House Bill No. HLS 25RS-361, introduced by Representative McFarland, appropriates $220,424,711 for the expenses of the Louisiana Judiciary for the Fiscal Year 2025-2026. This funding supports various courts, including the Supreme Court, Courts of Appeal, District Courts, and the Criminal District Court of Orleans Parish. The bill details allocations for salaries, operational expenses, and judicial programs such as the Judicial College, Louisiana Drug and Specialty Courts, and the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program. Notably, it includes new funding for the Case Management Information System to enhance case tracking and management across the state.

The appropriations are primarily sourced from the State General Fund, interagency transfers, and statutory dedications, with a significant portion of $199,188,937 coming from the State General Fund. The bill also reflects a reduction of $11,873,382 from the State General Fund while increasing the CASA and Families in Need of Services (FINS) program allocation by $540,000. Specific budget allocations include $3,929,511 for other courts as mandated by statute, and it establishes the Chief Justice's responsibilities for fund allocation, requiring any unspent funds to be returned to the State General Fund by September 1, 2025. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.