PUBLIC MEETINGS: Provides relative to attendance at meetings of public bodies

HLS 26RS-690 ENGROSSED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 648
BY REPRESENTATIVE BRASS
PUBLIC MEETINGS: Provides relative to attendance at meetings of public bodies
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 42:17.2(F)(2) and 17.2.1(A), relative to public bodies; to
3 provide for the participation of certain people during public meetings; to provide for
4 participation by a parent or legal guardian of a child under the age of five and a
5 provider of early childhood supports or services; to provide for exceptions for
6 certain meetings of certain public bodies; to provide for the participation of certain
7 members of public bodies during public meetings; and to provide for related
8 matters.
9 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
10 Section 1. R.S. 42:17.2(F)(2) and 17.2.1(A) are hereby amended and reenacted to
11 read as follows:
12 §17.2. Exception for certain meetings of certain public bodies
13 * * *
14 F.
15 * * *
16 (2) Any public body that is strictly advisory or that primarily focuses on
17 issues dealing with disabilities, or assisting military families, or issues related to
18 families with children under the age of five years old may conduct successive
19 meetings via electronic means without limitation and shall, to the extent practicable,
20 publish a schedule of its meetings indicating which upcoming meetings will be
21 conducted via electronic means and which will be conducted only in person.
22 * * *
Page 1 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-690 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 648
1 §17.2.1. Public body; member with a disability; member that is a parent or legal
2 guardian of a child under the age of five years old; member that is a provider
3 of early childhood supports or services
4 A. Notwithstanding any provision of this Chapter that requires a member of
5 a public body to be physically present in order to be counted for a quorum and to
6 participate and vote in a meeting, a member of a public body who is a parent or legal
7 guardian of a child under the age of five years old, a provider of early childhood
8 supports or services, or has a disability recognized by the Americans with
9 Disabilities Act shall be allowed to participate and vote in a meeting via electronic
10 means as defined in R.S. 42:17.2.
11 * * *
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 648 Engrossed 2026 Regular Session Brass
Abstract: Provides for the participation of a parent or legal guardian of a child under the
age of five or a provider of early childhood supports or services who is a member of
a public body and further provides for a public body that primarily focuses on issues
realty to families with children under the age of five years old.
Present law (R.S. 42:17.2) provides for the circumstances in which a public body may
conduct and its members may attend and participate in a meeting via electronic means.
Provides for notice of such meetings. Provides for the requirements for each meeting
conduced pursuant to present law. Provides for definitions. Provides that public bodies that
conduct meetings pursuant to present law shall limit the number of such meetings unless the
public body is strictly advisory or primarily focuses on issues dealing with disabilities or
assisting military families. Provides that present law does not apply to certain public bodies.
Proposed law retains present law and provides that if a public body primarily focuses on
issues dealing with families with children under the age of five years old the public body is
not restricted on the number of meetings conducted pursuant to present law.
Present law (R.S. 42:17.2.1) provides that if a public body has a member who has a disability
recognized by the ADA the member shall be allowed to participate and vote in a meeting via
electronic means. Requires a public body to adopt rules, regulations, and procedures to
facilitate the requirements of present law. Provides that present law shall not apply to
members of the legislature or any parish board of election supervisors.
Proposed law retains present law and provides that a member of a public body who is a
parent or legal guardian of a child under the age of five years old or a provider of early
childhood supports or services may participate and vote in a meeting via electronic means
as provided in present law.
Page 2 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-690 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 648
(Amends R.S. 42:17.2(F)(2), and 17.2.1(A))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on House and
Governmental Affairs to the original bill:
1. Make technical changes.
2. Remove proposed law provisions that would allow a parent or a legal guardian
of a child under the age of 5 or a provider of early childhood supports or services
to participate in a meeting of a public body via teleconference, video conference,
or other alternative methods.
Page 3 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.