PROPERTY/PUBLIC: Provides relative to the authorized uses and lease of certain public property in Orleans and Jefferson Parish

HB 654 authorizes the City of New Orleans and the state of Louisiana to lease specific public lands along the shores of Lake Pontchartrain in Orleans and Jefferson Parishes. The bill allows these entities to enter into cooperative agreements to select lessees through competitive proposals for uses such as commercial or industrial development, while explicitly prohibiting residential construction on the property. Under the new provisions, the state can lease land directly or to the city for subleasing, with lease terms potentially extending up to 99 years and requiring payment based on the property's appraised value. This legislation amends previous laws to clarify the legal framework for utilizing these waterfront areas for public benefit purposes.