legislative priorities
The 2020 Louisiana legislative session started May 4, 2020, and will conclude June 1. While we will fight to support, neutralize or oppose all of the bills listed on our tracker below, our top 15 priorities include:
Want to bring others into the fight? Download and share a one-pager of these priorities.
Want to learn more? Here is an in-depth explanation of some of our bills and why they matter.
- HB 643: Cap parole at five years for all convictions moving forward.
- HB 344: Ban the use of solitary confinement for mothers and those with serious mental health conditions.
- HB 173: Provide parole eligibility for juvenile virtual lifers.
- HB 855: Expand release and Good Time during state of emergency.
- HB 454: Protect voting rights for people sentenced to probation.
- HB 729: Establish the Council on the Children of incarcerated parents and caregivers
- HB 241 and SB 220: Remove limit on number of expungements one can receive at once, and expand opportunities for expungements.
- HB 556 and SB 326: Eliminate court fines and fees for people who can’t pay.
- HB 380: Require disclosure of collateral consequences in a guilty plea before the deal is made.
- HB 364: Stop creating excessive, mandatory sentences based on old and less serious offenses.
- HB 541: Grant parole eligibility for people serving life sentences.
- HB 339: Reduce wait for parole eligibility, and ‘Good Time’ credits on second offenses.
- HB 149: Reduce waiting times for pardon applications after a denial.
- HB 625 and SB 107: End prison gerrymandering, which uses incarcerated people to bulk up the political power of prison districts.
- HB 570: Increase compensation to wrongfully convicted people.
Want to bring others into the fight? Download and share a one-pager of these priorities.
Want to learn more? Here is an in-depth explanation of some of our bills and why they matter.
bill tracker
We update this Bill Tracker throughout the legislative session. As bills move through each stage in the process of becoming a law, they moved up the categories listed below.
VOTE's positions on the bills are as follows:
Red - Oppose
Green - Support
Yellow - Amend or Neutral
Blue - Top 15 Priority
Click on a bill number to track how it is doing, and click on the one-pagers in the 'Comments' section to read and download more info about the bill.
*Note: The public is attend and speak at Committee hearings, but not Floor Hearings. Committee hearings are one of the best opportunities for your elected officials to hear about your experience and needs. To speak at a hearing, contact us.
VOTE's positions on the bills are as follows:
Red - Oppose
Green - Support
Yellow - Amend or Neutral
Blue - Top 15 Priority
Click on a bill number to track how it is doing, and click on the one-pagers in the 'Comments' section to read and download more info about the bill.
*Note: The public is attend and speak at Committee hearings, but not Floor Hearings. Committee hearings are one of the best opportunities for your elected officials to hear about your experience and needs. To speak at a hearing, contact us.
EDUCATIONAL Resources
Never been to the Capitol? Not sure what phrases like like 'Legislature' and 'House Floor' mean? This explainer is for you.
Want to understand each step in how a bill becomes a law? This video, made by VOTE members, is for you.
Want to share your experience of incarceration with your elected officials? This video of our members learning how and why we testify is for you.
ready to fight?
Contact your Representative and Senator! Tell them to support the bills in green, and oppose the ones in red.
