SB 315 increases Louisiana's threshold for exempting professional service contracts from competitive bidding requirements from $1 million to $2 million. This means state agencies can award contracts for services like legal, consulting, or engineering work without competitive bidding if the estimated cost is $2 million or less. The bill directly affects state agencies when procuring these services and the contractors who provide them. It amends Louisiana Revised Statutes §38:2316 and takes effect upon gubernatorial approval.
SB 324 modifies Louisiana's Water Sector Program, which provides grant funding for repairs and improvements to community water and sewer systems. It establishes new rules for emergency grants (e.g., funding for systems under court-appointed management), requires the Water Sector Commission to submit priorities by September 2024, and mandates the Division of Administration to create guidance for grant applications and emergency funding by October 2024. The bill adds provisions allowing minor project adjustments without commission approval and requires grant recipients to comply with rate study requirements or face future funding ineligibility. It directly affects community water systems, local governing authorities, and the Water Sector Commission in administering these grants.
HB 300 increases the dollar thresholds at which Louisiana state banks must obtain a full appraisal for bank-owned properties instead of using internal evaluations. Specifically, it raises the residential threshold from $250,000 to $400,000 and maintains the commercial threshold at $500,000. This change directly affects state banks handling property acquisitions or valuations below these new limits, reducing their administrative burden for lower-value properties. The bill modifies existing law to align with updated market conditions while requiring appraisals for properties exceeding these thresholds every three years. It does not alter consumer protections or create new requirements beyond the specified valuation limits.
HB 320 creates a new criminal offense in Louisiana for inmates who expose their intimate body parts (genitals, pubic hair, anus, vulva, or female breast nipples) to correctional staff with the intent of sexual gratification or harassment. It applies specifically to individuals incarcerated in jails, prisons, or detention facilities, targeting conduct directed at employees of those facilities. Violations carry penalties of up to three years in prison, a $2,500 fine, or both for a first offense, with harsher penalties for repeat offenses. The bill also amends existing law to include this new offense under the definition of "sex offense" for registration and notification purposes.
HB 720 clarifies that when a Louisiana parish or municipality maintains a road for four years or more, it becomes a public road automatically, without needing formal agreement. This means the road and its right-of-way cannot be sold by neighboring landowners, and public improvements like sidewalks built on it remain publicly accessible. If the government later decides to return such a road to its original owner, it must send written notice with a 90-day response period. The law applies retroactively to all roads meeting these conditions.
HB 847 amends Louisiana law governing the election and duties of soil and water conservation district supervisors. It requires each district to elect three supervisors annually (one per year) on the second Saturday in June, with nominations needing 25 qualified voter signatures on petitions. Supervisors must attend at least 66.67% of district meetings annually to be eligible for reappointment, and vacancies are filled through regular elections. The bill directly affects local conservation district supervisors and voters within those districts.
HB 588 adds three new industry representatives to Louisiana's Seafood Safety Task Force: one from the oyster industry, one from the crab industry, and one from the finfish industry. This expands the task force's membership from 14 to 17 members without altering the task force's existing duties or responsibilities. The bill specifically defines these new roles as mandatory positions within the existing statutory structure.
HB 923 reorganizes Louisiana's workforce and social service delivery by establishing an integrated case management system. It creates a "One Door" model allowing individuals to access multiple services - like employment support, education, and family assistance - through a single entry point with coordinated case workers. The bill defines key terms like "integrated service plan" and requires agencies to streamline services across departments, reducing the need for clients to navigate separate offices. This directly affects individuals seeking workforce or social services and the state agencies (including Louisiana Works) responsible for delivering them.
HB 464 requires anyone conducting excavation or demolition that damages underground utility lines to immediately report the damage to both the utility owner/operator and Louisiana's regional notification center. This applies directly to construction crews, excavators, and demolition companies operating in Louisiana. The bill mandates reporting the location and nature of damage, allowing utility owners time to repair before work continues, and requires the notification center to alert all potentially affected utilities. The law aims to improve safety and reduce service disruptions by ensuring prompt communication when underground infrastructure is damaged.
HB 294 allows houses of worship (like churches, mosques, and synagogues) to request that disruptive or trespassing individuals leave their premises. If such individuals refuse, authorized staff or security may use reasonable force to remove them, consistent with existing self-defense laws. The law protects these individuals and the religious organization from legal liability when using force that is necessary and proportional to the disruption. This directly affects places of worship and their staff by clarifying their legal authority to maintain order during services or religious activities.
HB 565 requires Louisiana's fire marshal to conduct fire safety inspections of early learning centers and child day care centers (as defined in R.S. 17:407.33), applying state and federal life safety codes to these facilities. The bill clarifies that the fire marshal retains responsibility for these inspections, even if local fire prevention bureaus exist, while allowing local fire departments to consult with the fire marshal and conduct fire preplanning. It directly affects day care centers and fire safety enforcement agencies by standardizing inspection protocols under existing life safety codes. The bill does not create new requirements but specifies the fire marshal's role in overseeing safety for these child-care facilities.
HB 747 establishes a new licensure pathway for medical psychologists in Louisiana, replacing the previous "certificate of advanced practice" requirement. It requires medical psychologists to meet specific qualifications - including three years of experience, treatment of 100+ patients using medications like antidepressants, and recommendations from collaborating physicians - to obtain an advanced practice license. The bill mandates that patients treated by these professionals must have an established primary care provider overseeing their overall medical care. Licensing fees are set at $325 for initial issuance and $300 for renewal, with provisions for license reinstatement after expiration. The law directly affects medical psychologists seeking licensure and their patients, while eliminating dual licensure requirements with the existing psychology board.
