DISTRICTS/COMMUNICATIONS: Provides relative to emergency communications service charges

HLS 26RS-1324 REENGROSSED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 463
BY REPRESENTATIVE MCMAKIN
DISTRICTS/COMMUNICATIONS: Provides relative to emergency communications
service charges
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 33:9109(C)(2), relative to communications districts; to provide
3 relative to commercial mobile radio services; to provide relative to emergency
4 telephone service charges; to increase the maximum allowable emergency telephone
5 service charge; to provide for an annual report; to provide for requirements to levy
6 a service charge; to provide for effectiveness; and to provide for related matters.
7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 33:9109(C)(2) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
9 §9109. Additional service charge on wireless telecommunications service
10 * * *
11 C. Service charge. The governing authority of any district may levy a
12 CMRS emergency telephone service charge subject to and in accordance with the
13 provisions of this Subsection. Such service charge:
14 * * *
15 (2)(a) Shall not exceed one dollar and twenty-five cents two dollars per
16 month per wireless CMRS connection or the rate which the district levies or is
17 authorized to levy on CMRS users on August 1, 2016, whichever is higher.
18 (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph,
19 the governing authority of the Terrebonne Parish Communications District may levy
20 a CMRS emergency telephone service charge of not more than one dollar and eighty-
21 five cents per month per wireless CMRS connection.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-1324 REENGROSSED
HB NO. 463
1 (b)(i) Each communications district that levies a service charge pursuant to
2 this Subsection shall submit an annual report to the legislative committees on
3 commerce and to the governing authority of the parish or municipality in which the
4 district is located.
5 (ii) The report shall include but not be limited to all of the following:
6 (aa) The total amount of service charge revenues collected.
7 (bb) A detailed accounting of expenditures of such revenues.
8 (cc) Performance metrics, including average call answer times and dispatch
9 times.
10 (dd) A description of any improvements to emergency communications
11 systems funded by such revenues.
12 (c) A communications district shall not levy a service charge in excess of one
13 dollar and twenty-five cents per month unless both of the following occur:
14 (i) The proposed increase is approved by a majority vote of the governing
15 district.
16 (ii) The district conducts at least one public hearing on the proposed
17 increase, with notice published in the official journal of the parish or municipality
18 at least ten days prior to the hearing.
19 * * *
20 Section 2. This Act shall become effective on January 1, 2027.
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 463 Reengrossed 2026 Regular Session McMakin
Abstract: Increases the maximum allowable wireless commercial mobile radio service
(CMRS) emergency telephone service charge.
Present law authorizes the governing authority of a communications district to levy a CMRS
emergency telephone service charge in an amount not to exceed $1.25 per month per
wireless CMRS connection or the rate which the district levies or is authorized to levy on
CMRS users on August 1, 2016, whichever is higher.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-1324 REENGROSSED
HB NO. 463
Proposed law increases the maximum CMRS emergency telephone service charge amount
the governing authority of a communications district is authorized to levy from $1.25 to $2
per month per wireless CMRS connection. Otherwise retains present law.
Proposed law requires each communications district that levies a service charge pursuant to
present and proposed law to submit an annual report to the legislative committees on
commerce and to the governing authority of the parish or municipality in which the district
is located.
Proposed law provides for what the report shall include.
Proposed law prohibits the district from levying a service charge in excess of $1.25 per
month unless both of the following occur:
(1) The proposed increase is approved by a majority vote of the governing district.
(2) The district conducts at least one public hearing on the proposed increase, with
notice published in the official journal of the parish or municipality at least 10 days
prior to the hearing.
Effective on January 1, 2027.
(Amends R.S. 33:9109(C)(2))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Commerce to the
original bill:
1. Make technical changes.
2. Add that each communications district that levies a service charge pursuant to
present and proposed law shall submit an annual report to the legislative
committees on commerce and to the governing authority of the parish or
municipality.
3. Provide under what circumstances a communications district can levy a service
charge in excess of $1.25 per month.
The House Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill:
1. Make technical changes.
2. Remove language regarding the governing authority of the Terrebonne Parish
Communications District's ability to levy a service charge of not more than $1.85
per month.
3. Amend proposed law to provide that the proposed increase outlined in proposed
law is required to be approved by a majority vote of the governing district.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.