Senate Bill No. by Senator Barrow amends existing laws regarding court costs in suits involving the state and state agencies specifically within the Nineteenth Judicial District Court. The bill introduces a new provision that allows for the temporary deferral of court costs, applicable only to the state and its departments as listed in R.S. 36:4(A). Additionally, it mandates that these entities must deposit an advance filing fee of $200 to the Nineteenth Judicial District Court. The bill also clarifies that costs temporarily deferred cannot be shifted to opposing parties during the deferment period, but once a final judgment is rendered, the opposing party may be required to pay these costs.

Furthermore, the bill outlines that the attorney general can initiate and prosecute suits for the protection of the state's interests without needing to provide security for costs. It also stipulates that if an opposing party fails to pay the assessed temporarily deferred court costs within 30 days of the judgment becoming final, the clerk of court may send a certified copy of the judgment to the office of debt recovery for collection. This legislation is set to take effect on August 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
SB91 Original: 13:4521(A)(1)