HOUSE committee amendments technical

Removes the requirement that the governor must appoint members to certain occupational licensing boards from lists submitted by specified professional organizations. Instead, allows the governor to consider those lists but not be bound by them.

 Key Provisions: 

- Amends statutes governing 32 occupational licensing boards, committees, and authorities. 

- Changes appointment language from “shall appoint from a list” to “may consider a list” submitted by trade associations, medical societies, or other professional groups. 

- Affects boards for accountants, engineers, nurses, medical examiners, contractors, dentists, and others. 

- Maintains that nominees must meet qualification requirements. 

Seeks to repeal the Capital Area Transit System Act (R.S. 48:1451-1461), effectively dissolving the Capital Area Transit System (CATS) as a standalone political subdivision and transferring its obligations, property, records, and employees to the city of Baton Rouge and the parish of East Baton Rouge. This dismantles a separate political subdivision that operates public transportation in East Baton Rouge Parish and any other participating parishes. CATS, as established under the present law, has its own board of commissioners, taxing authority (subject to voter approval), and broad powers to manage transit operations, acquire property, and incur debt. By transferring its functions to the city-parish government, the bill eliminates an additional layer of bureaucracy, potentially streamlining decision-making and reducing administrative costs.

Proposes an individual income tax deduction for intercollegiate athletes in Louisiana who earn compensation from the use of their name, image, or likeness (NIL). The bill seeks to amend Louisiana's tax code to allow these athletes to deduct the actual amount of NIL compensation from their tax table income.

Key Provisions:

• Definition of Intercollegiate Athlete: The bill defines an "intercollegiate athlete" as a student enrolled in a Louisiana public or nonpublic postsecondary education institution who participates in an athletic program.
• Eligibility for Deduction: Athletes attending these institutions who earn compensation for the use of their NIL are eligible for the deduction.
• Amount of Deduction: The deduction is equal to the actual amount of NIL compensation earned by the athlete.
• Tax Code Amendments: The bill proposes amendments to R.S. 47:293(9)(a) and (10) to include this deduction in the calculation of "tax table income" for both resident and nonresident individuals.

Implications:

If enacted, this legislation would reduce the taxable income of student-athletes in Louisiana who receive NIL compensation, potentially lowering their state income tax liability.

Considerations:

• Fiscal Impact: The bill does not specify the anticipated fiscal impact on state tax revenues.
• Compliance and Administration: The legislation would require mechanisms to verify eligibility and the amounts of NIL compensation to ensure proper application of the deduction.

HOUSE floor amendments [LINK] adds a transition rule for current commissioners. It states that any commissioner serving on the effective date of the Act may serve only one additional four-year term and must wait at least four years after that term before being eligible to serve again. Other minor technical changes.

HOUSE committee amendments [LINK] shorten commission terms from six years to four years and limits commissioners to two consecutive four-year terms (eight years total). After serving two terms, a four-year break is required before reappointment.

Proposes amendments to the Louisiana Real Estate Commission's appointment terms. Currently, commissioners serve a single six-year term. The bill seeks to allow commissioners to serve up to two consecutive six-year terms. The proposed changes would take effect immediately upon the governor's signature or upon the lapse of time for gubernatorial action.

Proposing a special district. At least this one has voter approval.

Proposes the creation of the Cypress Point Improvement District in East Baton Rouge Parish. The district would be a political subdivision of the state, created to improve drainage, sewer systems, and overall infrastructure in the defined area.

Boundaries:

The district includes properties located within I-10 West, North Branch Ward Creek, and South Essen Heights. Specifically, it covers addresses from 8400 through 8680 East Cypress Point Court.

Governance:

The district would be governed by a seven-member board of commissioners:

·       Four appointed by the Cypress Point Homeowners Association board

·       One by the House Representative whose district covers the area

·       One by the State Senator for the district

·       One by the East Baton Rouge Parish Assessor

All members must be property owners, residents of the district, and registered voters. They serve four-year terms (with initial terms staggered) and may be reimbursed up to $100 annually for expenses.

Powers and Duties:

The district may:

·       Impose a parcel fee (with voter approval) on each improved parcel

·       Use fee proceeds for sewer and drainage improvements

·       Enter into necessary contracts to fulfill its objectives

Funding:

The parcel fee must be approved by district voters and would be collected annually like a property tax. The exact amount and term of the fee depend on what is approved by voters.

Termination:

The district will automatically dissolve:

·       After 20 years from the effective date of the act, or

·       If a majority of voters in the district approve its dissolution

Any remaining funds at dissolution go to the parish government for use in the same area.

Proposes the gradual reduction of Louisiana's individual income tax rate over 15 years, leading to its elimination by 2040. Currently, the tax rate stands at 3% on net income. Starting January 1, 2026, the bill outlines an annual decrease of 0.2 percentage points, culminating in a zero percent rate from January 1, 2040, onward. This legislation is titled the "Banish All Nonproductivity to Delete Income Tax Act" or "BANDIT Act" and is set to take effect on January 1, 2026.

Appropriates $3,639.68 from the State General Fund (Direct) for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 to pay a consent judgment in "State of Louisiana, through the Department of Transportation and Development v. Martin T. Frey, Four Oaks Farm, and Louisiana Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company," signed July 14, 2022, in the Eighteenth Judicial District, Pointe Coupee Parish (No. 48,028, Division A). The payment benefits Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company as subrogee of/and Four Oaks Farm.

Calls for a constitutional convention to draft a new Louisiana Constitution, beginning December 2, 2025. Establishes procedures for delegate selection, convention operations, and submission of the new constitution to voters in December 2026.

Key Provisions:

- Calls the constitutional convention to convene at noon on December 2, 2025, to draft a new state constitution.

- Creates a 105-member convention: 78 elected delegates (2 from each of 15 populous parishes, 1 from each of the remaining parishes), 10 appointed by professional associations, 1 each from higher education and K-12 education leadership, and 15 appointed by the governor.

- Election for delegates set for October 11, 2025, with a runoff if needed on November 15, 2025.

- Convention must complete its work by October 2, 2026, and submit a draft constitution to the governor.

- Proposed constitution will be placed on the ballot for voter approval on December 12, 2026.

- Provisions of the current 1974 constitution not included in the new draft will be converted to statutes in a newly created Title 57, amendable only by a two-thirds vote of the legislature.

- Convention staff may not include registered lobbyists or delegates; attorney general to serve as legal advisor.

- Prohibits campaign fundraising by delegates during the convention period.

- Requires public transparency through Open Meetings and Public Records laws.

- Delegates receive the same per diem and travel reimbursement as legislators.

- Convention may not receive private funding and is subject to audit by the legislative auditor.

- Constitution becomes effective December 31, 2026, if ratified by voters.

HOUSE floor amendments technical

HOUSE committee amendments [LINK] restore the Recreation and Park Commission’s size to nine members, consisting of three ex officio members (mayor-president, school board designee, planning commission designee) and four appointed members instead of six. The five mayors of East Baton Rouge municipalities may designate representatives to serve in their place. Appointed members must include at least two Baton Rouge residents and one from the unincorporated area, with flexibility to adjust based on census data. The quorum is increased from three to five members.

Seeks to reduce the commission’s size from nine to five members and restructure its composition. Current ex officio and appointed members would be replaced by the five mayors of Baker, Baton Rouge, Central, St. George, and Zachary. Quorum requirements are reduced from four to three. Existing members' terms end upon the transition to the new structure. The change centralizes authority in elected municipal leadership, eliminating appointed citizen representation.

HOUSE floor amendments technical

HOUSE committee amendments technical

Changes the rules for private groups requesting state funding. Nonprofits must now list their tax-exempt status and submit their last three IRS Form 990s if available. Budgets must explain any "other charges," but no longer have to list salaries. These updates aim to improve transparency and consistency in funding requests.

HOUSE committee amendments [LINK] change the resolution from calling for a full study to a request for data collection. The focus is on gathering information about the operations, funding sources, and spending of city and municipal courts. References to recommendations are removed. The purpose is to provide the legislature with basic data to support future discussions or potential legislation.

Directs the Louisiana State Law Institute to study the state's justice of the peace and city courts. The study must examine their jurisdiction, operational costs and savings, whether both types of courts are still needed, and how they could be abolished if necessary. The Institute must submit its recommendations to the legislature by February 1, 2026, with both a print and electronic copy sent to the legislative research library.

Amendments technical.