HB 688 Louisiana House · 2025 Regular Session

LEVEES/BDS & DISTRICTS: Provides relative to the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East and Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-West Bank

HB 688 amends the membership structure of the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East and Authority-West. It adds three members who do not reside within either authority's territorial jurisdiction, alongside existing members who do reside within the jurisdiction. This change alters how the boards are composed, aiming to include external perspectives in decision-making. The bill directly affects the governance of these two flood protection authorities, which manage critical infrastructure in Southeast Louisiana. The bill was recently passed by the House with unanimous support (94-0) and is now in the Senate.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

May 2025

Committee Review

Jun 2025

House Passage

May 2025

Senate Passage

Jun 2025

Signed into Law

Jun 2025

Introduced May 13, 2025 Signed Jun 20, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB688 Original → HB688 Act · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was finalized into an Act, changing its title and effective date provisions. The most significant substantive change is the restructuring of the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East board, which now requires nine members with specific residency requirements (one from St. Bernard, two from Jefferson, three from Orleans, and three non-residents) and specific professional qualifications, including a mandatory civil engineer. The nominating committee composition was also updated to include representatives from the Council Leaders for A Better Louisiana and the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on flood protection authorities, but the specific composition and appointment criteria for the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East board were significantly altered.

REQUIREMENT

The board composition for the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East was changed to require nine members with specific parish residency quotas and a mandatory civil engineer.

The professional qualifications for board members were adjusted, reducing the number of required engineers from five to four and adding a requirement for a civil engineer.

The nominating committee now includes a member from the Council Leaders for A Better Louisiana and the executive director of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority.

TIMELINE

The bill text was updated to reflect its final enactment as an Act with an effective date provision, replacing the original draft status.

Floor votes · Senate Jun 8, 2025 · House May 19, 2025

How they voted

36–0

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 37

Jun 8, 2025

D Democratic11

10 Yea 1

90% Yea

R Republican26

26 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jun 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

Notice of Senate adoption of Conference Committee Report.

lower

Jun 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

Notice House adopted the Conference Committee Report.

upper

Jun 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference Committee Report read; adopted by a vote of 35 yeas and 0 nays.

upper

Jun 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Report read, roll called, yeas 101, nays 0. The Conference Committee Report was adopted.

lower

Jun 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference committee report received.

upper

Jun 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

Notice House Conference Committee members appointed.

upper

Jun 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee report received. Lies over under the rules.

lower

Jun 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

Senate conference committee members appointed: Connick, Abraham, and Talbot.

upper

Jun 8, 2025

Upper · Passed

Rules suspended. Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title, passed by a vote of 38 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

upper

Jun 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported with amendments. Rules suspended. Committee amendments read and adopted. Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.

upper

May 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 94, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

lower

May 13, 2025

Lower · Passed

Read by title, substitute title adopted, lies over in the same order of business, substitute for HB No. 633 reported by the Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works (12-0).

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors