HB 247 Louisiana House · 2026 Regular Session

DISTRICTS/ECONOMIC DEVEL: Creates the Allen Parish Economic Development District and abolishes the Allen Parish Tourist Commission

HB 247 creates the Allen Parish Economic Development District to replace the Allen Parish Tourist Commission, directly affecting all residents and businesses in Allen Parish. The district, governed by a five-member board including chamber presidents and parish officials, will focus on economic development, job creation, and infrastructure improvements across the entire parish. A key provision allows the district to levy a 3% hotel occupancy tax on room rentals, collected in addition to existing city taxes, with funds dedicated exclusively to district projects. The bill abolishes the Tourist Commission and transfers its assets, while establishing the new district as a political subdivision authorized to contract, acquire property, and develop public improvements.

Issues: ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Feb 20, 2026 Signed May 27, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB247 Original → HB247 Act · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was converted from a draft proposal to an enrolled Act, changing its status from a legislative suggestion to an official law. The core policy content regarding the creation of the Allen Parish Economic Development District remains substantively unchanged, with the primary modifications being the reorganization of the board's composition and the renumbering of its powers to match the new statutory structure.

Scope change

The scope of the bill remains consistent, establishing the Allen Parish Economic Development District with the same powers and boundaries as the original draft, though the specific list of board members was reordered.

REQUIREMENT

The composition of the district's board of commissioners was reordered; the original draft listed the House Representative as the final member, while the enacted Act lists them as the fifth member, though the total membership and roles remain identical.

TECHNICAL

The statutory numbering and section headers were reorganized to align with the final enrolled format, shifting the district's powers from Section E to Section F and adding a new Section G regarding tax approval requirements.

DEFINITION

The header description of the bill was updated to reflect its enactment as Act No. 398, formally repealing specific sections of the Revised Statutes to codify the new district.

Floor votes · Senate May 6, 2026 · House Apr 1, 2026

How they voted

36–2

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 40

May 6, 2026

D Democratic12

11 Yea 1

91% Yea

R Republican28

25 Yea 2 Nay 1

89% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

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

lower

May 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

The amended bill was read by title, passed by a vote of 35 yeas and 2 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

upper

Apr 27, 2026

Committee

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

upper

Apr 22, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported with amendments.

upper

Apr 1, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 78, nays 6. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

lower

Mar 26, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported with amendments (12-0).

lower

Mar 9, 2026

Committee

Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Municipal, Parochial and Cultural Affairs.

lower

Feb 20, 2026

Committee

Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Municipal, Parochial and Cultural Affairs.

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors