Environment
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
StateLouisianaEnacted
HB 159: CRIMINAL/SENTENCING: Creates a pretrial incarceration alternative pilot program in Caddo Parish (EN SEE FISC NOTE LF EX See Note)
Steven Jackson
HB 159 status: Enacted — Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 784 (updated Jun 9, 2026).
Source
OpenStates
Confidence
Low
Analysis basis
OpenStates summary
01
What this bill does
Official summary alongside an AI-generated read on where it stands and why.
Overall Score
64OUT OF 100
Score:64/100 civic fit
Risk:Moderate Risk
Impact:Moderate Impact 40/100
Constitutionality80%
Bipartisan50%
Public opinion50%
Bill summary
What changes
HB 159 establishes a pretrial incarceration alternative pilot program exclusively for Caddo Parish.
Who is affected
Pretrial defendants in Caddo Parish, the local judicial system, and the community served by Caddo Parish law enforcement.
Requirements and enforcement
The bill mandates the development and execution of an alternative program for individuals awaiting trial.
Costs and funding
Requires funding for the administration and oversight of the pilot program; specific budget amounts are not disclosed in the abstract.
When it takes effect
Signed by the Governor on June 9, 2026; effective as Act No. 784.
Potential benefits
Potential for reduced jail population, cost savings for the parish, and improved community integration for non-violent defendants.
Risks and tradeoffs
Operational risks concerning public safety and the effectiveness of supervision during the pilot period.
What is still unknown
The exact eligibility criteria for participants and the metrics that will be used to judge the pilot's success.
02
Impact analysis
✦ AI analysisModeled effects across six domains, estimated from bill text and comparable legislation.
Economy
Positive outlook
60%
Benefits
- potential reduction in jail operational costs
- lower fiscal burden for local government
- more efficient use of public resources
Risks
- initial setup costs for pilot implementation
- risk of funding shortfalls for support services
- increased administrative workload for local agencies
Society
Positive outlook
70%
Benefits
- reduced disruption to individual employment
- maintenance of family and community connections
- reduced social stigma from incarceration
Risks
- perceived risk to neighborhood safety
- potential disparities in program eligibility
- strain on local community support infrastructure
Technology Industry
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
Civic Accountability
Positive outlook
65%
Benefits
- pilot structure forces objective program evaluation
- data-driven approach to criminal justice policy
- defined scope limits institutional overreach
Risks
- risk of incomplete data collection
- potential for lack of independent oversight
- vulnerability to selective implementation bias
Public Health & Safety
Positive outlook
60%
Benefits
- reduces jail overcrowding and associated health risks
- mitigates transmission of infectious diseases in jail
- better access to community-based health services
Risks
- potential public safety risks if screening is inadequate
- challenges in monitoring defendants during release
- shortage of available community safety resources
03
How trustworthy & consequential it is
Sourcing already shown above, this is what the analysis found worth flagging.
Source
OpenStates
Official bill text or data from OpenStates.
Confidence
Low
Information is limited or incomplete.
Analysis basis
OpenStates summary
Source used for this bill's analysis.
Source note
LegiScan returned a PDF-only document. PDF extraction is not enabled in this build, so the pipeline used a safer fallback.
Analysis scope
Source provided is a summary and does not include the full statutory language.
04
Where it stands
Official recordSigned by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 784.
- IntroducedComplete
- CommitteeComplete
- Chamber votesComplete
- Final agreementComplete
- GovernorComplete
- EnactedComplete
05
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06
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