SB 51 Louisiana Senate · 2025 Regular Session

PUBLIC RECORDS: Provides for public power authority and public records for the city of Alexandria. (8/1/25)

SB 51 clarifies the definition of "public power authority" for the city of Alexandria, Louisiana, specifically for its utility division operating as an enterprise fund. The bill defines this authority as either a municipal entity created under state law or Alexandria's utility department managing public power projects. It explicitly includes provisions for handling "commercially sensitive information" within public records related to these operations. The legislation directly affects how Alexandria's utility department manages and discloses records under state public records laws. This is a definitional update, not a new policy or funding measure.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Apr 2025

Committee Review

May 2025

Senate Passage

May 2025

House Passage

May 2025

Signed into Law

Jun 2025

Introduced Apr 1, 2025 Signed Jun 4, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB51 Original → SB51 Act · 2 edits

MINOR

This bill expands the definition of 'public power authority' to include a specific utility division for the City of Alexandria, ensuring this division is also protected from having to disclose commercially sensitive information under public records laws. Previously, only entities created under a specific state statute qualified for this protection; now, the city's utility division is explicitly included alongside those entities.

Scope change

The bill broadens the scope of entities eligible for commercial confidentiality exemptions by adding the City of Alexandria's utility division to the list of protected organizations.

DEFINITION

Added a new definition stating that a 'public power authority' also includes the utility division for the City of Alexandria.

Revised the existing definition to clarify that public power authorities are created for the purpose of constructing, acquiring, improving, operating, or managing public power projects or improvements.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 29, 2025 · House May 27, 2025

How they voted

37–0

Passed

Total votes 37

Apr 29, 2025

D Democratic11

11 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican26

26 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

Amendments proposed by the House read and concurred in by a vote of 38 yeas and 0 nays.

upper

May 27, 2025

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 92, nays 0. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.

lower

May 15, 2025

Introduced

Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.

lower

May 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported with amendments (12-0). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.

lower

May 5, 2025

Committee

Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on House and Governmental Affairs.

lower

Apr 29, 2025

Upper · Passed

Read by title, passed by a vote of 39 yeas and 0 nays, and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

upper

Apr 23, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported favorably.

upper

Apr 14, 2025

Committee

Introduced in the Senate; read by title. Rules suspended. Read second time and referred to the Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors