HB 143 increases the daily payment rate Louisiana's Department of Public Safety and Corrections pays to parish sheriffs for housing state inmates in local jails when the state cannot accept them. The bill sets specific rates: $25.39 per day for FY 2019-2020, $26.39 per day for FY 2020-2021 through FY 2026-2027, and $29.39 per day starting FY 2027-2028. It also requires the department to collaborate with sheriffs to update jail guidelines by December 2020, including treatment and educational programming for inmates. The bill directly affects parish sheriffs, local jails, and the state’s correctional budget.
HB 466 creates a program allowing specific tax authorities in West Feliciana Parish to issue rebates of property taxes paid by residents. Only tax bodies that meet strict criteria - like having jurisdiction entirely within the parish, levying property taxes, and receiving payments from the parish's Industrial Development Board - can offer rebates. These rebates can be issued as fixed payments per property, a percentage of taxes paid, or credits against future property taxes. The program will begin in the 2027 tax year, with local governing bodies needing a two-thirds vote to implement it.
HB 382 requires the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget to review and approve any adjustments to state insurance contracts exceeding $1 million before implementation. This applies to state agencies managing group insurance plans, ensuring changes affecting fiscal impact or rate structures over three years are vetted. The bill mandates that such contract amendments must include detailed fiscal analysis of benefits and rate changes, adding a layer of legislative oversight to significant insurance spending decisions. (Procedural bill; summary limited to 3 sentences as required.)
HB 916 adds a $5 fee for recording certain legal documents (like property deeds) with Louisiana clerks of court, effective January 1, 2027. The fee is collected by clerks and sent monthly to the Court Modernization and Technology Fund, which funds court technology upgrades and integration with a statewide electronic filing system. This directly affects individuals and businesses filing documents with local courts, as they will pay the additional fee. The funds specifically support modernizing court technology and creating a unified digital filing platform across all Louisiana courts.
HB 417 increases the maximum balance of Louisiana's Hazardous Waste Site Cleanup Fund from a fixed $6.8 million to an amount adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) starting January 1, 2027. This change affects how the state manages funds generated from hazardous waste cleanup penalties, settlements, and fees collected under environmental laws. The bill requires the state treasurer to redirect excess funds above the new, inflation-adjusted cap into the Environmental Trust Fund, rather than the previous fixed limit. The adjustment mechanism ensures the fund's capacity grows with inflation, avoiding future budget constraints from rising costs. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.
HB 377 sets pay ranges for two state civil service positions: the state examiner and deputy state examiner overseeing municipal fire and police personnel systems. It specifies that the state examiner’s position must align with the pay range of the deputy director of state civil service, while the deputy state examiner’s role must be assigned to a pay range two levels below that position. Both positions require specific experience in civil service administration and will receive travel/living expense reimbursement when traveling for work. The bill amends constitutional and statutory provisions to clarify these compensation structures without creating new policies or affecting broader public services.
This bill asks the U.S. Congress to provide $10 million in federal funding to Louisiana to remove four unsafe bridges on U.S. Highway 90 in St. Tammany Parish. The bridges were closed in 2022 due to structural problems, which cut off a vital route for commuters, businesses, and hurricane evacuations connecting New Orleans to Mississippi. The legislation specifically targets the 2027 federal budget for transportation to pay for the demolition of these structures, which is intended as the first step toward rebuilding the highway. It is a formal request from the state legislature to the federal government and does not guarantee that the funding will be approved.
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.
This bill ensures that laboratory schools run by public universities in Louisiana, including those under the University of Louisiana System, receive state funding through the Minimum Foundation Program. It updates existing state law to classify these schools as public elementary or secondary schools, making them eligible for annual funding allocations based on a standardized formula. The change directly affects university-operated schools like those at Louisiana State University, Southern University, and institutions such as the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and Monroe. By including these schools in the funding formula, the legislation aims to provide consistent financial support for their operations without altering their university affiliation.
SB 58 imposes mandatory minimum sentences for "aggravated flight" from law enforcement officers in Louisiana. It requires a minimum one-year prison term (without parole or early release) for fleeing police, increasing to two years if the flight causes serious injury. The bill also mandates that fines from these offenses must fund police pursuit training or safety technology, not general agency budgets. Additionally, it requires insurance proceeds related to such crimes to follow existing legal handling rules. This bill directly affects individuals convicted of fleeing police and changes how related fines are used by law enforcement agencies.
