Budget & Taxes (Fees & Licensing)

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 618 increases maximum fees charged by Louisiana Economic Development (LED) for various services, directly affecting businesses applying for economic incentives or tax credits. Key changes include raising the maximum application fee from $15,000 to $20,000, increasing annual certification fees from $250 to $350, and setting new caps for verification reports. The bill also authorizes automatic fee adjustments every two years starting in 2029 based on the Consumer Price Index to account for inflation. Additionally, it allows LED to waive or reduce fees for small businesses facing financial hardship, with all fees required to fund LED program administration. The bill takes effect January 1, 2027.

HB 795 limits fees charged to Orleans Parish taxing authorities for tax collection services to no more than 5% of the total taxes collected. It directly affects local governments in Orleans Parish (like New Orleans) that collect sales taxes through agreements with other taxing entities. The bill amends Louisiana law to require that any written agreement between these authorities for joint tax collection cannot charge fees exceeding this 5% cap on collected taxes. This is a straightforward fee limitation with no new tax or spending provisions.