A bill prefiled for the upcoming Louisiana Legislative Session was filed by State Rep. Beau Beaullieu to name the incoming Acadiana Criminalistics Laboratory after 16th Judicial District Attorney Bo Duhe, who died last week. 

Beaullieu filed the bill last Wednesday, where it was then referred to the Committee on Municipal, Parochial and Cultural Affairs. 

Duhe served as a member of the Acadiana Criminalistics Laboratory Commission since 2015, and became president of the commission from 2017 to 2021. According to the bill, Duhe worked tirelessly with the Acadiana Regional Legislative Delegation and other state and local officials to obtain the necessary funding for constructing and equipping the new 40,000 square-foot Acadiana Criminalistics Laboratory. 

Duhe championed the long sought project to upgrade the laboratory, which suffers from space shortage and other issues. Notably, Duhe and other members of the commission spoke to municipalities all throughout Acadiana to convince local governing bodies on the importance of updating the facility. 

A groundbreaking ceremony was held last May for the new facility, and construction is expected to be completed this summer. 

Duhe’s death was a huge personal blow to the 16th Judicial District, and funeral ceremonies were held last week while parts of the city were closed off in order to accommodate those paying their respects. 

The 2025 Legislative Session convenes for the first time on April 14.