House Bill No. 324, introduced by Representative Villio, aims to adjust judicial salaries in Louisiana by enacting R.S. 13:51. The bill stipulates that a supplement currently paid to judges will terminate on June 30, 2026, but will be replaced by a cost of living adjustment effective July 1, 2026. This adjustment will reflect a total increase of less than 2% for each year since the last increase, with specific amounts designated for different judicial positions: $12,129 for justices of the Louisiana Supreme Court, $11,431 for judges of the courts of appeal, and $10,723 for judges of the district courts. Additionally, judges of the city and parish courts will receive an increase proportional to that of district court judges.

Furthermore, the bill outlines additional salary increases of 2.7% on July 1, 2027, and 2.1% on July 1, 2028, contingent upon approval from the Louisiana Supreme Court and the Louisiana Judicial Budgetary Control Board, which must confirm that sufficient funding is available for these adjustments. The cost of living adjustment for the fiscal year 2026-27 will be funded by the judiciary itself, provided that the judiciary has adequate reserves. Overall, the bill seeks to ensure that judicial salaries are adjusted in a manner that reflects inflation and cost of living changes while maintaining fiscal responsibility.