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HB 322

PARDON/PAROLE: Prohibits the assessment of any fees or costs against certain individuals who request a copy of testimony presented in executive session before the Board of Pardons and committee on parole

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Michael Melerine

Louisiana bill eliminates fees for individuals requesting copies of pardon/parole hearing testimony from executive sessions, increasing access to closed proceeding records.

Effective date: 05/22/2026.
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Bill Summary · HB 322

Legislative bill overview

HB 322 eliminates fees and costs that individuals may be charged when requesting copies of testimony presented during executive (closed) sessions before Louisiana's Board of Pardons and the committee on parole. The bill applies to "certain individuals," though the specific eligibility criteria would be defined in the full legislative text.

Why is this important

Access to pardon and parole proceeding records directly affects people's ability to understand decisions that impact their freedom and their families' futures. Removing financial barriers to obtaining testimony records increases transparency in what are typically confidential government proceedings and could improve access to justice for incarcerated individuals and their advocates who lack financial resources.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope ambiguity: The phrase "certain individuals" is vague—the bill may need clarification on whether this applies only to the person whose case is being reviewed, their attorneys, family members, or the general public
  • Administrative costs: Agencies handling these requests may argue that fees help offset the labor costs of copying, organizing, and redacting sensitive materials from executive sessions
  • Balancing confidentiality and access: Executive sessions are typically closed for privacy reasons; expanding access without clear limitations could conflict with maintaining the confidentiality those sessions are designed to protect

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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