about what happens if the funding is not provided are not specified in this amendment text.
Draft

Plain English: The amendment changes how and when certain parts of HB719 about assistant district attorneys will take effect, depending on whether the Louisiana Legislature provides specific funding for it.

  • Removes lines that previously outlined the effective date of Section 1's provisions.
  • Adds new language stating that Section 1’s provisions will only become active once there is a specific appropriation by the Louisiana Legislature for its implementation.
  • Specifies that Sections 2 and 3 of the amendment will take effect upon the governor's signature or after the time limit for automatic enactment has passed, unless vetoed.
  • The exact details about what happens if the governor vetoes the bill are not fully explained in this amendment text.
Adopted

Plain English: The amendment changes specific numbers and references within the bill related to assistant district attorneys, altering various numerical values and legal citations.

  • Changes 'thirty-six' to 'forty', 'twenty-seven' to 'twenty-eight', and other similar number adjustments throughout the bill.
  • Replaces certain sections of existing law with asterisks (* * *) indicating deletions.
  • The amendment text does not provide clear explanations for why specific numbers or references are being changed, making it difficult to understand the full impact without additional context.
Draft

Plain English: The amendment changes specific numbers and references within the bill related to assistant district attorneys, altering various numerical values and legal citations.

  • Changes 'thirty-six' to 'forty' in one section of the bill.
  • Replaces certain sections with asterisks (*) indicating deletions or insertions.
  • Modifies several specific numbers throughout the bill, such as changing 'twenty-nine' to 'thirty', and 'fifty-six' to 'seventy-three'.
  • The exact impact of these changes on the number of assistant district attorneys is not clear from this amendment text alone.
  • Many sections are replaced with asterisks, indicating deletions or insertions that are not detailed in the provided amendment.
Adopted

Plain English: The amendment changes the number of assistant district attorneys in each judicial district as specified.

  • Increases or decreases the number of assistant district attorneys for various judicial districts across Louisiana.
  • The exact impact and reasoning behind specific increases or decreases are not detailed in the amendment text.
Adopted

Plain English: The amendment changes the number of assistant district attorneys in various judicial districts across Louisiana.

  • Reduces or increases the number of assistant district attorneys in specific judicial districts, such as changing from ten to eleven in some cases and reducing numbers in others.
  • Adds new provisions for certain judicial districts where no previous numbers were specified.
  • Includes a section on how changes not approved by the Governor's Advisory and Review Commission will become effective upon recommendation.
  • The exact impact of these changes on each district is not detailed in this amendment text.
  • Some amendments may be too technical or specific to fully explain without additional context about Louisiana law.
Draft

Plain English: The amendment changes the number of assistant district attorneys in various judicial districts across Louisiana.

  • Reduces or increases the number of assistant district attorneys in specific judicial districts, such as changing from ten to eleven in some cases and reducing numbers in others.
  • Adds new provisions for certain judicial districts that were not previously listed or had different numbers assigned.
  • The exact impact on each district's operations is unclear without additional context about current staffing levels.
  • Some amendments may require further approval from the Governor's Advisory and Review Commission before becoming effective.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-29 H

    Scheduled for concurrence on 05/31/2026.

  2. 2026-05-29 H

    Received from the Senate with amendments.

  3. 2026-05-28 S

    Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title, passed by a vote of 30 yeas and 6 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

  4. 2026-05-28 S

    Called from the Calendar.

  5. 2026-05-28 S

    Read by title and returned to the Calendar, subject to call.

  6. 2026-05-27 S

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

  7. 2026-05-27 S

    Rules suspended. Reported with amendments. Rules suspended. Committee amendments read and adopted. Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.

  8. 2026-05-20 S

    Read by title. Recommitted to the Committee on Finance.

  9. 2026-05-20 S

    Rules suspended. Recalled from Committee.

  10. 2026-05-12 S

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

  11. 2026-05-11 S

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

  12. 2026-05-07 H

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

  13. 2026-05-06 H

    Scheduled for floor debate on 05/07/2026.

  14. 2026-05-06 H

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

  15. 2026-05-05 H

    Reported with amendments (20-0).

  16. 2026-04-27 H

    Read by title, amended, ordered engrossed, recommitted to the Committee on Appropriations.

  17. 2026-04-23 H

    Reported with amendments (15-0).

  18. 2026-03-09 H

    Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

  19. 2026-02-27 H

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

  20. 2026-02-27 H

    Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

  21. 2026-02-27 H

    Prefiled.

Official Summary Text

DISTRICT ATTORNEYS/ASST: Provides relative to the number of assistant district attorneys in each judicial district (REF +$3,411,000 GF EX See Note)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HLS 26RS-79 REENGROSSED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 719
BY REPRESENTATIVES EGAN AND GALLE
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS/ASST: Provides relative to the number of assistant district
attorneys in each judicial district
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 16:51(A)(1), (3) through (7), (9), (13) through (17), (19) through
3 (25), (27), (30) through (33), (35) through (37), and (39) through (42), relative to
4 assistant district attorneys; to provide for the number of assistant district attorneys
5 in each judicial district; 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. R.S. 16:51(A)(1), (3) through (7), (9), (13) through (17), (19) through
9 (25), (27), (30) through (33), (35) through (37), and (39) through (42) are hereby amended
10 and reenacted to read as follows:
11 §51. Assistant district attorneys
12 A. The district attorney of each judicial district and of the parish of Orleans
13 shall appoint a first assistant district attorney and such other assistant district
14 attorneys for his respective judicial district or for the parish of Orleans as may be
15 necessary, the total number of assistant district attorneys in each judicial district and
16 in the parish of Orleans to be not less than the following:
17 (1) In the First Judicial District, thirty-five forty assistant district attorneys;
18 * * *
19 (3) In the Third Judicial District, nine ten assistant district attorneys;
Page 1 of 6
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-79 REENGROSSED
HB NO. 719
1 (4) In the Fourth Judicial District, twenty-six twenty-eight assistant district
2 attorneys;
3 (5) In the Fifth Judicial District, seven eight assistant district attorneys;
4 (6) In the Sixth Judicial District, seven eight assistant district attorneys;
5 (7) In the Seventh Judicial District, six seven assistant district attorneys;
6 * * *
7 (9) In the Ninth Judicial District, fifteen seventeen assistant district
8 attorneys;
9 * * *
10 (13) In the Thirteenth Judicial District, five six assistant district attorneys;
11 (14) In the Fourteenth Judicial District, twenty-five twenty-six assistant
12 district attorneys;
13 (15) In the Fifteenth Judicial District, twenty-eight thirty assistant district
14 attorneys;
15 (16) In the Sixteenth Judicial District, twenty-three twenty-seven assistant
16 district attorneys;
17 (17) In the Seventeenth Judicial District, thirteen fifteen assistant district
18 attorneys;
19 * * *
20 (19) In the Nineteenth Judicial District, fifty-five seventy-three assistant
21 district attorneys;
22 (20) In the Twentieth Judicial District, five six assistant district attorneys;
23 (21) In the Twenty-First Judicial District, nineteen twenty-one assistant
24 district attorneys;
25 (22) In the Twenty-Second Judicial District, thirty forty-six assistant district
26 attorneys;
27 (23) In the Twenty-Third Judicial District, nineteen twenty assistant district
28 attorneys;
Page 2 of 6
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-79 REENGROSSED
HB NO. 719
1 (24) In the Twenty-Fourth Judicial District, fifty-four fifty-nine assistant
2 district attorneys;
3 (25) In the Twenty-Fifth Judicial District, five six assistant district attorneys;
4 * * *
5 (27) In the Twenty-Seventh Judicial District, twelve thirteen assistant district
6 attorneys;
7 * * *
8 (30) In the Thirtieth Judicial District, six seven assistant district attorneys;
9 (31) In the Thirty-First Judicial District, four five assistant district attorneys;
10 (32) In the Thirty-Second Judicial District, twenty-one twenty-three assistant
11 district attorneys;
12 (33) In the Thirty-Third Judicial District, four five assistant district
13 attorneys;
14 * * *
15 (35) In the Thirty-Fifth Judicial District, four five assistant district attorneys;
16 (36) In the Thirty-Sixth Judicial District, five six assistant district attorneys;
17 (37) In the Thirty-Seventh Judicial District, three four assistant district
18 attorneys;
19 * * *
20 (39) In the Thirty-Eighth Judicial District, two three assistant district
21 attorneys;
22 (40) In the Thirty-Ninth Judicial District, two three assistant district
23 attorneys;
24 (41) In the Fortieth Judicial District, nine ten assistant district attorneys;
25 (42) In the Forty-Second Judicial District, four five assistant district
26 attorneys.
27 * * *
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-79 REENGROSSED
HB NO. 719
1 Section 2. The provisions of Section 1 shall become effective when an Act of the
2 Louisiana Legislature containing a specific appropriation of monies for the implementation
3 of the provisions of this Act becomes effective.
4 Section 3. The provisions of this Section and Section 2 shall become effective upon
5 signature by the governor or, if not signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for
6 bills to become law without signature by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section
7 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved
8 by the legislature, the provisions of this Section shall become effective on the day following
9 such approval.
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 719 Reengrossed 2026 Regular Session Egan
Abstract: Provides for assistant district attorney positions in the judicial districts of the
state.
Present law provides for the number of assistant district attorneys in the judicial districts of
the state of La.
Proposed law increases the number of assistant district attorneys in the First Judicial District
from 35 to 40.
Proposed law increases the number of assistant district attorneys in the Third Judicial
District
from nine to 10.
Proposed law increases the number of assistant district attorneys in the Fourth Judicial
District from 26 to 28.
Proposed law increases the number of assistant district attorneys in the Fifth Judicial District
from seven to eight.
Proposed law increases the number of assistant district attorneys in the Sixth Judicial District
from seven to eight.
Proposed law increases the number of assistant district attorneys in the Seventh Judicial
District from six to seven.
Proposed law increases the number of assistant district attorneys in the Ninth Judicial
District from 15 to 17.
Proposed law increases the number of assistant district attorneys in the Thirteenth Judicial
District from five to six.
Page 4 of 6
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-79 REENGROSSED
HB NO. 719
Proposed law increases the number of assistant district attorneys in the Fourteenth Judicial
District from 25 to 26.
Proposed law increases the number of assistant district attorneys in the Fifteenth Judicial
District from 28 to 30.
Proposed law increases the number of assistant district attorneys in the Sixteenth Judicial
District from 23 to 27.
Proposed law increases the number of assistant district attorneys in the Seventeenth Judicial
District from 13 to 15.
Proposed law increases the number of assistant district attorneys in the Nineteenth Judicial
District from 55 to 73.
Proposed law increases the number of assistant district attorneys in the Twentieth Judicial
District from five to six.
Proposed law increases the number of assistant district attorneys in the Twenty-First Judicial
District from 19 to 21.
Proposed law increases the number of assistant district attorneys in the Twenty-Second
Judicial District from 30 to 46.
Proposed law increases the number of assistant district attorneys in the Twenty-Third
Judicial District from 19 to 20.
Proposed law increases the number of assistant district attorneys in the Twenty-Fourth
Judicial District from 54 to 59.
Proposed law increases the number of assistant district attorneys in the Twenty-Fifth Judicial
District from five to six.
Proposed law increases the number of assistant district attorneys in the Twenty-Seventh
Judicial District from 12 to 13.
Proposed law increases the number of assistant district attorneys in the Thirtieth Judicial
District from six to seven.
Proposed law increases the number of assistant district attorneys in the Thirty-First Judicial
District from four to five.
Proposed law increases the number of assistant district attorneys in the Thirty-Second
Judicial District from 21 to 23.
Proposed law increases the number of assistant district attorneys in the Thirty-Third Judicial
District from four to five.
Proposed law increases the number of assistant district attorneys in the Thirty-Fifth Judicial
District from four to five.
Proposed law increases the number of assistant district attorneys in the Thirty-Sixth Judicial
District from five to six.
Proposed law increases the number of assistant district attorneys in the Thirty-Seventh
Judicial District from three to four.
Page 5 of 6
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-79 REENGROSSED
HB NO. 719
Proposed law increases the number of assistant district attorneys in the Thirty-Eighth
Judicial District from two to three.
Proposed law increases the number of assistant district attorneys in the Thirty-Ninth Judicial
District from two to three.
Proposed law increases the number of assistant district attorneys in the Fortieth Judicial
District from nine to ten.
Proposed law increases the number of assistant district attorneys in the Forty-Second Judicial
District from four to five.
Effective upon appropriation of funds by the legislature.
(Amends R.S. 16:51(A)(1), (3) through (7), (9), (13) through (17), (19) through (25), (27),
(30) through (33), (35) through (37), and (39) through (42))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Judiciary to the original
bill:
1. Add assistant district attorney positions in certain judicial districts of the state.
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Appropriations to the
engrossed bill:
1. Make effectiveness of proposed law subject to appropriation of monies by the
legislature for the implementation of proposed law.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.