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Read. Follow. Verify.Louisiana Enacts Strict Deadlines for Post-Conviction Relief Claims Stayed by Federal Courts
Last action · May 14, 2026: Effective date: 08/01/2026.Sponsor: Mike Johnson
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What This Bill Does
Louisiana establishes a 30-day deadline for individuals whose federal s are ed to file s in the state district court where they were convicted. The law requires petitioners to prove good cause for failing to raise the claim earlier, show the claim has merit, and avoid intentional delays, or face dismissal.
The measure alters the legal timeline and procedural hurdles for state prisoners seeking post-conviction relief after receiving a federal , shifting case processing speeds by mandating expedited review in both state district courts and the Louisiana Supreme Court.
- Federal habeas corpus proceedings allow federal courts to review state court convictions for constitutional violations, and federal judges sometimes issue stays to permit petitioners to return to state courts to exhaust available remedies. context
- Mike Johnson serves as a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives representing the state's legislative districts. context
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
petitioners seeking post-conviction relief
Petitioners must adhere to a strict 30-day filing window following a federal stay, meet specific evidentiary burdens, and face dismissal if requirements are unmet.
state district courts
State district courts are mandated to expedite their consideration and resolution of unexhausted claims.
Louisiana Supreme Court
The court must provide priority consideration and expedite its review if any party invokes its supervisory jurisdiction.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the deadline for filing an unexhausted claim after a federal court issues a stay?
What happens if a petitioner fails to meet the requirements for filing an unexhausted claim?
How are state courts required to handle these unexhausted claims?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
22 actions- May 14, 2026HouseEnrolledSigned by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 104.
- May 14, 2026HouseEffective date: 08/01/2026.
- May 13, 2026HouseSent to the Governor for executive approval.
- May 12, 2026HouseEnrolledEnrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.
- May 12, 2026SenateEnrolledSigned by the President of the Senate.
- May 11, 2026HouseIntroducedRead by title, roll called, yeas 78, nays 16, Senate amendments concurred in.
Show 16 earlier actions
- May 7, 2026HouseScheduled for concurrence on 05/11/2026.
- May 6, 2026SenateFloorSenate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title, passed by a vote of 28 yeas and 9 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
- May 6, 2026HouseReceived from the Senate with amendments.
- Apr 27, 2026SenateFloorReported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.
- Apr 22, 2026SenateIntroducedRead by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
- Apr 21, 2026SenateCommitteeReported favorably.
- Apr 14, 2026SenateCommitteeRead second time by title and referred to the Committee on Judiciary C.
- Apr 13, 2026SenateReceived in the Senate. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.
- Apr 9, 2026HouseFloorRead third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 77, nays 17. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
- Apr 8, 2026HouseScheduled for floor debate on 04/09/2026.
- Apr 7, 2026HouseFloorRead by title, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.
- Apr 1, 2026HouseCommitteeReported favorably (11-0).
- Mar 9, 2026HouseIntroducedRead by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice.
- Feb 27, 2026HouseFirst appeared in the Interim Calendar on 2/27/2026.
- Feb 24, 2026HousePrefiled.
- Feb 24, 2026HouseCommitteeUnder the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice.
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Introduction of Specific Time Limits for Federal Stays
The state has codified a specific 30-day post-federal stay requirement along with mandatory expedited reviews by both district and supreme courts.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.legis.la.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
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