BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — 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.

Family members of victims of people on death row sat in the balcony to watch the heated debate play out in the Senate. Landry joined them to watch the votes happen. Two inmates have already exhausted all of their appeals and would likely be executed not long after the bill goes into effect.

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.

Louisiana lawmakers also passed the so-called “Constitutional Carry” bill that some conservatives have been trying to pass for years. SB1 allows people 18 and older to conceal carry a firearm without training or a permit. The current permitting process will remain in place for those who want to go through the training or need the permit for other states. 

Some law enforcement agencies were concerned the bill would lead to more risky situations for officers out on the streets. Those for the bill said it brings law-abiding citizens a better chance to protect themselves in public. Louisiana is already an open-carry state.

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.

The 2024 Regular Session is scheduled to meet on Monday, March 11. Over 525 bills have been filed for consideration, according to the Legislative Communications Office.

Statements released after special session ends

Members of the Louisiana Legislature and state officials released statements after the dismissal of the special session.

"We kept our promise. Together, we put victims and their families first. The people of Louisiana have a right to be safe. Acts of violence have a lasting impact on victims, their families, and our communities. If you commit a violent crime, you should face the consequences.

I’ve spoken with victims of violent carjackings and the families of victims brutally murdered by criminals who are now on Death Row. We assured them they would see justice done, as the law promised them. This two-week special session does not mean crime will automatically go away in Louisiana. It’s going to take all of us coming together to change the course of our State. I’m committed to doing the work."

Liz Murrill, Attorney General

“The House accomplished the mission of addressing crime in our state so Louisiana can be a safe and peaceful place to live, raise our families, and enjoy all the things that make it great. We heard a lot of debate and at the end of the day we voted on behalf of the people we represent. I’m pleased with the final outcome and our overall focus on the victims, not the criminals. Looking ahead, the House members and I look forward to addressing insurance costs and focusing on solutions to education issues.”

Phillip DeVillier, Speaker of the House

“Senators worked together to not only debate the measures brought to us during this crime session, but also discuss the potential impacts to the state’s budget. Supporting law enforcement and providing justice to the victims of crime were promises many of us made to our constituents. With this special session complete, we’ll be working hard to get ready for the regular session and handling issues that can jumpstart our economy and improve lives.”

Cameron Henry, Senate President

The Louisiana House Democratic Caucus released the following statement.

“House Democrats are committed to addressing the root causes of crime to make our communities safer and inject real transparency into our criminal justice system. 

“The ‘lock them up and throw away the key’ approach does not work. We know this because  Louisiana ranks near the top in both crime and incarceration rates. That’s why House Democrats proposed legislation and amendments that invest in rehabilitation and reentry programs, as well as funding for the Summer EBT program, which nets $67 million in federal funds to feed nearly 600,000 kids in Louisiana.

“Sadly, the legislation brought by the Governor does not improve public safety. These new laws do nothing to prevent crime before it happens. In fact, the bills passed will explode Louisiana’s prison population, increase recidivism, and place an enormous burden on Louisiana taxpayers for generations to come, as the Legislative Fiscal Office made clear.

“Under the guise of ‘public safety,’ the Governor pushed the Legislature to enact laws that limit or altogether eliminate probation and parole. Data shows that probation and parole are among our state’s most successful reentry programs, with standard prison releases resulting in twice the rate of re-incarceration as parolees. Republicans also severely restricted good-time credits, an action that data shows will have no bearing on crime rates. These efforts fail to address the circumstances that arise before the crime has been committed, and will ultimately result in longer prison sentences and higher costs for taxpayers. 

“The Governor’s solution to gun violence throughout our state is to authorize permitless carry. This new law not only fails to address the root causes of crime, but it may have devastating consequences for public safety. Supporters of this legislation argued that to simultaneously address crime and law enforcement shortages, Louisiana needs more 18-year-old people carrying concealed firearms in public with no training or permit. This is an irresponsible position that is driven more by partisan politics than public safety data.

“House Democrats will continue to fight for evidence-based criminal justice reforms that reduce crime and make our communities safer.” 

House Democratic Caucus Chair Rep. Matthew Willard

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