HB 144

HLS 26RS-8  ORIGINAL
 2026 Regular Session
 HOUSE BILL NO. 144
 BY REPRESENTATIVE GLORIOSO
 CRIME: Creates the crime of obstruction of a legislative proceeding
1AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact Code of Criminal Procedure Article 62(C) and to enact R.S. 14:130.2
3and Code of Criminal Procedure Article 611(D)(3), relative to crimes affecting the
4legislature; to create the crime of obstruction of a legislative proceeding; to provide
5for a definition; to provide for penalties; to provide relative to the authority of the
6attorney general; to provide for venue; and to provide for related matters.
7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8Section 1. R.S. 14:130.2 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
9§130.2. Obstruction of a legislative proceeding
10A. The crime of obstruction of a legislative proceeding is any of the
11following when committed with the knowledge that such act has, reasonably may,
12or will affect an actual or potential present, past, or future legislative proceeding as
13described in this Section:
14(1) Impeding the due and proper administration of any legislative proceeding
15or the due and proper exercise of the power of inquiry under which any inquiry or
16investigation is conducted by either house of the legislature.
17(2) Using or threatening force toward the person or property of a legislator
18with the specific intent to do any of the following:
19(a) Hinder, delay, or prevent the legislator from attending or participating in
20a legislative proceeding.
21(b) Influence the conduct of the legislator in a legislative proceeding.
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1B.(1) Except as provided in Paragraph (2) of this Subsection, whoever
2commits the crime of obstruction of a legislative proceeding shall be imprisoned for
3not more than six months.
4(2) Whoever commits the crime of obstruction of a legislative proceeding
5that results in an injury that requires medical attention shall be imprisoned with or
6without hard labor for not less than one year nor more than three years.
7C. For the purposes of this Section, "legislative proceeding" means any of
8the following:
9(1) A committee or subcommittee meeting of either house of the legislature.
10(2) A joint committee meeting of both houses of the legislature.
11(3) The convening of either house of the legislature in its respective
12chamber.
13(4) Any other committee, board, or entity of which a legislator is a member.
14Section 2. Code of Criminal Procedure Article 62(C) is hereby and amended and
15 reenacted and Code of Criminal Procedure Article 611(D)(3) is hereby enacted to read as
16 follows:
17Art. 62. Authority of attorney general; supervision of district attorney
18*       *  *
19C. In any criminal action or proceeding involving a homicidal death or
20obstruction of a legislative proceeding, if deemed necessary for the assertion or
21protection of the rights and interests of the state, and in accordance with the
22provisions of Article IV, Section 8 of the Constitution of Louisiana, the attorney
23general may, with the consent of the district attorney, investigate, prosecute or
24intervene in the action or proceeding.
25*       *  *
26Art. 611. Venue; trial where offense committed
27*       *  *
28D.
29*       *  *
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HLS 26RS-8  ORIGINAL
  HB NO. 144
1(3) If the offender is charged with the crime of obstruction of a legislative
2proceeding, the offense is deemed to have been committed in any of the following:
3(a) The parish of the underlying actual or potential present, past, or future
4criminal proceeding or investigation.
5(b) The parish where any act or element constituting the basis for the
6obstruction of a legislative proceeding prosecution occurred.
7(c) East Baton Rouge Parish.
8*        *        *
  DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 144 Original  2026 Regular Session  Glorioso
Abstract: Creates the crime of obstruction of a legislative proceeding and provides with
  respect to penalties and venue.
Proposed law creates the crime of obstruction of a legislative proceeding and provides that
this offense is committed when the offender has knowledge that such act has, reasonably
may, or will affect an actual or potential present, past, or future legislative proceeding
through any of the following:
(1)    Impeding the due and proper administration of any legislative proceeding or the due
  and proper exercise of the power of inquiry under which any inquiry or investigation
  is conducted by either house of the legislature.
(2)    Using or threatening force toward the person or property of a legislator with the
  specific intent to do any of the following:
  (a)     Hinder, delay, or prevent the legislator from attending or participating in a
  legislative proceeding.
  (b)     Influence the conduct of the legislator in a legislative proceeding.
Proposed law provides for penalties as follows:
(1)    Imprisonment for not more than six months.
(2)    If the violation results in an injury that requires medical attention, imprisonment with
  or without hard labor for not less than one year nor more than three years.
Proposed law defines the term "legislative proceeding".
Present law (C.Cr.P. Art. 62) provides for authority of the attorney general relative to
supervision of district attorneys in the state of La.
Proposed law generally retains present law.
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  HB NO. 144
Present law authorizes the attorney general, with the consent of the district attorney, to
investigate, prosecute, or intervene in any criminal action or proceeding involving a
homicidal death, if deemed necessary for the assertion or protection of the rights and
interests of the state and in accordance with present law (Const. Art. IV, Sec. 8).
Proposed law amends present law to include any criminal action or proceeding involving
obstruction of a legislative proceeding. Otherwise retains present law.
Present law (C.Cr.P. Art. 611) provides that the venue for a trial is where the offense is
committed.
Proposed law retains present law and provides that if the offender is charged with the crime
of obstruction of a legislative proceeding, the offense is deemed to have been committed in
any of the following:
(1)    The parish of the underlying actual or potential present, past, or future criminal
   proceeding or investigation.
(2)    The parish where any act or element constituting the basis for the obstruction of a
   legislative proceeding prosecution occurred.
(3)    East Baton Rouge Parish.
(Amends C.Cr.P. Art. 62(C); Adds R.S. 14:130.2 and C.Cr.P. Art. 611(D)(3))
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