This amendment updates rules for emergency communication fees by changing how districts report spending, adding new performance data requirements, and moving the start date to August 1, 2026.
Louisiana2026Enacted
HB463
Changes to Emergency Communication Service Charges
Last scannedAug 25, 2026, 3:26 AM
In one sentence
This law raises the maximum monthly fee that some districts can charge on wireless phone bills for emergency services and adds new rules for reporting how those funds are used.
What it does
- Increases the standard maximum service charge from $1.25 to $2.00 per month per wireless connection, unless a district's rate as of August 1, 2016 was higher.
- Allows Terrebonne Parish Communications District to charge up to $1.85 per month instead of the previous limit.
- Requires a majority vote by district leaders and at least one public hearing before raising charges above $1.25.
- Mandates that districts submit an annual report on 911 spending, equipment upgrades, and call performance to state lawmakers.
- Replaces old reporting rules with new requirements for posting financial reports online within ten days of submission.
Who it affects
- Communications districts in Louisiana that collect emergency service fees.
- Wireless phone companies required to collect the monthly charge from customers.
- State lawmakers who receive annual activity and spending reports.
- Residents whose wireless bills may include higher charges for emergency services.
Limits and unknowns
- The law does not say exactly how much each district will charge, only the maximum amount allowed.
- It is unclear if all districts will choose to raise their fees immediately after this law takes effect on August 1, 2026.
Plain language
Terms to know
- CMRS
- Commercial Mobile Radio Service, which refers to standard cell phone service provided by companies like Verizon or AT&T.
- PSAP
- Public Safety Answering Point, the center where 911 calls are received and answered by operators.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
DISTRICTS/COMMUNICATIONS: Provides relative to emergency communications service charges
Official activity
Bill history
- Effective date: 08/01/2026.H
- Becomes Act No. 947 without the Governor's signature.H
- Sent to the Governor for executive approval.H
- Signed by the President of the Senate.S
- Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.H
- Read by title, roll called, yeas 95, nays 0, Senate amendments concurred in.H
- Called from the calendar.H
- Scheduled for concurrence on 05/29/2026.H
- Notice given.H
- Read by title, returned to the calendar.H
- Scheduled for concurrence on 05/20/2026.H
- Received from the Senate with amendments.H
- Rules suspended. Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title, passed by a vote of 34 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.S
- Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.S
- Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.S
- Reported favorably.S
- Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and International Affairs.S
- Received in the Senate. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.S
- Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 98, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.H
- Called from the calendar.H
Changes
Amendments
6 stored
This amendment makes several small edits to the text and numbering of House Bill 463 regarding emergency communication service charges.
This amendment sets a specific monthly fee limit for Terrebonne Parish, requires all emergency communications districts to submit annual reports on how they spend money and perform their duties, and adds rules that local leaders must approve any fees higher than $1.25.
This amendment sets a specific monthly fee limit for Terrebonne Parish, requires all emergency communications districts to submit annual reports on how they spend money and perform their duties, and adds rules that must be followed before raising fees above $1.25.
This amendment records that the House voted to agree with changes made by the Senate to a bill about emergency communication service charges.
This amendment updates the rules for how emergency service fees are collected and requires districts to share detailed spending reports with lawmakers and the public.