House Bill No. by Representative Brown amends R.S. 13:86 to adjust court costs associated with civil filings and criminal convictions in Louisiana. The bill introduces an additional fee of two dollars and fifty cents for initial civil filings and imposes the same fee on individuals convicted of felonies, misdemeanors, or local ordinance violations, including traffic offenses. These costs will be collected by all courts, including mayor's and magistrate courts.

The bill also stipulates that all funds collected will be deposited into a special account, with one-third allocated specifically for the Judicial College's growth and program improvement strategies. The remaining funds will be directed by the court for expenses related to judicial ethics education and enforcement. An annual audit of the collected funds will be conducted by the Louisiana Supreme Court, and the changes in court costs will take effect on January 1, 2026, contingent upon a recommendation from the Judicial Council.

Statutes affected:
HB644 Original:
HB644 Engrossed:
HB644 Enrolled:
HB644 Act 299: