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HLS 26RS-276 ORIGINAL
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 667
BY REPRESENTATIVE MCCORMICK
BOARDS/COMMISSIONS: Changes the selection process for members of the Caddo-
Bossier Parishes Port Commission from appointed to elected
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 34:3158, relative to the Caddo-Bossier Parishes Port
3 Commission; to provide for the election and compensation of commissioners; to
4 provide for terms of office; to provide for the filling of vacancies; to provide for the
5 administration of elections; to provide for transition; to provide for an effective date;
6 and to provide for related matters.
7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 34:3158 is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
9 §3158. Creation of commission; membership; qualifications; tenure
10 A. There is hereby created a commission to be known as the Caddo-Bossier
11 Parishes Port Commission. It shall be composed of nine members, who shall serve
12 without compensation, as follows:
13 (1)(a) Two of the commissioners shall be appointed by the governing
14 authority of the parish of Caddo as follows:
15 (i) One of the commissioners shall reside in the parish of Caddo outside of
16 the city limits of Shreveport.
17 (ii) One of the commissioners shall reside in the parish of Caddo within the
18 city limits of Shreveport.
19 (b) Any commissioner appointed pursuant to this Paragraph shall serve a
20 term of six years.
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HLS 26RS-276 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 667
1 (2) One of the commissioners shall be appointed by the governing authority
2 of the parish of Bossier.
3 (a) The commissioner shall reside in the parish of Bossier.
4 (b) The commissioner appointed pursuant to this Paragraph shall serve a
5 term of six years.
6 (3) Four of the commissioners shall be appointed by the governing authority
7 of the city of Shreveport as follows:
8 (a) Three commissioners shall reside within the city limits of Shreveport and
9 each shall serve a term of six years.
10 (b) One commissioner shall be at-large and reside within the city limits of
11 Shreveport and shall serve a term concurrent with the term of the mayor.
12 (4)(a) Two of the commissioners shall be appointed by the governing
13 authority of the city of Bossier City.
14 (b) Any commissioner appointed pursuant to this Paragraph shall reside
15 within the city limits of Bossier City and shall serve a term of six years.
16 B. A vacancy on the commission for any reason shall be filled in the same
17 manner as the original appointments and for the unexpired term of office. Each
18 commissioner shall be a citizen of the United States and a qualified voter and
19 property taxpayer of the parish of Caddo or Bossier, as the case may be, and of the
20 state of Louisiana.
21 C. The governing authorities, in making appointments, shall endeavor to
22 provide for racial diversity of the board and to ensure that the racial proportion of the
23 appointees shall reflect the same racial proportion of the geographical area which
24 they represent. Except, the governing authority of the parish of Caddo, in making
25 appointments, shall endeavor to provide for racial diversity of the board and to
26 ensure that the racial proportion of their appointees shall reflect the same racial
27 proportion of the governing authority of the parish of Caddo.
28 D. The term of each commissioner serving on June 18, 2006, shall expire as
29 follows:
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HLS 26RS-276 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 667
1 (a) The term of the commissioner appointed by the governing authority of
2 the parish of Caddo shall expire on June 30, 2007. His successors shall be appointed
3 pursuant to the provisions of Item (A)(1)(a)(i).
4 (b) The term of the commissioner appointed by the governing authority of
5 the parish of Bossier shall expire on February 15, 2009. His successors shall be
6 appointed pursuant to the provisions of Paragraph (A)(2).
7 (c) The term of the commissioners appointed by the governing authority of
8 the city of Shreveport shall expire as follows:
9 (i) The term of the commissioner whose term began on April 1, 2003, and
10 would have expired on June 28, 2011, shall expire on such date. His successors shall
11 be appointed pursuant to the provisions of Subparagraph (A)(3)(a).
12 (ii) The term of the commissioner whose term would have expired on March
13 31, 2007, shall expire on such date. His successors shall be appointed pursuant to
14 the provisions of Item (A)(1)(a)(ii).
15 (iii) The term of the commissioner whose term would have expired on July
16 26, 2007, shall expire on June 30, 2007. His successors shall be appointed pursuant
17 to the provisions of Subparagraph (A)(3)(a).
18 (iv) The term of the commissioner whose term would have expired on July
19 27, 2009, shall expire on such date. His successors shall be appointed pursuant to
20 the provisions of Subparagraph (A)(3)(a).
21 (v) The commissioner whose term began July 18, 1997, and would have
22 expired on June 28, 2011, shall serve a term concurrent with the term of the mayor
23 who appointed him. His successors shall be appointed pursuant to the provisions of
24 Subparagraph (A)(3)(b).
25 (d) The term of the commissioners appointed by the governing authority of
26 the city of Bossier City shall expire as follows:
27 (i) The term of the commissioner whose term would have expired on March
28 29, 2012, shall expire on such date. His successors shall be appointed pursuant to
29 the provisions of Paragraph (A)(4).
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1 (ii) The term of the commissioner whose term would have expired on
2 February 16, 2007, shall expire on such date. His successors shall be appointed
3 pursuant to the provisions of Paragraph (A)(4).
4 (1) Commissioners shall be elected through nonpartisan elections conducted
5 on a parishwide basis. The election shall be held at the same time as the
6 gubernatorial primary election, beginning in 2027 and every four years thereafter.
7 (2) The administration of all elections held pursuant to this Section shall be
8 under the purview of the secretary of state and shall be conducted in accordance with
9 the Louisiana Election Code, including all applicable qualifying procedures and
10 filing fees.
11 (3) Each commissioner shall be a citizen of the United States, a qualified
12 voter of Caddo or Bossier parish, and a resident of the state of Louisiana.
13 B.(1) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, any member
14 serving on July 31, 2026, shall continue in his appointed role until December 31,
15 2027. Commissioners elected at the 2027 gubernatorial primary election shall
16 assume office on January 1, 2028.
17 (2) Commissioners shall serve for a term of four years and shall assume
18 office on January first following their election. In the event of a vacancy on the
19 commission for any reason, such vacancy shall be filled by a special election
20 conducted in accordance with the Louisiana Election Code.
21 (3) No commissioner shall serve more than three consecutive four-year
22 terms.
23 Section 2. This Act shall become effective on August 1, 2026.
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HLS 26RS-276 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 667
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 667 Original 2026 Regular Session McCormick
Abstract: Changes the Caddo-Bossier Parishes Port Commission from an appointed body
to an elected body. Establishes parishwide, nonpartisan elections conducted in
alignment with the gubernatorial primary election cycle, establishes four-year terms
for elected members, requires that vacancies be filled by special election, and
outlines member transitions.
Present law establishes the Caddo-Bossier Parishes Port Commission consisting of nine
members, who serve without compensation, and provides for members to be appointed by
specified governing authorities and state officials, with appointments allocated among Caddo
Parish, Bossier Parish, and the governor. Further requires that appointed commissioners
serve terms of six years and that vacancies be filled in the same manner as original
appointments. Requires appointing authorities to ensure racial diversity among appointees.
Additionally, includes historical transition provisions that establish expiration dates for prior
appointed terms.
Proposed law generally removes present law but retains creation authority, the nine member
composition, and applies the compensation prohibition to elected commissioners.
Proposed law changes the commission to an elected body composed of nine commissioners
elected parishwide by the qualified electors of Caddo and Bossier Parishes.
Proposed law requires that commissioners be elected at the gubernatorial primary election,
beginning in 2027 and every four years thereafter, with elected commissioners taking office
on Jan. 1st following the election. Additionally, requires that elections be administered by
the secretary of state, including qualifying procedures and filing fees.
Proposed law requires that commissioners be citizens of the U.S., qualified voters of Caddo
or Bossier parish, and residents of La.
Proposed law specifies that current appointed commissioners will continue to serve until
Dec. 31, 2027, and that commissioners elected at the 2027 gubernatorial primary election
will take office on Jan. 1, 2028. Prohibits commissioners from serving more than three
consecutive four yr. terms.
Proposed law provides that vacancies be filled by special election.
Effective Aug. 1, 2026.
(Amends R.S. 34:3158)
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