HB 84 repeals the law that created the Capital Area Transit System (CATS), a state-created transit authority operating in East Baton Rouge Parish. The bill transfers all CATS assets, obligations, employees, and records to the city of Baton Rouge and East Baton Rouge Parish. This change directly affects CATS as an entity, eliminating its legal structure and shifting responsibility for public transit operations to local government. The bill does not create new transit policies or alter service operations.
HB 140 requires contractors to provide homeowners with a written "Notice of Lien Rights" before starting residential home improvements, explaining that unpaid subcontractors, suppliers, or workers may place legal claims against the property. Homeowners can request written lists of all workers/suppliers and amounts owed within 10 days, and contractors must provide this information promptly. Failure to give the required notice means contractors lose their own lien rights and may face penalties, including fines of $1,000 or 10% of the contract price. The law directly affects homeowners (by strengthening their protections) and contractors (by imposing disclosure duties and penalties for non-compliance).
HB 59 appropriates $20,000 from Louisiana's state general fund for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 to pay a court-ordered settlement in the case *Randall Clint Lewis v. State of Louisiana, through the Department of Transportation and Development*. The bill directly affects the state treasury (which must fund the payment) and the plaintiff (Randall Clint Lewis, who is owed the settlement). It specifies the funds cover the judgment's principal, interest, court costs, and expert fees, with payment requiring documentation and ceasing interest as of the bill's effective date. This is a procedural funding measure for an existing court ruling, not a new policy.
HB 104 appropriates $45,000 from Louisiana's state general fund for fiscal year 2024-2025 to pay a court-ordered judgment against the state in the case *Wilkerson v. State of Louisiana*. The bill directly affects the state government, requiring it to pay Sharon Wilkerson the full amount of the final judgment (including principal, interest, court costs, and expert fees) as specified in the consent decree. It provides no new policy or law, only allocating existing funds to fulfill a pre-existing court order. The bill is procedural and does not alter the judgment's terms.
HB 31 amends retirement rules for firefighters in New Orleans' Firefighters' Pension and Relief Fund, affecting all current and future members of the system. It establishes different eligibility requirements based on hire date: firefighters hired before 2015 must be age 50 with 12+ years of service, those hired in 2015-2016 must be age 52 with 12+ years, and those hired after 2016 must meet federal retirement age minus 10 years with 12+ years. The bill adjusts retirement benefit calculations to 2.5% of the firefighter's highest five-year average salary (with a 2.75% rate for 2015-2016 hires), capping benefits at 100% of that average. It also specifies that members leaving before retirement age must remain in the system until eligibility is met and outlines survivor benefit provisions.
HB 45 appropriates $10,000 from Louisiana's general fund to pay a 2023 court judgment against the state in a case brought by State Farm Insurance. The funds cover the judgment's principal, interest, court costs, and expert witness fees related to a highway incident involving the Department of Transportation and Development. This bill directly affects the state's budget and State Farm, which was awarded the payment under the court's order.
HB 149 expands Louisiana's existing sales and use tax exemption for commercial fishermen to include licensed charter boat fishing guides. It allows Louisiana residents with valid charter boat fishing guide licenses to qualify as commercial fishermen for tax exemption purposes, covering taxes on vessel repairs and necessary supplies. The bill clarifies that possessing a license alone does not automatically qualify a vessel for the exemption; the vessel must be primarily used for commercial fishing. This policy change modifies existing tax rules (R.S. 47:305.20 and R.S. 56:302.9(K)) to include a specific group of fishing professionals.
HB 43 appropriates $330,000 from the state general fund to pay two specific court-ordered judgments against Louisiana. It allocates $165,000 for William Mangum’s case (C-167,370-B) and $165,000 for Jackie Shaw Mangum’s case (C-167,521), both involving the state’s Department of Transportation and Development. The funds cover the principal amounts, court costs, expert witness fees, and interest as specified in the final judgments. The bill ensures payments are made only after required documentation is submitted to the state treasurer.
HB 44 appropriates $3,639.68 from Louisiana's state general fund to pay a final court-ordered settlement (consent judgment) related to a 2022 lawsuit. The funds cover the state's obligation to Martin T. Frey, Four Oaks Farm, and Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company as subrogee, for costs including principal, interest, court fees, and expert witness expenses. This bill directly affects the state treasury and the parties named in the existing judgment, requiring payment from the specified appropriation. It is a procedural funding measure with no new policy provisions, solely enabling payment of a prior court ruling.
HB 105 appropriates $450,000 from Louisiana's state general fund to pay a court-ordered settlement (consent judgment) in the case *Marchand v. State of Louisiana*. The bill directly affects the state (which must pay the funds) and Jared Marchand (the plaintiff who won the case). It specifies that the payment covers the judgment's principal, interest, court costs, and expert witness fees as determined by the court, with interest ceasing on the bill's effective date. The funds are allocated specifically for this existing legal obligation, not for new policy changes.
HB 42 allocates $200,000 from Louisiana's state general fund to pay a court-ordered settlement (consent judgment) in a specific case. The funds will be distributed to three individuals: $25,000 to Landon Howard Powell, $50,000 to William Brayden Powell, and $125,000 to Kynlee Ann Powell, who were awarded damages in a lawsuit against the state's Department of Transportation and Development. The bill specifies that payment covers the judgment's principal, interest, court costs, and expert fees as ordered by the court. This is a procedural funding measure to fulfill an existing legal obligation, not a new policy change.
This bill requires Louisiana's public retirement systems (like state employee pension funds) to direct their investment managers to base all decisions solely on financial factors - such as risk and return - not on environmental, social, or political goals. It specifically prohibits considering non-financial factors (e.g., reducing emissions, promoting diversity, or divesting over ethical concerns) in investment choices or shareholder voting, defining such actions as violations. The law mandates annual public reporting of proxy votes and authorizes the state Attorney General to enforce compliance, imposing fines (up to three times the service provider’s fee) that fund pension shortfalls. The bill takes effect on June 30, 2025.
