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LouisianaSB 4442026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

EXPROPRIATION: Provides relative to expropriation by the city of St. George. (gov sig)

Sponsored By: Rick Edmonds (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Civil Law and ProcedureLocal and Municipal Affairs

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

St. George takes property with owner protections

St. George can take land, buildings, and related property rights within city limits when it cannot reach an agreement to buy them. The property must be needed for city public projects, including roads, drainage, flood protection, water, utilities, or other public works. Before filing in East Baton Rouge Parish’s Nineteenth Judicial District Court, the council must find the taking necessary for a public purpose. The filing must identify the property and owners and include the council resolution and an itemized compensation estimate. Under a court order, the city deposits that estimate with the court. Ownership then transfers to the city, and owners gain the right to fair compensation before the final amount is set. The city can take possession immediately if no occupied structure is on the property. For occupied structures wholly or partly on the property, the court can delay possession up to 30 days after service of the order. A longer delay requires court-set reasonable rent. Each owner must receive the petition, taking order, and deposit receipt. Owners have 21 days after service to challenge the public purpose or required filing documents; missing that deadline waives defenses other than compensation or damages. Owners seeking compensation or damages must answer within 30 days for a total taking or 90 days for a partial taking. After the answer and resolution of any dismissal motion, either side can request a priority trial with at least 30 days’ notice. Parties can request deposited money, but taxes, liens, mortgages, and other claims must be paid as required by law. The court sets final compensation and damages and orders any additional payment or excess-deposit refund. Awards above the deposit earn legal interest from the taking date until paid. This authority adds to, rather than replaces, the city’s other taking powers.

St. George limits quick utility property takings

St. George cannot use this law’s early-taking process for protected property used to provide electric, gas, water, or sewer service. The protection covers facilities and property rights owned, leased, operated, maintained, or used by utilities regulated by Louisiana’s Public Service Commission. It includes utility plants, rights-of-way, and rights to use another owner’s land. The law leaves existing utility relocation rules and other legal authority unchanged.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Rick Edmonds

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 102 • No: 32

House vote • 5/29/2026

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 59, nays 32. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.

Yes: 59 • No: 32

House vote • 5/20/2026

Reported favorably

Yes: 10 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/13/2026

Rules suspended. Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title and passed by a vote of 33 yeas and 0 nays; ordered reengrossed and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

Yes: 33 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 899.

    6/9/2026Senate

  2. Effective date 6/9/2026.

    6/9/2026Senate

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

    6/1/2026Senate

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

    5/31/2026Senate

  5. Signed by the Speaker of the House.

    5/31/2026House

  6. Called from the calendar.

    5/29/2026House

  7. Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 59, nays 32. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.

    5/29/2026House

  8. Received from the House without amendments.

    5/29/2026Senate

  9. Read by title, returned to the calendar.

    5/27/2026House

  10. Notice given.

    5/27/2026House

  11. Scheduled for floor debate on 05/29/2026.

    5/27/2026House

  12. Read by title, passed to 3rd reading.

    5/26/2026House

  13. Scheduled for floor debate on 05/27/2026.

    5/26/2026House

  14. Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.

    5/25/2026House

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

    5/20/2026House

  16. Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Civil Law and Procedure.

    5/19/2026House

  17. Discharged from the Committee on Civil Law and Procedure.

    5/19/2026House

  18. Read by title, recommitted to the Committee on Municipal, Parochial and Cultural Affairs.

    5/19/2026House

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

    5/18/2026House

  20. Rules suspended. Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title and passed by a vote of 33 yeas and 0 nays; ordered reengrossed and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

    5/13/2026Senate

  21. Read by title. Ordered engrossed and passed to third reading and final passage.

    5/12/2026Senate

  22. Reported favorably.

    5/11/2026Senate

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

    3/31/2026Senate

  24. Rules suspended. Introduced in the Senate. Read by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.

    3/30/2026Senate

Bill Text

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