PRIA Logo™
LouisianaSB 1872025 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

SPECIAL DISTRICTS: Provides for the creation of the St. Martin Parish Economic and Industrial Development District. (8/1/25)

Sponsored By: Gerald Boudreaux (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Municipal, Parochial and Cultural AffairsLocal and Municipal Affairs

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

8 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.

Local Businesses Gain Government Bid Help

Beginning August 1, 2025, the district can fund and operate a center that helps companies pursue government contracts. Help includes finding government buyers, joining bidder lists, getting specifications and bid materials, and accessing counseling and seminars. Center money is limited to authorized district expenses and purposes. The law does not guarantee contracts or business income.

District Officials Face Contract Conflict Limits

District commissioners, their immediate families, and district employees cannot bid on or enter transactions under district supervision or control. Commissioners and employees must disclose specified property or contract interests in writing. Commissioners cannot vote on related matters or spending. Elected officials cannot serve on the district board.

Residents Get Public Development Plan Hearings

Beginning August 1, 2025, the district can create an operating fund for staff, planning, studies, technical help, and construction contracts. Development plans require public hearings and published notice. Plans must explain implementation, services, annual and total costs, revenue needs, debt payments, and funding commitments. Proposed budgets must identify funding sources, including amounts and durations of proposed taxes, parcel fees, or service charges. Parish leaders must respond within 30 days when the board submits a plan for review; money is limited to authorized district purposes.

St. Martin Gains Local Development District

Beginning August 1, 2025, the law creates a permanent development district covering all of St. Martin Parish. A board of commissioners oversees efforts to support jobs, business growth, disadvantaged communities, and infrastructure. The district can acquire, build, improve, and operate roads, bridges, rail facilities, parks, tourism sites, drainage, waste systems, and utilities. It can acquire property outside the parish only for joint projects with other local governments. The law does not promise a specific project or household payment.

Local Businesses Gain Property And Financing Options

The district can offer businesses loans, grants, infrastructure, below-market leases, and property deals, including mortgages, credit sales, and sale-leasebacks. The board can consider land value, jobs, wages, local purchases, and tax revenue when setting terms. It must publish general terms of authorized sales and leases, opening a 30-day period to challenge their legality. The district can also transfer projects and pledge projects or revenues to secure its obligations. District-created foundations or nonprofits can provide venture capital and equity loans. Their purpose includes helping businesses employ at least 50% of workers from St. Martin Parish and surrounding parishes; assistance is not guaranteed.

St. Martin Voters Control New Taxes

Beginning August 1, 2025, the district can seek voter approval for an added sales and use tax capped at 1%. It covers taxable purchases, services, and property use, leases, rentals, and storage under state tax rules. Annual property taxes also require majority voter approval, with the amount, term, and purpose stated on the ballot. Voters can expressly authorize exceeding constitutional tax limits, but the law retains the 1% sales tax cap. District plans can also use parcel fees and service charges, and special taxing districts can serve particular projects. These revenue tools add to existing local taxes, fund only district purposes, and do not themselves impose a tax.

District Can Borrow With Repayment Limits

Beginning August 1, 2025, the district can finance lawful work through bonds, notes, certificates of indebtedness, and other debt. Borrowing provides project money but commits pledged revenues to repayment. General-obligation bonds require majority voter approval, and debt issuance requires State Bond Commission approval. Certificates of indebtedness cannot exceed 20 years, and annual payments cannot exceed estimated revenues pledged for repayment. Borrowing against expected property taxes is limited to taxes of up to 10 mills and a 20-year term. The law does not issue debt or set a borrowing amount.

Business Loan Help Carries Local Requirements

Beginning August 1, 2025, the district can provide loans, grants, and revolving loan guarantees for business, industry, and housing projects. Guarantees can support facilities, land, equipment, and operating funds, but cannot exceed 40% of total project cost. Projects generally must use at least 50% parish residents for construction and maintenance, and parish suppliers for at least 50% of maintenance purchases. Supplier exceptions cover substantial added expense, inconvenience, or lost efficiency; the board or executive committee can also waive local requirements. Guarantees must attract other capital, use terms compatible with local loans, and seek the most favorable available security. Lending or underwriting principals must show adequate experience, ability, and financial strength.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Gerald Boudreaux

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Tehmi Jahi Chassion

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 138 • No: 4

House vote • 6/4/2025

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 89, nays 4. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.

Yes: 89 • No: 4

House vote • 5/29/2025

Reported favorably

Yes: 10 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/29/2025

Read by title, passed by a vote of 39 yeas and 0 nays, and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

Yes: 39 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 442.

    6/20/2025Senate

  2. Effective date 8/1/2025.

    6/20/2025Senate

  3. Sent to the Governor by the Secretary of the Senate.

    6/11/2025Senate

  4. Enrolled. Signed by the President of the Senate.

    6/10/2025Senate

  5. Signed by the Speaker of the House.

    6/10/2025House

  6. Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 89, nays 4. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.

    6/4/2025House

  7. Received from the House with amendments.

    6/4/2025Senate

  8. Read by title, amended, passed to 3rd reading.

    6/3/2025House

  9. Scheduled for floor debate on 06/04/2025.

    6/3/2025House

  10. Reported with Legislative Bureau amendments.

    6/2/2025House

  11. Reported favorably (10-0). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.

    5/29/2025House

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

    5/5/2025House

  13. Received in the House from the Senate, read by title, lies over under the rules.

    4/30/2025House

  14. Read by title, passed by a vote of 39 yeas and 0 nays, and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

    4/29/2025Senate

  15. Read by title. Committee amendments read and adopted. Ordered engrossed and passed to third reading and final passage.

    4/28/2025Senate

  16. Reported with amendments.

    4/23/2025Senate

  17. Introduced in the Senate; read by title. Rules suspended. Read second time and referred to the Committee on Local and Municipal Affairs.

    4/14/2025Senate

  18. Prefiled and under the rules provisionally referred to the Committee on Local and Municipal Affairs.

    4/4/2025Senate

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation