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HLS 26RS-411 ORIGINAL
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 415
BY REPRESENTATIVE DEWITT
MUNICIPAL: Requires certain training for certain local officials
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 33:1420.31, relative to local government officials; to provide
3 relative to training requirements for certain local government officials; to provide
4 relative to resources and training offered by state agencies or associations or groups
5 that provide municipal governance training; to provide relative to subject matter
6 requirements for such resources and training; to provide for reporting of certain
7 information; to provide for applicability; and to provide for related matters; and to
8 provide for related matters.
9 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
10 Section 1. R.S. 33:1420.31 is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
11 §1420.31. Local government officials; training; certain municipalities
12 A. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, all mayors
13 shall, and members of the governing authorities of municipalities with a population
14 of fifteen thousand persons or less according the latest federal decennial census may,
15 participate in workshops and other training courses offered by state agencies,
16 associations, or groups that provide training to local government officials, which are
17 intended to assist such officials in carrying out their duties by enhancing their
18 knowledge of laws regulating their respective municipalities. Any such elected
19 official may use any local government resource provided by such associations or
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HLS 26RS-411 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 415
1 groups to the officials and their respective municipalities and make such resources
2 available to administrative staff members.
3 B. Any state agency, association, or group provided for in Subsection A of
4 this Section may work jointly to provide workshops, training courses, and other
5 resources to the elected officials and may offer incentives to the officials, such as
6 continuing education credits or certificates for specialization in certain subject
7 matters, to encourage their use of resources and attendance at workshops and training
8 courses.
9 C. All mayors shall earn not less than sixteen hours of credit annually
10 through their attendance at workshops and other training courses offered by state
11 agencies, associations, or groups as provided in this Section.
12 D. The training requirement provided for in Subsection C of this Section
13 shall include any training that is required by state law, including the following:
14 (1) Ethics training pursuant to R.S. 42:1170.
15 (2) Sexual harassment prevention training pursuant to R.S. 42:343.
16 (3) Cybersecurity training pursuant to R.S. 42:1267.
17 (4) Campaign finance training pursuant to R.S. 42:1170.
18 (5) Training on procurement and letting of public contracts pursuant to R.S.
19 33:1420.32.
20 (6) Emergency preparedness training pursuant to R.S. 29:726(F)(2).
21 E. The training courses offered to elected officials pursuant to Subsection C
22 of this Section shall be established, at a minimum, within the following categories
23 of municipal governance:
24 (1) The Lawrason Act and municipal authority.
25 (2) The roles and responsibilities of mayors and municipal councils.
26 (3) Public budgeting, finance, audits, and procurement laws.
27 (4) Ethics and conflicts of interest.
28 (5) Human resources, personnel management, and civil service.
29 (6) Open Meetings Law and Public Records Law.
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HLS 26RS-411 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 415
1 (7) Public safety, emergency preparedness, and police and fire operations.
2 (8) Utility operations and infrastructure management.
3 (9) Planning, zoning, annexation, and land use.
4 (10) Economic development and community engagement.
5 (11) Robert's Rules of Order and parliamentary procedure.
6 (12) Municipal best practices and compliance.
7 (13) Tax codes, revenue authority, and financial administration.
8 F.(1) On or before January thirty-first of each year, each mayor shall provide
9 a report concerning compliance with the training requirements provided for in this
10 Section to the Louisiana Municipal Association.
11 (2) On or before March thirty-first of each year, the Louisiana Municipal
12 Association shall determine whether each mayor has satisfied the training and
13 continuing education requirements of this Section for the preceding calendar year.
14 (3) Upon making the determination required by Paragraph (2) of this
15 Subsection, the Louisiana Municipal Association shall certify each mayor as either
16 compliant or noncompliant.
17 (4) The Louisiana Municipal Association shall ensure that each mayor is
18 notified of the training required by this Section. The Louisiana Municipal
19 Association shall be responsible for maintaining records of the compliance of each
20 mayor with the mandatory training requirements. Each mayor's record of
21 compliance shall be a public record and available to the public in accordance with
22 the Public Records Law.
23 C. G. The provisions of this Part are applicable to any person who is
24 appointed temporarily to fill a vacancy in an elective office of any municipality
25 provided for in Subsection A of this Section.
26 Section 2. The provisions of this Act shall apply to all mayors elected on or after
27 January 1, 2027.
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HLS 26RS-411 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 415
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 415 Original 2026 Regular Session Dewitt
Abstract: Requires mayors to complete additional training and continuing education
annually.
Present law authorizes mayors and members of the governing authorities of municipalities
with a population of 15,000 persons or less to participate in workshops and other training
courses offered by associations or groups that provide training to local government officials.
Present law authorizes the associations or groups to work jointly to provide workshops,
training courses, and other resources to the elected officials. Additionally authorizes the
associations or groups to offer incentives such as continuing education credits or certificates
for specialization.
Proposed law requires all mayors to complete not less than 16 hours of additional training
and continuing education annually. Provides that all mayors shall receive credit towards
proposed law requirement through training already required by present law.
Proposed law requires the additional training and continuing education courses to be
established within the following categories of municipal governance:
(1) The Lawrason Act and municipal authority.
(2) The roles and responsibilities of mayors and municipal councils.
(3) Public budgeting, finance, audits, and procurement laws.
(4) Ethics and conflicts of interest.
(5) Human resources, personnel management, and civil service.
(6) Open Meetings Law and Public Records Law.
(7) Public safety, emergency preparedness, and police and fire operations.
(8) Utility operations and infrastructure management.
(9) Planning, zoning, annexation, and land use.
(10) Economic development and community engagement.
(11) Robert's Rules of Order and parliamentary procedure.
(12) Municipal best practices and compliance.
(13) Tax codes, revenue authority, and financial administration.
Proposed law requires the La. Municipal Assoc. to ensure that each mayor is notified of the
training required by proposed law. Provides that the La. Municipal Assoc. shall be
responsible for maintaining records of compliance. Provides that each mayor's record of
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HLS 26RS-411 ORIGINAL
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compliance shall be a public record and available in accordance with present law (Public
Records Law).
Proposed law applies to all mayors elected on or after January 1, 2027.
Proposed law otherwise retains present law.
(Amends R.S. 33:1420.31)
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