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2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 861
BY REPRESENTATIVES MIKE JOHNSON, AMEDEE, BAYHAM, BEAULLIEU,
BOUDREAUX, BUTLER, CARLSON, DICKERSON, EGAN, FREIBERG,
HORTON, OWEN, SCHAMERHORN, AND WYBLE
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 13:782(J)(2)(a) and (b), R.S. 15:574.21(D), R.S. 25:521(A), R.S.
3 30:521(A)(1), R.S. 41:1501, R.S. 49:214.5.4(G)(8) and 966(B)(3)(b), and R.S.
4 56:1948.4(B) and to repeal Section 3 of Act No. 323 of the 2013 Regular Session of
5 the Legislature, Section 2 of Act No. 427 of the 2015 Regular Session of the
6 Legislature, R.S. 13:782(J)(1), Chapter 1-A of Title 15 of the Louisiana Revised
7 Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S. 15:321 through 324, Chapter 13-A of Title 15
8 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S. 15:1441 and 1442, R.S.
9 17:1875, 3398.2(B) through (E), and 3883(A)(6), Subpart J of Part III of Chapter 4
10 of Title 22 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S. 22:1201
11 through 1220, Chapter 13 of Title 23 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950,
12 comprised of R.S. 23:2021 through 2024, Chapter 23-A of Title 25 of the Louisiana
13 Revised Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S. 25:1021 through 1027, Part I of Chapter
14 6 of Title 30 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S. 30:401
15 through 403, R.S. 36:4(B)(18) and (34) and (D)(1), 209(A)(2) and (10) and (D)(1),
16 508.4, 610(C)(2), and 651(K)(2), R.S. 38:90.2 and 90.5(A), Subpart F-1 of Part II-A
17 of Chapter 1 of Subtitle 1 of Title 39 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950,
18 comprised of R.S. 39:99.26 through 99.46, Part XI-A of Chapter 1 of Title 39 of the
19 Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S. 39:332.1, and Chapter 17-F
20 of Title 39 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S. 39:1800.21
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1 through 1800.35, R.S. 40:600.91(A)(28)(b), 1730.28.4, and 1730.28.5(C), R.S.
2 43:111(A)(9), Part VII of Chapter 2 of Title 49 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of
3 1950, comprised of R.S. 49:220.31 through 220.33, 966(B)(23), and Chapter 19 of
4 Title 49 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S. 49:1221
5 through 1223, Chapter 10-A of Title 51 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950,
6 comprised of R.S. 51:1317 through 1319, and Part XIII-A of Chapter 1 of Title 56
7 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S. 56:699.21 and 699.22,
8 R.S. 56:1948.4(A)(2), Part III-A of Chapter 9 of Title 56 of the Louisiana Revised
9 Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S. 56:1948.11 through 1948.13, Part VII of Chapter
10 9 of Title 56 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S.
11 56:1950.21 through 1950.26, and 1681, relative to boards, commissions, committees,
12 councils, authorities, districts, like entities, and funds related thereto; to provide
13 relative to the functional organization of state government by abolishing certain
14 boards, commissions, committees, councils, authorities, districts, like entities, and
15 funds related thereto; to remove references to, provisions for, and the powers,
16 functions, and duties of the Advisory Commission for Louisiana's Energy,
17 Environment, and Restoration, Advisory Subcommittee of the Accountability
18 Commission, Byways Commission, Centers of Excellence Financing Corporation,
19 Centers of Excellence Program Advisory Board, Clerks of Court Certification
20 Program Committee, Coastal Protection and Restoration Financing Corporation,
21 ENCORE Louisiana Commission, Energy Code Commission, Equal Pay
22 Commission, Floodplain Evaluation and Management Commission, Louisiana
23 Health Plan, Housing and Transportation Planning and Coordinating Commission,
24 Hunting and Fishing Advisory Education Council, Latino Commission, Louisiana
25 Juvenile Jurisdiction Planning and Implementation Committee, Louisiana Music
26 Trail Commission, Louisiana Quincentenary Commission, Parks and Recreation
27 Commission, Process Technology Advisory Board, Rural Water Infrastructure
28 Committee, Louisiana Sentencing Commission, State Buildings and Lands Highest
29 and Best Use Advisory Group, Waste Tire Task Force, and Multimodal Commerce
30 Advisory Commission; and to provide for related matters.
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1 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
2 Section 1. The legislature finds that abolishing certain boards, commissions, and
3 other statutorily created entities and funds is in the public interest when such entities are
4 inactive. Pursuant to the recommendations contained in the October 1, 2025, Legislative
5 Auditor Report to the Legislature titled "Boards, Commissions, and Like Entities" and other
6 information, it is the intent of the legislature to abolish, boards, commissions, and other
7 statutorily created entities as provided in this Act.
8 Advisory Commission for Louisiana's Energy, Environment, and Restoration
9 Section 2.(A) R.S. 30:521(A)(1) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
10 §521. Merger and consolidation of agencies or functions
11 A. In order to merge and consolidate into one agency, under authority of
12 Section 32 of Article III of the Constitution of 1921, certain executive and
13 administrative offices, boards, commissions and agencies of the state of Louisiana
14 whose duties and functions are of a similar nature or character, the following named
15 offices, boards, commissions and agencies are merged and consolidated into the
16 Department of Conservation and Energy:
17 (1) The natural gas committee or commission authorized by R.S. 30:401 et
18 seq.
19 * * *
20 (B) Part I of Chapter 6 of Title 30 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950,
21 comprised of R.S. 30:401 through 403, is hereby repealed in its entirety.
22 Advisory Subcommittee of the Accountability Commission
23 Section 3. R.S. 17:3883(A)(6) is hereby repealed in its entirety.
24 Byways Commission
25 Section 4.(A) R.S. 56:1948.4(B) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
26 §1948.4. Regional development; legislative committee approval
27 * * *
28 B. After approval by the Louisiana Byways Commission, the Department of
29 Culture, Recreation and Tourism, and the Department of Transportation and
30 Development, a proposed byway shall be presented to the House and Senate
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1 Committees on Transportation, Highways and Public Works by the recommending
2 agent and shall be approved by a majority of the members of each committee prior
3 to its inclusion in the Louisiana Byway Program.
4 * * *
5 (B) R.S. 36:209(D)(1) and R.S. 56:1948.4(A)(2) and Part III-A of Chapter 9 of Title
6 56 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S. 56:1948.11 through
7 1948.13, are hereby repealed in their entirety.
8 Centers of Excellence Financing Corporation
9 Section 5. Chapter 17-F of Title 39 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950,
10 comprised of R.S. 39:1800.21 through 1800.35, is hereby repealed in its entirety.
11 Centers of Excellence Program Advisory Board
12 Section 6. R.S. 17:1875 is hereby repealed in its entirety.
13 Clerks of Court Certification Program Committee
14 Section 7.(A) R.S. 13:782(J)(2)(a) and (b) are hereby amended and reenacted to read
15 as follows:
16 §782. Compensation of clerks
17 * * *
18 J.
19 * * *
20 (2)(a) Documents showing the successful completion of the certification
21 program shall be submitted to and approved by the certification committee. Upon
22 approval of the application for certification, a person holding the office of clerk of
23 court shall receive the designation of Certified Clerk of Court, (CCC), and notice of
24 the approval shall be forwarded to the legislative auditor by the certification
25 committee.
26 (b) If, on July 1, 1990, a clerk has completed the educational and experience
27 requirements as provided in Subsection I of this Section and the documents showing
28 the successful completion of the program have been submitted to and approved by
29 the certification committee and said approval documented to the legislative auditor,
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1 the clerk shall be granted a seven percent increase in compensation to his annual
2 salary as set forth in Subsection A of this Section.
3 * * *
4 (B) R.S. 13:782(J)(1) is hereby repealed in its entirety.
5 Coastal Protection and Restoration Financing Corporation
6 Section 8.(A) R.S. 49:214.5.4(G)(8) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as
7 follows:
8 §214.5.4. Funding and resource allocation
9 * * *
10 G. The money in the Coastal Protection and Restoration Fund is subject to
11 appropriations by the legislature for the purposes of integrated coastal protection.
12 The money in the fund may be used only for those projects and programs which are
13 consistent with the statement of intent, R.S. 49:214.1, and the annual plan as it
14 pertains to the integrated coastal protection and may include but not be limited to the
15 following purposes:
16 * * *
17 (8) The administration and operation of the Coastal Protection and
18 Restoration Authority, the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Board, and
19 the Governor's Advisory Commission on Coastal Protection, Restoration, and
20 Conservation, and the Coastal Protection and Restoration Financing Corporation.
21 * * *
22 (B) Subpart F-1 of Part II-A of Chapter 1 of Subtitle I of Title 39 of the Louisiana
23 Revised Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S. 39:99.26 through 99.46, is hereby repealed in
24 its entirety.
25 ENCORE Louisiana Commission
26 Section. 9. R.S. 36:4(D)(1), R.S. 43:111(A)(9), and Chapter 10-A of Title 51 of the
27 Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S. 51:1317 through 1319, are hereby
28 repealed in their entirety.
29 Energy Code Commission
30 Section 10. R.S. 40:1730.28.4 and 1730.28.5(C) are hereby repealed in their entirety.
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1 Equal Pay Commission
2 Section 11. Chapter 13 of Title 23 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950,
3 comprised of R.S. 23:2021 through 2024, is hereby repealed in its entirety.
4 Floodplain Evaluation and Management Commission
5 Section 12. R.S. 38:90.2 and 90.5(A) are hereby repealed in their entirety.
6 Louisiana Health Plan
7 Section 13. Subpart J of Part III of Chapter 4 of Title 22 of the Louisiana Revised
8 Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S. 22:1201 through 1220, is hereby repealed in its entirety.
9 Housing and Transportation Planning and Coordinating Commission
10 Section 14. R.S. 40:600.91(A)(28)(b) is hereby repealed in its entirety.
11 Hunting and Fishing Advisory Education Council
12 Section 15. R.S. 36:610(C)(2) and Part XIII-A of Chapter 1 of Title 56 of the
13 Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S. 56:699.21 and 699.22, are hereby
14 repealed in their entirety.
15 Latino Commission
16 Section 16. R.S. 36:4(B)(34) and Chapter 19 of Title 49 of the Louisiana Revised
17 Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S. 49:1221 through 1223, are hereby repealed in their
18 entirety.
19 Louisiana Juvenile Jurisdiction Planning Implementation Committee
20 Section 17. Chapter 13-A of Title 15 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950,
21 comprised of R.S. 15:1441 and 1442, is hereby repealed in its entirety.
22 Louisiana Music Trail Commission
23 Section 18. R.S. 36:209(A)(10) and Part VII of Chapter 9 of Title 56 of the
24 Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S. 56:1950.21 through 1950.26, are
25 hereby repealed in their entirety.
26 Louisiana Quincentenary Commission
27 Section 19. Chapter 23-A of Title 25 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950,
28 comprised of R.S. 25:1021 through 1027, is hereby repealed in its entirety.
29 Parks and Recreation Commission
30 Section 20.(A) R.S. 25:521(A) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
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1 §521. Board; appointment; terms; meetings
2 A. The Louisiana Commission on Cultural Resources shall hereafter be
3 designated as the Louisiana Historical Preservation and Cultural Commission. It
4 shall be composed of fourteen members selected from the following sources: one
5 member each to be designated by the respective presidents thereof from Louisiana
6 State University, Louisiana Tech University, Tulane University, Southern University
7 and University of Southwestern Louisiana the University of Louisiana at Lafayette;
8 one member each designated by the Louisiana Architects Association, Louisiana
9 Landmarks Society, Louisiana Historical Association, Foundation for Historical
10 Louisiana and the Louisiana Geneological and Historical Society; and one member
11 each, serving ex officio, from State Archives and Records Commission the
12 Department of State, State Parks and Recreation Commission, Department of
13 Culture, Recreation and Tourism, Louisiana State Museum, and State Tourist
14 Development Commission.
15 * * *
16 (B) R.S. 41:1501 is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
17 §1501. Lease of lakes, bays and coves
18 The register of the State Land Office, with the concurrence and approval of
19 the governor, is hereby authorized and empowered to lease on behalf of the state any
20 portion or part of any meandered state-owned lake, bay, cove or the bed and bottom
21 thereof or state-owned lands reclaimed therefrom to any governing authority of a
22 parish or municipality or any combination thereof, the Louisiana Wildlife and
23 Fisheries Commission, the State Parks and Recreation Commission, the Department
24 of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, and the Louisiana State Department of
25 Highways for use primarily for public recreational purposes; provided, however, that
26 said leases may only be entered into with the aforementioned municipal and parish
27 governing authorities or any combination thereof, when the geographical territory
28 encompassed by said governing authorities is directly adjacent to the lake, bay, cove
29 or any part thereof or the bed and bottom thereof or lands reclaimed therefrom. In
30 the case of leases to the State Parks and Recreation Commission, the Department of
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1 Culture, Recreation and Tourism, the State Wildlife and Fisheries Commission,
2 and/or the State Department of Highways, said leases may be granted on a statewide
3 basis subject to all conditions and requirements as provided for under the provisions
4 of this Chapter. Subject to the approval of the register of the State Land Office, and
5 with the concurrence of the attorney general, the political body who has been granted
6 a lease under the provisions of this Chapter may place improvements in and on the
7 leased property, and after obtaining approval of the register may assign or sublease
8 such lease; provided, however, that any political body subleasing or assigning its
9 lease as herein authorized shall supervise its sublessee or assign to insure that the
10 terms and conditions of the original lease are observed, and provided, further, such
11 assignment or sublease shall be only to the highest responsible bidder after
12 advertisement in accordance with R.S. 41:1213 through 1215.1.
13 Any lease made by the register of the State Land Office pursuant to the
14 provisions of this chapter shall be on behalf of the state of Louisiana except that, as
15 to any lake, bay, cove and the bed and bottom thereof and land reclaimed therefrom,
16 or part thereof, not under the jurisdiction and control of the state of Louisiana, the
17 lease shall be made on behalf of the political body or entity having such jurisdiction
18 and control and only at its request.
19 (C) R.S. 49:966(B)(3)(b) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
20 §966. Review of agency rules; fees
21 * * *
22 B.
23 * * *
24 (3)
25 * * *
26 (b) The office of state parks and the State Parks and Recreation Commission
27 shall submit the report to the House Committee on Municipal, Parochial and Cultural
28 Affairs and the Senate Committee on Natural Resources.
29 * * *
30 (D) R.S. 36:209(A)(2) and R.S. 56:1681 are hereby repealed in their entirety.
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1 Process Technology Advisory Board
2 Section 21. R.S. 17:3398.2(B), (C), (D), and (E) and R.S. 36:651(K)(2) are hereby
3 repealed in their entirety.
4 Rural Water Infrastructure Committee
5 Section 22. R.S. 36:4(B)(18) and Part VII of Chapter 2 of Title 49 of the Louisiana
6 Revised Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S. 49:220.31 through 220.33, are hereby repealed
7 in their entirety.
8 Louisiana Sentencing Commission
9 Section 23.(A) R.S. 15:574.21(D) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as
10 follows:
11 §574.21. Parole risk assessment pilot program; statistical system; agency
12 cooperation; rules promulgation
13 * * *
14 D. Contingent upon the availability of funding, the Department of Public
15 Safety and Corrections and the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement and the
16 Administration of Criminal Justice shall provide the necessary resources, including
17 clerical and administrative personnel, required by the committee on parole to
18 establish, implement and evaluate the risk assessment pilot program. Specifically,
19 the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, the Louisiana Commission on Law
20 Enforcement and the Administration of Criminal Justice, the Louisiana Sentencing
21 Commission, and the Louisiana Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information
22 shall provide technical assistance to the committee on parole, and shall make
23 available all facts, records, information, data and data processing assistance required
24 by the committee.
25 * * *
26 (B) Chapter 1-A of Title 15 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, comprised of
27 R.S. 15:321 through 324, and R.S. 49:966(B)(23) are hereby repealed in their entirety.
28 State Buildings and Lands Highest and Best Use Advisory Group
29 Section 24. Part XI-A of Chapter 1 of Title 39 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of
30 1950, comprised of R.S. 39:332.1, is hereby repealed in its entirety.
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1 Waste Tire Task Force
2 Section 25. Section 3 of Act No. 323 of the 2013 Regular Session of the Legislature
3 and Section 2 of Act No. 427 of the 2015 Regular Session of the Legislature are hereby
4 repealed in their entirety.
5 Section 26. R.S. 36:508.4 is hereby repealed in its entirety.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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