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Revises the list of Louisiana parishes assigned to the Middle and Western federal judicial districts by changing the text of 28 U.S.C. § 98. The change updates which parishes belong to each district for future federal cases and explicitly does not affect cases already filed or pending before the change takes effect.
The bill clarifies which federal district covers certain parishes—reducing venue confusion and protecting pending cases—while imposing transitional uncertainty for future cases, some increased travel/inconvenience for residents and businesses, and modest administrative costs for taxpayers.
Residents and litigants in the listed parishes will have clearer, updated federal-court venue assignments, reducing confusion about where cases should be filed and heard.
People with pending cases will not be forced into a new district because the change explicitly preserves actions filed before enactment, avoiding disruption to ongoing litigation.
Courts and lawyers for the affected parishes can better plan caseloads and resource allocation thanks to a clear, current district map.
Litigants and attorneys in shifted parishes may face different judges and local court procedures, creating transitional uncertainty about lawyering strategy, timelines, and outcomes.
Some residents and businesses in reassigned parishes could have longer travel times or need to use unfamiliar courthouses, increasing time and expense to access federal courts.
Taxpayers may incur modest administrative costs as courts update records, dockets, signage, and logistics to reflect new parish assignments.
Introduced March 5, 2026 by Julia Letlow · Last progress March 5, 2026