Senate Bill No. 218, introduced by Senator Duplessis, aims to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure to provide specific provisions for post-conviction relief for defendants convicted by a non-unanimous jury verdict. The bill adds a new ground for relief under Article 930.3, stating that a conviction obtained by a non-unanimous jury verdict is a valid basis for seeking post-conviction relief. Additionally, it modifies Article 930.4 by clarifying that all limitations on repetitive applications for relief are jurisdictional, except for those alleging a non-unanimous jury verdict, which will not be considered repetitive or barred.

Furthermore, the bill amends Article 930.8 to include an exception to the two-year time limitation for filing applications for post-conviction relief, allowing claims based on non-unanimous jury verdicts to be considered regardless of when they are filed. This legislation is set to take effect on August 1, 2025, and aims to ensure that individuals convicted under non-unanimous jury verdicts have a fair opportunity to seek relief from their convictions.