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LouisianaHB 2982025 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

DISTRICTS/SPECIAL: Provides relative to the Ernest N. Morial-New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority

Sponsored By: Alonzo L. Knox (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Local and Municipal AffairsMunicipal, Parochial and Cultural Affairs

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.

Minority Businesses Gain Broader Contract Set-Asides

Minority-business set-asides now cover projects under the authority’s broader project definition. At least 30% of anticipated local purchasing value, excluding construction, must be set aside for minority businesses. At least 20% of construction contract value must be set aside for minority contractors. Businesses must qualify under the applicable minority-business or contractor requirements.

Convention Authority Gets Broader Development Powers

The New Orleans convention authority can develop more tourism, entertainment, lodging, retail, parking, infrastructure, and related projects, including private partnerships. Eligible work includes board-approved capital-plan projects and specified riverfront development. Riverfront work cannot harm vehicle access to port facilities or the Public Belt Railroad main line. Project leases can last up to 99 years, up from 60, when the board finds the term advisable and it serves the law’s purposes; special Poydras Street Wharf terms remain. The authority can also count resulting economic growth when deciding whether exchanged properties have about equal value.

Existing Tourism Taxes Fund More Projects

The convention authority can use existing tourism taxes for any authority project without changing their rates. These include the 1% Orleans Parish hotel tax, which can also secure project bonds, and other listed revenue. The 0.25% food-and-drink tax covers qualifying Orleans Parish establishments and New Orleans-owned and operated airports or air facilities. Operators with less than $500,000 in combined prior-calendar-year receipts from such establishments remain exempt. The 2% event-contractor tax covers total contract charges for goods or services tied to Orleans Parish events; contractors can pass it to customers. The $1 sightseeing-ticket tax remains payable at purchase for qualifying tickets sold in Orleans Parish for tours including parish sightseeing; government-agency sales remain exempt.

New Orleans Hotel Taxes Lose Sunsets

The law removes debt-linked end dates for two Orleans Parish hotel taxes; imposing either still requires city government and voter approval. The additional 1% room-charge tax no longer ends when qualifying debt issued before July 1, 2029, is fully paid. The nightly tax covers occupied, paid rooms: $0.50 at hotels with 10–299 rooms, $1 with 300–999, and $2 with 1,000 or more. That tax no longer ends when debt backed by it is fully paid. These changes allow hotel charges to continue after those debt payments end.

Convention Authority Can Finance More Projects

The authority can borrow and issue bonds for any authority project, not just expansions. Bonds require State Bond Commission approval and a board resolution; specified authority taxes, fees, charges, and other revenue can secure repayment. Annual debt service cannot exceed estimated annual revenue from hotel taxes and other identified authority sources. Required bond payments come before spending on operating and project costs. The authority alone decides whether to give remaining money to New Orleans or keep it for future costs and capital work.

Convention Property Gets Tax Exemption Rules

Authority-owned or acquired property is public property exempt from regular property taxes, with separate payments replacing taxes in specified cases. The headquarters hotel’s payment formula uses the prior-year average per-room tax assessment of the three largest nonexempt hotels within the defined downtown area. Payments to local taxing bodies phase in after opening: 45% in year one, 65% in year two, 85% in year three, and 100% thereafter. Contracts for private improvements on authority land that lack an express replacement-payment term must require payments equal to otherwise-due property taxes. Those payments use assessed value, or appraised value when the assessor does not set an assessed value.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Alonzo L. Knox

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 149 • No: 0

Senate vote • 6/2/2025

Read by title, passed by a vote of 38 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

Yes: 38 • No: 0

House vote • 5/21/2025

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 97, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

Yes: 97 • No: 0

House vote • 5/19/2025

Reported with amendments

Yes: 14 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 178.

    6/8/2025House

  2. Effective date: 06/08/2025.

    6/8/2025House

  3. Sent to the Governor for executive approval.

    6/5/2025House

  4. Signed by the President of the Senate.

    6/4/2025Senate

  5. Received from the Senate without amendments.

    6/3/2025House

  6. Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.

    6/3/2025House

  7. Read by title, passed by a vote of 38 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

    6/2/2025Senate

  8. Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.

    6/1/2025Senate

  9. Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.

    6/1/2025Senate

  10. Reported favorably.

    5/29/2025Senate

  11. Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Local and Municipal Affairs.

    5/27/2025Senate

  12. Read by title, returned to the calendar.

    5/21/2025House

  13. Called from the calendar.

    5/21/2025House

  14. Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 97, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

    5/21/2025House

  15. Received in the Senate. Rules suspended. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.

    5/21/2025Senate

  16. Read by title, amended, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.

    5/20/2025House

  17. Scheduled for floor debate on 05/21/2025.

    5/20/2025House

  18. Reported with amendments (14-0).

    5/19/2025House

  19. Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Municipal, Parochial and Cultural Affairs.

    4/14/2025House

  20. Prefiled.

    4/2/2025House

  21. Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Municipal, Parochial and Cultural Affairs.

    4/2/2025House

Bill Text

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