House Bill No. [insert number] amends and reenacts R.S. 13:4521(B) and enacts R.S. 13:4521(A)(6) to address the deferral of costs and fees associated with electronic filing requirements in Louisiana. The bill introduces a definition for "court costs," which now includes costs, user fees, and recording fees charged by clerks of court or third-party vendors for electronic filing of civil and criminal pleadings, as well as related convenience, transaction, or service fees.

Additionally, the bill modifies the responsibility of governmental entities regarding deferred costs. It removes the requirement for these entities to pay deferred costs within thirty days of a judgment becoming final and instead stipulates that costs will not be payable until the judgment is final and definitive, or otherwise nonappealable. The bill also mandates that any court costs due from opposing litigants be withheld from settlement payments and forwarded to the clerk of court.

Statutes affected:
HB123 Original: 13:4521(B)
HB123 Engrossed: 13:4521(B)
HB123 Reengrossed: 13:4521(B)
HB123 Enrolled: 13:4521(B)