Limits scope of constitutional amendments

Current law: Allows the legislature to propose a single constitutional amendment that revises an entire article, even if it includes multiple objects or changes.

Proposed change: Removes this allowance. Requires all constitutional amendments, including full article revisions, to be clearly confined to one object.

Effect: Prohibits multi-object amendments, even for full article revisions. Ensures each proposed constitutional change is presented separately to voters.

Election date: November 3, 2026

Amends: Article XIII, Section 1(B) of the Louisiana Constitution

Purpose: To improve transparency and voter clarity by preventing bundled constitutional changes.

Proposes an amendment to R.S. 38:3306(A)(2). The current statute mandates that the board of the Amite River Basin Drainage and Water Conservation District promulgate regulations for watershed management by January 1, 2026. The proposed bill seeks to remove this specific deadline, allowing the board to establish these regulations without a fixed timeframe.

The Amite River Basin Drainage and Water Conservation District is responsible for managing water resources within its jurisdiction. By eliminating the January 1, 2026 deadline, the bill provides the board with greater flexibility in developing and implementing watershed management regulations. This change could accommodate unforeseen challenges or the need for extended deliberation to ensure comprehensive and effective policies.

However, the removal of a specific deadline may also lead to delays in establishing necessary regulations, potentially impacting watershed management efforts within the district. Stakeholders and policymakers will need to weigh the benefits of flexibility against the importance of timely regulatory action to address water conservation and drainage issues in the Amite River Basin.

Proposes amendments to the Louisiana Scenic Rivers Act, specifically aiming to extend the duration of certain permit exceptions related to clearing, snagging, and dredging operations in Bayou Manchac.​

Under current law, these permit exceptions are set to expire on August 1, 2026. House Bill No. 172 seeks to extend this deadline to December 31, 2030. The proposed changes involve amending R.S. 56:1855(M)(2) and (P)(1)(introductory paragraph) to reflect this new expiration date.​

In summary, the bill's objective is to prolong the period during which local governments can conduct specific drainage-related activities in Bayou Manchac without requiring a permit, extending the current deadline from August 1, 2026, to December 31, 2030.

HOUSE committee amendments [LINK] require prisoners to submit an affidavit of their current assets rather than an account statement, and they establish how partial filing fees should be calculated based on either a prisoner's trust account balance or present assets, aligning the process with existing fee schedules in the Code of Civil Procedure for seeking waiver of fees.

Proposes amendments to Louisiana's procedures for prisoners seeking to proceed in forma pauperis (IFP) in civil actions.

The bill aims to modify Louisiana Revised Statutes 15:1186(A) and (B)(1) and 15:1188(B)(2), focusing on the financial obligations and procedural requirements for incarcerated individuals pursuing civil litigation without prepayment of fees.

Key differences between current law and the proposed amendments:

1. Clarification on Account Statements (Current vs. Proposed)

Current Law:

• Requires prisoners to submit a certified copy of their trust fund account statement for the 6 months prior to filing.

HB199 Changes:

• Expands and clarifies this requirement:
• If the applicant is currently incarcerated, they must submit a statement for the six months immediately preceding the filing. If incarcerated for less than six months, the statement must cover that shorter period.
• If the applicant is no longer incarcerated, they must still submit a statement for the six months prior to filing, or for the period since release (if it’s been less than six months).

Impact: This change closes a loophole where formerly incarcerated individuals could claim pauper status without disclosing recent financial activity post-release.

2. Handling of Filing Fees (Current vs. Proposed)

Current Law:

• Inmates proceeding IFP are assessed an initial partial filing fee based on their trust account balance or deposits. They pay the rest in monthly installments.
• The law already mandates that the entire filing fee must eventually be paid.

HB199 Changes:

• Reinforces existing procedures but adds clear direction to the custodial agency:
• If the prisoner’s trust account balance exceeds $10, the agency must forward the 20% monthly payment to the court clerk.
• This requirement applies until the full fee is paid.

Impact: More structured enforcement. Ensures consistent collection and reduces the chances of partial payment being overlooked or delayed by correctional agencies.

3. Dismissal for Non-IFP Prisoners (Current vs. Proposed)

Current Law:

• Civil actions filed without prepayment can be dismissed, but the statute is less explicit about consequences.

HB199 Changes:

• Adds explicit language: If a prisoner who is not granted IFP status fails to pay court costs in advance, the case must be dismissed without prejudice.
• Such a dismissal will not interrupt prescription (i.e., legal time limits keep running).

Impact: Increases the legal risk for prisoners filing without paying or without a valid IFP order. A case dismissed for non-payment won’t stop the clock on statute-of-limitations deadlines.