(The Center Square) — Now that Louisiana’s legislative session has ended, bills affecting Shreveport have been signed into law, while others didn’t make it through the process.
Lobbyist Chance McNeely visited the Shreveport City Council to give a final update on legislation that would directly affect Shreveport residents. The bills McNeely noted were all bills the city took positions on, whether for or against.
A few bills having a direct impact on the city of Shreveport are on the governor’s desk, including Senate Bill 189 by Sen. Sam Jenkins, D-Shreveport, concerning the State Land Banking Authority Act and SB 97 by Sen. Thomas Pressly, R-Shreveport, which creates a new flood control agency, the Coordinated Use of Resources for Recreation, Economy, Navigation, and Transportation Authority.
A few pieces of legislation have already been signed into law, including House Bill 6 by Rep. Steven Jackson, D-Shreveport, SB63 by Jenkins and SB99 by Sen. Stewart Cathey, R-Monroe.
Shreveport supported HB6 as it dealt with the misuse of tenant funds by landlords and SB63, which allows municipalities to collect unpaid sewage and water fees from multi-family residential properties.
While SB99 has been signed into law, Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux and Chief Administrative Officer Tom Dark traveled to Baton Rouge on May 19 during the legislative session to testify against the bill. Both officials were concerned about where the bill would go and what it would look like once it became law.
The bill underwent many changes before ultimately being signed by Gov. Jeff Landry. According to McNeely, the bill’s final form preserved the city’s ability to maintain school zone cameras, but required they paint lines on the road.
Despite the abundance of bills passed, many measures sponsored by Caddo and Bossier parish lawmakers did not make it through the legislative process, including HB229 by Rep. Danny McCormick, R-Oil City, which exempted specific food and beverages from local sales tax; HB480 by McCormick concerning the Bossier-Caddo Port PILOT program; HB262 by Rep. Tammy Phelps concerning the removal of unauthorized persons from immovable property, D-Shreveport and HB341 by McCormick that would’ve repealed the motion picture tax credit
