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HB257 • 2026

LOCAL OFFL/POLICE CHIEFS: Provides relative to the powers and duties of the police chief of the city of Central

LOCAL OFFL/POLICE CHIEFS: Provides relative to the powers and duties of the police chief of the city of Central

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Lauren Ventrella
Last action
2026-03-09
Official status
Pending House Municipal, Parochial, and Cultural Affairs - Considered 4/15/26
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

LOCAL OFFL/POLICE CHIEFS: Provides relative to the powers and duties of the police chief of the city of Central

LOCAL OFFL/POLICE CHIEFS: Provides relative to the powers and duties of the police chief of the city of Central

What This Bill Does

  • LOCAL OFFL/POLICE CHIEFS: Provides relative to the powers and duties of the police chief of the city of Central

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Draft

Plain English: HCAHB257 552 3898 HOUSE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS 2026 Regular Session Amendments proposed by House Committee on Municipal, Parochial and Cultural Affairs to Original House Bill No.

  • HCAHB257 552 3898 HOUSE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS 2026 Regular Session Amendments proposed by House Committee on Municipal, Parochial and Cultural Affairs to Original House Bill No.
  • 257 by Representative Ventrella 1 AMENDMENT NO.
  • 1 2 On page 1, line 6, after "actions;" and before "and to" insert "to provide limitations;" 3 AMENDMENT NO.
  • 2 4 On page 1, at the end of line 15, insert "Prior to taking any action to discipline or dismiss 5 police personnel, the chief of police shall consult with the city attorney." 6 AMENDMENT NO.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-09 H

    Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Municipal, Parochial and Cultural Affairs.

  2. 2026-02-27 H

    First appeared in the Interim Calendar on 2/27/2026.

  3. 2026-02-23 H

    Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Municipal, Parochial and Cultural Affairs.

  4. 2026-02-23 H

    Prefiled.

Official Summary Text

LOCAL OFFL/POLICE CHIEFS: Provides relative to the powers and duties of the police chief of the city of Central

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HLS 26RS-343 ORIGINAL
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 257
BY REPRESENTATIVE VENTRELLA
LOCAL OFFL/POLICE CHIEFS: Provides relative to the powers and duties of the police
chief of the city of Central
1 AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 33:423.31, relative to the city of Central; to provide relative to the police chief
3 of the city; to provide relative to the powers and duties of the police chief; to
4 authorize the police chief to take certain actions with respect to police personnel; to
5 provide relative to the approval of the mayor and the city's governing authority with
6 respect to such actions; and to provide for related matters.
7 Notice of intention to introduce this Act has been published
8 as provided by Article III, Section 13 of the Constitution of
9 Louisiana.
10 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
11 Section 1. R.S. 33:423.31 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
12 §423.31. City of Central; police chief; police personnel
13 Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S. 33:423, the chief of police of the city
14 of Central may appoint, promote, discipline, and dismiss police personnel without
15 the approval of the mayor or the governing authority of the city.
Page 1 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-343 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 257
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 257 Original 2026 Regular Session Ventrella
Abstract: Authorizes the police chief of the city of Central to take certain actions with
respect to police personnel without the approval of the mayor or the city's governing
authority.
Present law, relative to Lawrason Act municipalities, generally provides that the elected
police chief makes recommendations to the mayor and board of alderman regarding the
appointment, promotion, discipline, and dismissal of police personnel. Provides that the
elected chief may immediately effect disciplinary action and dismiss police personnel
subject to the approval of the governing authority of the municipality. Additionally
authorizes the elected police chief to make a provisional appointment to immediately fill any
vacancy in the police department subject to the approval of the mayor. Provides that the
provisional appointment remains in effect unless rejected by the governing authority of the
municipality. Provides exceptions for certain municipalities.
Proposed law retains present law and provides an additional exception for the city of Central.
Authorizes the police chief to appoint, promote, discipline, and dismiss police personnel
without the approval of the mayor or the governing authority of the city.
(Adds R.S. 33:423.31)
Page 2 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.