HISTORIC PRESERVATION: Provides relative to historic district commission powers. (8/1/26)
SB 198 clarifies and expands the authority of historic district commissions in Louisiana. It requires all government agencies (state or local) to consult with these commissions before making exterior changes to historic landmarks or structures in designated districts, and mandates a "Certificate of Appropriateness" for such modifications unless waived. The bill also grants commissions the power to take legal action, including seeking court orders, to enforce these requirements. This directly affects property owners and government agencies working on historic sites within designated districts.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
May 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
House Passage
May 2026
Signed into Law
Jun 2026
Introduced Feb 26, 2026
Signed Jun 1, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons
What changed between versions
SB198 Original
→
SB198 Act 593
·
4 edits
MODERATE
This bill updates the rules for historic preservation in Louisiana by expanding the definition of projects requiring approval to include new construction. It also clarifies that state and local government agencies must obtain a Certificate of Appropriateness before starting work in historic districts, with a specific exemption for state infrastructure projects.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of required approvals to include new construction projects, whereas previous rules focused primarily on changes to existing structures.
REQUIREMENT
The requirement for a Certificate of Appropriateness now applies to new construction projects in addition to modifications of existing structures.
State and local government agencies must now seek approval before commencing new construction projects within locally designated historic districts.
ELIGIBILITY
A specific exemption was added for state infrastructure projects, allowing them to proceed without the standard certificate requirement.
DEFINITION
The definition of 'new construction project' was added to clarify it means creating an entirely new building or structure permanently attached to the ground.
Floor votes · Senate Mar 25, 2026 · House May 18, 2026
How they voted
36–0
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 40
Mar 25, 2026
D
Democratic12
75% Yea
R
Republican28
96% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
18
Key actions
4
Committee
4
Amendments
1
May 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 90, nays 2. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.
lower
May 11, 2026
Introduced
Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.
lower
May 7, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably (11-0). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.
lower
Mar 30, 2026
Committee
Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Municipal, Parochial and Cultural Affairs.
lower
Mar 25, 2026
Upper · Passed
Read by title, passed by a vote of 35 yeas and 0 nays, and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
upper
Mar 18, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported with amendments.
upper
Mar 9, 2026
Committee
Introduced in the Senate; read by title. Rules suspended. Read second time and referred to the Committee on Education.
upper
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor
Sponsors
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