Housing

HB 211 creates Louisiana's "Homelessness Court Program," establishing specialized court divisions to address homelessness through treatment and support instead of incarceration. It directly affects individuals experiencing homelessness charged with misdemeanors or felonies related to public camping or survival needs, requiring courts to screen eligible defendants for the program. Key provisions include mandatory substance abuse and mental health treatment, housing/job assistance partnerships, and a new criminal penalty for "unauthorized camping on public property" (with exceptions for shelter access). The program aims to reduce recidivism, court workloads, and prison overcrowding by integrating health care, housing, and rehabilitation services under judicial supervision.

HB 284 authorizes Louisiana parishes and municipalities with populations under 50,000 to acquire abandoned or blighted properties through a streamlined process. Local governments must provide 15 days' notice to owners and deposit an appraised value into court before taking possession, rather than waiting for final court approval. The law defines "abandoned property" as vacant/unsecured or unsafe structures and "blighted property" as those declared hazardous by officials. Its purpose is to revitalize deteriorated areas by rehabilitating properties and returning them to economic use.