Louisiana legislature enacts slate of tough-on-crime bills urged by its new Gov
A helpful reader made sure I saw this local news accounting of the significant crime legislation that formally passed today. Here are just some of the details:
The special crime-focused legislative session wrapped up early on Thursday after lawmakers passed all of the controversial tough-on-crime bills touted by Gov. Jeff Landry.
On the final day of the session, legislators approved HB6, which expands the methods of how Louisiana can execute death row inmates. The bill added nitrogen hypoxia and the electric chair into the toolkit. This is part of the effort of the new governor to resume executions. Louisiana has only put one person to death over the last two decades. There are currently 57 people on the state’s death row….
Also given final passage are two bills that would require inmates to serve more of their sentences in prison. HB9 does away with parole for future offenders starting in August of this year. HB10 also significantly reduces the amount of time that can be shaved off based on good behavior to just 15%. HB11 extends how long someone has to be on parole, for those who still qualify, and adds further consequences for those who violate their parole.
Lawmakers also passed SB3, which will designate adults as 17 years or older in the criminal justice system. This means 17-year-olds will be tried as adults when they commit a crime and will be housed in adult facilities….
In response to recent violent carjacking stories coming out of New Orleans, lawmakers passed HB7 to increase the penalty for carjacking to nearly double what it is currently.
There were many questions about how much all this legislation will cost. The Legislative Fiscal Office estimated together it will cost millions of dollars a year. However, legislators questioned their calculation methods and claimed it wouldn’t cost that much.
The bills passed now head to the governor’s next for signature and he is anticipated to sign them over the next week.