PUBLIC SERVICE COMN: (Constitutional Amendment) Provides for certain common carriers and public utilities to be regulated by the Public Service Commission (OR INCREASE SG RV See Note)

HLS 26RS-1153 ORIGINAL
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 744
BY REPRESENTATIVE WRIGHT
PUBLIC SERVICE COMN: (Constitutional Amendment) Provides for certain common
carriers and public utilities to be regulated by the Public Service Commission
1 A JOINT RESOLUTION
2 Proposing to amend Article IV, Section 21(C) of the Constitution of Louisiana and to add
3 Article IV, Section 21(G) of the Constitution of Louisiana, to allow the Public
4 Service Commission to regulate certain common carriers and public utilities; to
5 provide for submission of the proposed amendment to the electors; and to provide
6 for related matters.
7 Section 1. Be it resolved by the Legislature of Louisiana, two-thirds of the members
8 elected to each house concurring, that there shall be submitted to the electors of the state of
9 Louisiana, for their approval or rejection in the manner provided by law, a proposal to
10 amend Article IV, Section 21(C) and to enact Article IV, Section 21(G) of the Constitution
11 of Louisiana, to read as follows:
12 §21. Public Service Commission
13 Section 21.
14 * * *
15 (C) Limitation. The commission shall have no power to regulate any
16 common carrier or public utility owned, operated, or regulated on the effective date
17 of this constitution by the governing authority of one or more political subdivisions,
18 except by the approval of a majority of the electors voting in an election held for that
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-1153 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 744
1 purpose; however, a political subdivision may reinvest itself with such regulatory
2 power in the manner in which it was surrendered. This Paragraph shall not apply to
3 safety regulations pertaining to the operation of such utilities or to common carriers
4 or public utilities in the city of New Orleans.
5 * * *
6 (G) Notwithstanding the New Orleans home rule charter, the commission
7 shall regulate all common carriers and public utilities in the city of New Orleans and
8 shall have such other regulatory authority as provided by law.
9 Section 2. Be it further resolved that this proposed amendment shall be submitted
10 to the electors of the state of Louisiana at the statewide election to be held on November 3,
11 2026.
12 Section 3. Be it further resolved that on the official ballot to be used at the election,
13 there shall be printed a proposition, upon which the electors of the state shall be permitted
14 to vote YES or NO, to amend the Constitution of Louisiana, which proposition shall read as
15 follows:
16 Do you support an amendment to allow the Public Service Commission to
17 regulate all common carriers and public utilities in the city of New Orleans
18 and have such other regulatory authority as provided by law? (Amends
19 Article IV, Section 21(C); Adds Article IV, Section 21(G))
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 744 Original 2026 Regular Session Wright
Abstract: Allows the Public Service Commission to regulate certain common carriers and
public utilities.
Present constitution provides for the regulation authority of the Public Service Commission
(commission).
Present constitution provides for exemptions to the regulation authority of the commission.
Proposed constitution provides that notwithstanding the New Orleans home rule charter, the
commission shall regulate all common carriers and public utilities in the city of New Orleans
and shall have such other regulatory authority as provided by law.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-1153 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 744
Provides for submission of the proposed amendment to the voters at the statewide election
to be held November 3, 2026.
(Amends Const. Art. IV, §21(C); Adds Const. Art. IV, §21(G))
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.