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HB 439

PAROLE: Provides relative to parole ineligibility (OR SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jerome Zeringue

HB 439 adds a cross-reference to R.S. 15:574.4 in the parole ineligibility statute, clarifying that eligibility exceptions follow the existing 574.4 provisions without changing out

Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice.
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Bill Summary · HB 439

Legislative Bill Summary — Louisiana HB 439 (2026 Regular Session)

Basic Information

  • Bill: HB 439
  • Session: 2026
  • Jurisdiction: Louisiana
  • First Sponsor: Representative Jerome Zeringue (co-sponsor indicated)
  • Committee: Administration of Criminal Justice (assigned for initial consideration)
  • Status: Introduced; referred to committee (as of initial action)

Purpose and Intent

  • The bill is a technical amendment aimed at aligning statutory references within Louisiana’s parole ineligibility framework.
  • It adds a citation reference to the existing parole ineligibility statute to conform with present law structure, ensuring consistency and clarity in statutory cross-references.

Key Provisions (Substantive Change)

  • Amendment to R.S. 15:574.22 (Parole Ineligibility):
    • Present law (as of current baseline) provides that no person committed to the Department of Public Safety and Corrections for an offense committed on or after August 1, 2024, is eligible for parole except those who satisfy certain provisions of R.S. 15:574.4.
    • Proposed change: The statute is amended to include a specific statutory citation reference to R.S. 15:574.4 as the exception to parole ineligibility. In other words, the bill is adding a citation cross-reference to the portion of law that contains the parole eligibility exception.
    • The substantive effect on criminal defendants remains the same: parole eligibility is restricted for offenses committed after August 1, 2024, with eligibility only for those meeting the conditions outlined in R.S. 15:574.4. The change is purely structural (a reference addition) rather than altering eligibility criteria itself.

Who Is Affected

  • Individuals committed to the Department of Public Safety and Corrections for offenses committed on or after August 1, 2024.
  • The effect is universal to those within the specified cohort, but eligibility rules still hinge on the existing exception detailed in R.S. 15:574.4.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Effective Date: The underlying eligibility framework references offenses dated on or after August 1, 2024. The bill does not change dates or timing for parole decisions beyond updating cross-references.
  • Process: The bill is a cross-reference update; it does not create new procedures, penalties, or parole timelines beyond clarifying the citation to the applicable exception.

Practical Implications

  • For legal practitioners and court staff, the bill improves statutory clarity and reduces potential interpretive confusion by explicitly citing the exception in R.S. 15:574.4 within the parole ineligibility statute.
  • No change in parole eligibility standards or substantive outcomes is introduced beyond the reference update.

Notable Details

  • The fiscal note reference in the title suggests a potential relevance to funding or administrative impact, but the text provided indicates the primary change is a citation update within the statute.
  • The Digest confirms the change is narrowly focused on conforming references to present law.

If you’d like, I can compare the exact wording before and after to illustrate the precise cross-reference addition, or summarize how R.S. 15:574.4 defines the parole eligibility exceptions.

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

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