HB 217 allows Louisiana parishes to optionally offer property tax exemptions for blighted or derelict properties that have been rehabilitated. If a parish adopts this exemption, it would provide up to 75% tax relief on residential properties for up to 20 years, or up to 25% relief on adjacent unimproved land for up to 10 years, subject to specific rehabilitation standards. Parishes must establish application processes, approval criteria, and revocation rules for property owners who hold title to qualifying rehabilitated properties. The exemption applies only to properties meeting the bill's definitions of "blighted" (court-declared public nuisance) or "derelict" (structurally unsafe, fire hazards, or dangerous conditions). The policy would take effect for tax years starting January 1, 2027, pending a constitutional amendment approval.
HB 239 sets a price cap for the East Baton Rouge Redevelopment Authority when selling property acquired with public funds. Specifically, it limits sales to nonprofits or local governments for public use or redevelopment areas to no more than 110% of the original public acquisition cost. This directly affects the Redevelopment Authority, nonprofits, and local government entities purchasing such property. The bill modifies existing law to ensure property sold for public purposes doesn't exceed this 110% threshold, overriding other provisions that might allow higher prices.
HB 601 sets a cap on monthly water and wastewater charges for essential residential use in Louisiana cities with high poverty or low median income. It limits the total cost for basic service (up to 4,000 gallons of water per month) to 4.5% of the municipality’s median household income. The rule applies only to qualifying cities (poverty rate >30% or median income <50% of state average) and does not affect rates for usage beyond essential needs. Municipalities must also provide free meter testing after rate hikes over 10% and establish review processes for billing disputes.
HB 616 requires homeless service providers receiving state or local public funds to submit specific documentation upon request from the legislative auditor, parish presidents, or municipal governing bodies. Providers must share program performance metrics (like housing outcomes), goal effectiveness, and clear, simple reports on how public funds are used. Failure to comply could lead to suspension or termination of public funding. This bill directly affects organizations managing homelessness services in Louisiana, aiming to ensure transparency and proper use of taxpayer money.
HB 823 establishes a pilot program in Orleans Parish that offers homeless individuals facing criminal charges an alternative to court proceedings. Instead of traditional sentencing, eligible defendants can participate in a diversion program providing housing assistance, mental health services, job training, and substance abuse treatment. If participants successfully complete the program’s requirements, the criminal charges are dismissed without a conviction. The program requires annual evaluations and reporting to the Louisiana Supreme Court, aiming to reduce recidivism, court workload, and prison overcrowding while addressing homelessness through community partnerships.
HB 292 clarifies Louisiana's security deposit return rules for residential tenants. It requires landlords to return all or part of a security deposit within one month after a lease ends, or up to two months if both parties agree in writing. Landlords may only keep funds to cover legitimate costs like repairs for tenant-caused damage or unreasonable wear, and must provide a detailed written explanation for any retained amount. This directly affects residential tenants and landlords across Louisiana by standardizing deposit return timelines and requiring transparent accounting.
HB 543 would increase the homestead property tax exemption in Louisiana from $5,000 to $7,500 of assessed value for qualifying homeowners, effective January 1, 2027, if a related constitutional amendment passes in a statewide election. It also provides residential lessees with a tax credit equal to the tax on $7,500 of assessed value (capped at their actual tax bill), but only if they do not qualify for the homestead exemption themselves. The bill directly affects homeowners who claim homestead status and residential renters in Louisiana. The exemption amount change applies statewide, with historical adjustments for Orleans Parish noted in the text. The bill’s implementation is contingent on voter approval of a constitutional amendment, as specified in Section 2.
HB 493 prohibits the Amite River Basin Drainage and Water Conservation District's board of commissioners from taking private land through expropriation (legal seizure) within East Feliciana and St. Helena parishes in Louisiana. This directly affects property owners, including homeowners, businesses, barns, outbuildings, and churches in those specific parishes. The bill amends existing law to remove the district's authority to expropriate property in these areas while maintaining the requirement that owners would be paid the full replacement cost of any property taken elsewhere in the district. The change specifically targets the district's expropriation power in two parishes, leaving other provisions of the law intact.
SB 301 directs Louisiana to use surplus state-owned land for affordable housing by requiring the Louisiana Housing Corporation to maintain an annual public inventory of available property. It establishes a process where nonprofit or government housing entities can submit proposals to develop affordable housing on this land, with proposals evaluated based on criteria like the proportion of deeply affordable units (rent ≤30% of income for very low-income residents), nonprofit ownership models, and inclusion of supportive services. The bill directly affects affordable housing entities, which can develop housing for very low-income (≤50% median income), low-income (≤80%), and moderate-income (≤100%) residents, while requiring annual reporting on transferred properties to the legislature. Key mechanisms include mandatory scoring of proposals, cooperative agreements between the Corporation and housing entities, and gubernatorial review for property retention. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.
