SB 166

SLS 26RS-336  ORIGINAL
 2026 Regular Session
 SENATE BILL NO. 166
 BY SENATOR SEABAUGH
 CRIMINAL PROCEDURE. Provides for responsive verdicts for specific crimes. (8/1/26)
1AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact Code of Criminal Procedure Art. 814(A)(1), (3), and (5) and to repeal
3Code of Criminal Procedure Art. 814(A)(7), relative to responsive verdicts; to
4change responsive verdicts involving the offenses of first and second degree murder
5and manslaughter; to remove responsive verdicts involving negligent homicide; and
6to provide for related matters.
7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8Section 1. Code of Criminal Procedure Art. 814(A)(1), (3), and (5) are hereby
9 amended and reenacted to read as follows:
10Art. 814. Responsive verdicts; in particular
11A. The only responsive verdicts which may be rendered when the indictment
12charges the following offenses are:
131. First Degree Murder:
14Guilty.
15Guilty of attempted first degree murder.
16Guilty of second degree murder.
17Guilty of attempted second degree murder.
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  Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
  words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
 SLS 26RS-336  ORIGINAL
  SB NO. 166
1Guilty of manslaughter.
2Guilty of attempted manslaughter.
3Not guilty.
4*       *      *
53. Second Degree Murder:
6Guilty.
7Guilty of attempted second degree murder.
8Guilty of manslaughter.
9Guilty of attempted manslaughter.
10Guilty of negligent homicide.
11Not guilty.
12*       *      *
135. Manslaughter:
14Guilty.
15Guilty of attempted manslaughter.
16Guilty of negligent homicide.
17Not guilty.
18*       *      *
19Section 2. Code of Criminal Procedure Art. 814(A)(7) is hereby repealed.
  The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
  of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Senate Legislative Services.
  The keyword, summary, 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)]
  DIGEST
 SB 166 Original  2026 Regular Session  Seabaugh
 Present law provides for the following responsive verdicts when the indictment charges the
 following offenses:
 (1)    First Degree Murder:
  Guilty.
  Guilty of second degree murder.
  Guilty of manslaughter.
  Not guilty.
 (2)    Second Degree Murder:
  Guilty.
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  Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
  words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
SLS 26RS-336  ORIGINAL
  SB NO. 166
   Guilty of manslaughter.
   Guilty of negligent homicide.
   Not guilty.
(3)    Manslaughter:
   Guilty.
   Guilty of negligent homicide.
   Not guilty.
(4)    Negligent homicide:
   Guilty.
   Not guilty.
Proposed law, in addition to the current responsive verdicts, adds the following responsive
verdicts to the following offenses.
(1)    First Degree Murder:
   Guilty of attempted first degree murder.
   Guilty of attempted second degree murder.
   Guilty of attempted manslaughter.
(2)    Second Degree Murder:
   Guilty of attempted second degree murder.
   Guilty of attempted manslaughter.
(3)    Manslaughter:
   Guilty of attempted manslaughter.
Proposed law further removes the responsive verdict of "guilty of negligent homicide" from
the offenses of second degree murder and manslaughter.
Proposed law repeals the responsive verdict provisions for the offense of negligent homicide.
Effective August 1, 2026.
(Amends C.Cr.P. Art. 814(A)(1), (3), and (5); repeals C.Cr.P. Art. 814(A)(7))
  Page 3 of 3
   Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
   words in boldface type and underscored are additions.