NUISANCE/PUBLIC: Provides relative to the growth of grass, weeds, and other deleterious matter in St. Bernard Parish

HLS 26RS-345 ORIGINAL
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 200
BY REPRESENTATIVE BAYHAM
NUISANCE/PUBLIC: Provides relative to the growth of grass, weeds, and other
deleterious matter in St. Bernard Parish
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 33:1236(21)(b)(i), (iv), (v), and (vii) and to enact R.S.
3 33:1236(21)(i), relative to St. Bernard Parish; to provide relative to the growth and
4 accumulation of grass, weeds, and other deleterious matter; to provide relative to the
5 powers granted to the parish governing authority with respect to the removal of such
6 deleterious matter; to provide relative to the costs incurred by the parish governing
7 authority relative to removal; to provide relative to liens granted in favor of the
8 parish governing authority; and to provide for related matters.
9 Notice of intention to introduce this Act has been published
10 as provided by Article III, Section 13 of the Constitution of
11 Louisiana.
12 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
13 Section 1. R.S. 33:1236(21)(b)(i), (iv), (v), and (vii) are hereby amended and
14 reenacted and R.S. 33:1236(21)(i) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
15 §1236. Powers of parish governing authorities
16 The police juries and other parish governing authorities shall have the
17 following powers:
18 * * *
19 (21)
20 * * *
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-345 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 200
1 (b)(i) The governing authority of the parishes of Jefferson and St. Bernard
2 Parish may enact ordinances regulating or prohibiting the growth or accumulation
3 of grass, obnoxious weeds, or other deleterious or unhealthful growths, trash, debris,
4 refuse, or discarded or noxious matter.
5 * * *
6 (iv) Upon failure of any such property owner to pay the charges, the
7 governing authority may file a certified copy of the charges with the recorder of
8 mortgages, and the same, when so filed and recorded, shall operate as a lien and
9 privilege in favor of the parish against the property on which the matter was cut or
10 removed. In the parishes of Jefferson and St. Bernard Parish, the lien and privilege
11 granted under this Paragraph, when recorded within sixty days from the date of
12 completion of the cutting or removal, shall have the same ranking as an ad valorem
13 tax lien on immovable property as provided in R.S. 9:4821(A)(1).
14 (v) The parish may, at its option, enact ordinances to add cutting and
15 removal charges to the annual ad valorem tax bill of the property involved. In the
16 parishes of Jefferson and St. Bernard Parish, if such charges are unpaid, the ad
17 valorem tax lien imposed thereby and such rights attendant thereto shall coexist with
18 those granted under Item (iv) of this Subparagraph.
19 * * *
20 (vii) In the exercise of the authority granted by this Subparagraph to the
21 parishes of Jefferson and St. Bernard Parish, the respective parish shall be the sole
22 and proper defendant in any action, authorized by law, to contest the addition of such
23 charges to the ad valorem tax bill of the property involved.
24 * * *
25 (i)(i) The governing authority of St. Bernard Parish may enact ordinances
26 regulating or prohibiting the growth or accumulation of grass, obnoxious weeds, or
27 other deleterious or unhealthful growths, trash, debris, refuse, or discarded or
28 noxious matter.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-345 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 200
1 (ii) In the exercise of the authority granted by this Subparagraph, the parish
2 governing authority may, among other things, but not by way of limitation, require
3 or compel property owners to cut or remove such grass, obnoxious weeds, or other
4 deleterious or unhealthful growths, trash, debris, refuse, or discarded or noxious
5 matter on their property.
6 (iii) If the owner of any lot located within recognized subdivisions outside
7 municipalities in the parish fails to cut or remove such matter when requested to do
8 so by the governing authority, within seven days after receipt of such request or
9 notice by a registered or certified letter or other adequate notice, the governing
10 authority may have such matter cut or removed and may charge such property owner
11 in accordance with regulations adopted by the governing authority.
12 (iv) Upon failure of any such property owner to pay the charges, the
13 governing authority may file a certified copy of the charges with the recorder of
14 mortgages, and the same, when so filed and recorded, shall operate as a lien and
15 privilege in favor of the parish against the property on which the matter was cut or
16 removed. In St. Bernard Parish, the lien and privilege granted under this Paragraph,
17 when recorded within sixty days from the date of completion of the cutting or
18 removal, shall have the same ranking as an ad valorem tax lien on immovable
19 property as provided in R.S. 9:4821(A)(1).
20 (v) The parish may, at its option, enact ordinances to add cutting and
21 removal charges to the annual ad valorem tax bill of the property involved. In St.
22 Bernard Parish, if such charges are unpaid, the ad valorem tax lien imposed thereby
23 and such rights attendant thereto shall coexist with those granted under Item (iv) of
24 this Subparagraph.
25 (vi) If such ordinances are enacted, the sheriff effecting collection shall be
26 reimbursed by the governing authority for any amount equal to fifteen percent of the
27 amount of such charges actually collected from the property owner. This collection
28 charge shall be in addition to such charges and shall also be added to the ad valorem
29 tax bill of the property involved.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
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HLS 26RS-345 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 200
1 (vii) In the exercise of the authority granted by this Subparagraph to
2 St. Bernard Parish, the parish shall be the sole and proper defendant in any action,
3 authorized by law, to contest the addition of such charges to the ad valorem tax bill
4 of the property involved.
5 * * *
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 200 Original 2026 Regular Session Bayham
Abstract: Authorizes St. Bernard Parish to cut or remove deleterious or unhealthful
growths and other discarded or noxious matter and to charge the property owner
under certain conditions.
Present law authorizes the governing authority of St. Bernard Parish to enact ordinances
regulating or prohibiting the growth or accumulation of grass, obnoxious weeds, or other
deleterious or unhealthful growths, trash, debris, refuse, or discarded or noxious matter on
property within the parish. Authorizes the parish governing authority, if the owner fails to
take the required action within 15 days of notice, to have the matter cut or removed and to
charge the property owner. Authorizes the parish governing authority to place a lien against
a property if the owner does not pay, such lien having the same ranking as an ad valorem tax
lien. Additionally authorizes the parish governing authority to add the removal charges to
the annual ad valorem tax bill.
Proposed law authorizes the governing authority of St. Bernard Parish to have the matter cut
or removed and to charge the property owner if the owner fails to take the required action
within seven days of notice instead of 15 days. Otherwise retains present law.
(Amends R.S. 33:1236(21)(b)(i), (iv), (v), and (vii); Adds R.S. 33:1236(21)(i))
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.