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2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 447
BY REPRESENTATIVE LYONS
DISTRICTS/ECONOMIC DEVEL: Creates the Avondale and Waggaman Economic
Development District in Jefferson Parish
1 AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 33:2740.70.11, relative to Jefferson Parish; to create the Avondale and
3 Waggaman Economic Development District; to provide relative to the boundaries,
4 purpose, governance, and powers and duties of the district; and to provide for related
5 matters.
6 Notice of intention to introduce this Act has been published
7 as provided by Article III, Section 13 of the Constitution of
8 Louisiana.
9 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
10 Section 1. R.S. 33:2740.70.11 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
11 §2740.70.11. The Avondale and Waggaman Economic Development District
12 A. There is hereby created within the parish of Jefferson, as more
13 specifically provided in Subsection B of this Section, a body politic and corporate
14 which shall be known as the Avondale and Waggaman Economic Development
15 District, referred to in this Section as the "district". The district shall be a political
16 subdivision of the state as defined in the Constitution of Louisiana.
17 B. The boundaries of the district shall include the following area: Highway
18 90 from the St. Charles/St. Bernard parish line to Lapalco Boulevard.
19 C. The district is created to provide for cooperative economic and
20 community development among the district, the parish, the state, and the owners of
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HB NO. 447
1 property in the district, to enhance the development of and improvement to the
2 property within the area of the district, to develop stable and more extensive
3 employment opportunities, to improve infrastructure, and to promote the overall
4 welfare of the citizens of the district.
5 D.(1) In order to provide for the orderly development of the district and
6 effect the purposes of the district, the district shall be administered and governed by
7 a seven-member board of commissioners, referred to in this Section as the "board",
8 composed as follows:
9 (a) The Avondale Civic Association shall appoint one member who is a
10 representative of the association.
11 (b) The Waggaman Civic Association shall appoint one member who is a
12 representative of the association.
13 (c) The S1 Civic Association shall appoint one member who is a
14 representative of the association.
15 (d) The Kennedy Heights Civic Association shall appoint one member who
16 is a representative of the association.
17 (e) The member of the Louisiana Senate whose district encompasses all or
18 the greater portion of the area of the district or his designee.
19 (f) The member of the Louisiana House of Representatives whose district
20 encompasses all or the greater portion of the area of the district or his designee.
21 (g) The member of the governing authority of the parish of Jefferson who
22 represents District No. 3 or his designee.
23 (2)(a) The members serving pursuant to Subparagraphs (1)(a) through (d) of
24 this Subsection shall serve four-year terms after serving initial terms as provided in
25 this Subparagraph. One member shall serve an initial term of one year; one shall
26 serve two years; one shall serve three years; and one shall serve four years, as
27 determined by lot at the first meeting of the board.
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1 (b) The members serving pursuant to Subparagraphs(1)(e) through (g) of this
2 Subsection shall serve during their terms of office. Any designee shall serve at the
3 pleasure of the designating authority.
4 (3) Any vacancy which occurs prior to the expiration of the term for which
5 a member of the board has been appointed shall be filled by appointment in the same
6 manner as the original appointment for the unexpired term.
7 (4) The board shall elect from its members a chairman, a vice chairman, a
8 secretary-treasurer, and other officers as it deems necessary. The duties of the
9 officers shall be fixed by the bylaws adopted by the board.
10 (5) The minute books and archives of the district shall be maintained by the
11 secretary-treasurer of the board. The monies, funds, and accounts of the district shall
12 be in the official custody of the board.
13 (6) The board shall adopt rules and regulations as it deems necessary or
14 advisable for conducting its business affairs. Rules and regulations of the board
15 relative to the notice and conduct of meetings shall conform to applicable law. The
16 board shall hold regular meetings as provided for in the bylaws and may hold special
17 meetings at such times and places within the district as prescribed in the bylaws.
18 (7) A majority of the members of the board shall constitute a quorum for the
19 transaction of business. The board shall keep minutes of all meetings and shall make
20 them available through the secretary-treasurer of the board.
21 (8) The members of the board shall serve without compensation but shall be
22 reimbursed for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses directly related to the governance
23 of the district.
24 E.(1) The district, acting by and through its board, shall have and exercise
25 all powers of a political subdivision necessary or convenient for carrying out its
26 objects and purposes, including but not limited to the following:
27 (a) To sue and to be sued.
28 (b) To adopt, use, and alter at will a corporate seal.
29 (c) To adopt bylaws and rules and regulations.
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1 (d) To receive by gift, grant, or donation any sum of money, property, aid,
2 or assistance from the United States, the state of Louisiana, or any political
3 subdivision thereof, or any person, firm, or corporation.
4 (e) To enter into contracts, agreements, or cooperative endeavors with the
5 state and its political subdivisions or political corporations and with any public or
6 private association, corporation, business entity, or individual.
7 (f) To appoint officers, agents, and employees; prescribe their duties; and fix
8 their compensation.
9 (g) To acquire by purchase, gift, grant, donation, or lease property as may
10 be necessary or desirable for carrying out the objectives and purposes of the board.
11 (h) To perform any other necessary and ancillary acts to effectuate its
12 functions, to perform its duties, or to give effect to its powers in accordance with this
13 Section.
14 (2) The district shall have no power of taxation.
15 F.(1) The board shall prepare or cause to be prepared a plan or plans
16 specifying the public improvements, facilities, and services proposed to be furnished,
17 constructed, or acquired for the district and shall conduct public hearings, publish
18 notice with respect thereto, and disseminate information as it, in the exercise of its
19 sound discretion, deems appropriate or advisable and in the public interest.
20 (2) Any plan may specify and encompass any public services, capital
21 improvements, and facilities which the parish of Jefferson is authorized to undertake,
22 furnish, or provide under the constitution and laws of the state of Louisiana, and the
23 specified public services, improvements, and facilities shall be special and in
24 addition to all services, improvements, and facilities which the parish is then
25 furnishing or providing or may then or in the future be obligated to furnish or
26 provide within the district.
27 (3) Any plan shall include an estimate of the annual and total cost of
28 acquiring, constructing, or providing the services, improvements, or facilities set
29 forth therein.
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1 G. Budget. (1) The board shall adopt an annual budget in accordance with
2 the Louisiana Local Government Budget Act, R.S. 39:1301 et seq.
3 (2) The district shall be subject to audit by the legislative auditor pursuant
4 to R.S. 24:513.
5 H. All state officers and agencies are authorized at their discretion to render
6 such services to the district within their respective functions as may be requested by
7 the district. In addition, the district and such agencies are authorized to enter into
8 such contracts, cooperative endeavor agreements, or other agreements necessary or
9 convenient to carry out the purposes of this Section.
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 447 Engrossed 2026 Regular Session Lyons
Abstract: Creates the Avondale and Waggaman Economic Development District in
Jefferson Parish.
Proposed law creates the Avondale and Waggaman Economic Development District as a
political subdivision in Jefferson Parish to provide for cooperative economic and community
development among the district, the parish, the state, and the owners of property in the
district. Provides for district boundaries.
Proposed law provides that the district is governed by a seven-member board of
commissioners composed as follows:
(1) One member appointed by the Avondale Civic Association who is a representative
of the association.
(2) One member appointed by the Waggaman Civic Associations who is a representative
of the association.
(3) One member appointed by the S1 Civic Association who is a representative of the
association.
(4) One member appointed by the Kennedy Heights Civic Association who is a
representative of the association.
(5) The member of the La. Senate whose district encompasses all or the greater portion
of the area of the district or his designee.
(6) The member of the La. House of Representatives whose district encompasses all or
the greater portion of the area of the district or his designee.
(7) The member of the governing authority of the parish of Jefferson who represents
District No. 3 or his designee.
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Proposed law provides that members serve four-year staggered terms.
Proposed law provides for the powers and duties of the district, including but not limited to
the following:
(1) To sue and to be sued.
(2) To adopt, use, and alter at will a corporate seal.
(3) To adopt bylaws and rules and regulations.
(4) To receive by gift, grant, or donation any sum of money, property, aid, or assistance
from the U.S., the state, or any political subdivision thereof, or any person, firm, or
corporation.
(5) To enter into contracts, agreements, or cooperative endeavors with the state and its
political subdivisions or political corporations and with any public or private
association, corporation, business entity, or individual.
(6) To appoint officers, agents, and employees; prescribe their duties; and fix their
compensation.
Proposed law provides that the district shall have no taxing authority.
Proposed law requires the board to prepare a plan(s) specifying public improvements,
facilities, and services proposed to be furnished, constructed, or acquired which may be
improvements, facilities, and services Jefferson Parish is authorized to provide pursuant to
the constitution and laws of the state.
Proposed law requires the board to conduct hearings and disseminate information as it deems
appropriate or advisable. Requires that any plan developed by the board include an estimate
of the annual and total cost of acquiring, constructing, or providing the services,
improvements, or facilities.
Proposed law authorizes all state officers and agencies to render services to the district
within their respective functions as may be requested by the district. Additionally authorizes
the district and the agencies to enter into contracts, cooperative endeavor agreements, or
other agreements necessary or convenient to carry out the purposes of proposed law
(Adds R.S. 33:2740.70.11)
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