HB 1243 Louisiana House · 2026 Regular Session

SEWERAGE/N O WATER BD: Provides relative to the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans

This bill amends the laws governing the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans to clarify the legal relationship between the board and the city. It explicitly states that the board's composition follows the New Orleans Home Rule Charter unless state law dictates otherwise. Additionally, the legislation grants the New Orleans City Council the authority to create rules for appointing board members and defining their terms of service. These changes aim to align the board's operational framework with existing city charter provisions while providing the city council with clearer regulatory powers over board governance.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Apr 2026

Committee Review

May 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

Jun 2026

Introduced Apr 20, 2026 Signed Jun 23, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB1243 Original → HB1243 Act 938 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was updated from a draft version to its final enrolled form, Act No. 938, incorporating significant substantive changes to the Sewerage and Water Board's governance. The composition of the board was expanded to include representatives from major local universities, community colleges, and business chambers, while adding specific requirements for consumer advocacy experience. Additionally, a formal 'Sewerage and Water Board Selection Committee' was created with defined membership to manage the nomination and approval process for new board members.

Scope change

The scope of the bill's applicability was broadened by adding specific institutional representatives (university presidents and college chancellors) and business leaders to the board's composition, alongside new requirements for consumer advocacy expertise among appointed citizens.

SCOPE

Added specific representatives from Dillard, Loyola, Tulane, Xavier, Delgado, UNO, and Southern University at New Orleans to the board's composition.

REQUIREMENT

Mandated that citizen appointees must include at least one person from each of the five councilmanic districts and two consumer advocates with relevant experience.

Created a new 'Sewerage and Water Board Selection Committee' comprised of university leaders, business chamber heads, and the Urban League chair to oversee candidate selection.

TIMELINE

Established strict timelines for vacancy notices, application reviews, and the mayor's and city council's approval processes.

ELIGIBILITY

Changed the appointment process for syndicate members from council-appointed to mayor-appointed based on board recommendations.

Floor votes · Senate May 21, 2026 · House Apr 23, 2026

How they voted

37–0

Passed · 3 other

Total votes 40

May 21, 2026

D Democratic12

11 Yea 1

91% Yea

R Republican28

26 Yea 2

92% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 27, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read by title, roll called, yeas 100, nays 0, Senate amendments concurred in.

lower

May 21, 2026

Upper · Passed

Rules suspended. The amended bill was read by title, passed by a vote of 36 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

upper

May 12, 2026

Committee

Committee amendments read and adopted. Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.

upper

May 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported with amendments.

upper

Apr 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 89, nays 8. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

lower

Apr 20, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read by title, substitute title adopted, lies over in the same order of business, substitute for HB No. 573 reported by the Committee on Municipal, Parochial and Cultural Affairs (14-0).

lower

1 primary · 8 co-sponsors