House Bill No. by Representative Wilford Carter amends existing laws regarding parole eligibility and consideration for individuals convicted by a non-unanimous jury. The bill modifies R.S. 15:574.2(C)(2) to require a majority vote from a three-member panel to grant parole for these individuals, rather than a unanimous vote. Additionally, it introduces new provisions under R.S. 15:574.2(C)(4), which states that a majority vote is necessary for parole for those serving sentences based on non-unanimous jury verdicts.

Furthermore, the bill establishes that offenders with such sentences will be immediately eligible for parole consideration, as outlined in the new R.S. 15:574.4(L). It also mandates that the parole committee must consider or reconsider applications for parole from these offenders starting August 1, 2026, and requires written notification of denial reasons, allowing for reapplication after one year. This legislative change aims to provide fairer parole opportunities for individuals affected by non-unanimous jury verdicts.

Statutes affected:
HB1065 Original: 15:2(C)(2)