Provides relative to the Upper Audubon Security District in Orleans Parish
Summary
HB 53 amends Louisiana law governing the Upper Audubon Security District in Orleans Parish. The bill increases the maximum parcel fee the district may levy from $700 to $1,200 per parcel per year, while preserving the board’s authority to set the actual fee by resolution within that cap. It also continues the reduced charge for property owners who qualify for the Louisiana Special Assessment Level, setting that charge at 50% of the regular parcel fee, and updates the deadline for proving eligibility to January 15, 2026.
The bill also revises the timing and duration rules for the district’s parcel fee. In general, the fee may run for up to seven years and be renewed at a regularly scheduled New Orleans election, but if voters approve a maximum fee above $500 per parcel before January 1, 2026, the fee expires on December 31, 2026 unless renewed. The bill repeals a prior section of Act 307 of the 2021 Regular Session and delays implementation until after district voters approve the fee under the amended terms.
Impact
HB 53 changes R.S. 33:9091.12, the statute governing the Upper Audubon Security District, by authorizing a higher parcel fee ceiling, preserving a partial exemption for certain homestead-exempt or special-assessment homeowners, and adding a special expiration rule for higher fees approved before 2026. It affects property owners within the district, the district board that sets the fee, and Orleans Parish voters who must approve the fee proposition before the amended provisions take effect.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been generally supported, as reflected by strong bipartisan passage in both chambers: 75-11 in the House and 39-0 in the Senate. The vote pattern suggests broad acceptance of the district’s request to update its funding authority, with no recorded committee transcript indicating major opposition or debate in the available materials.
Contention
The main point of potential contention is the higher fee cap, which increases the maximum annual charge on each parcel from $700 to $1,200. Property owners, especially those without special assessment protection, may be concerned about the increased cost, while supporters likely view the change as necessary to fund district security services. A secondary issue is the special treatment for Louisiana Special Assessment Level owners, who continue to pay only half the fee, and the requirement that voters in the district approve the fee before the law is implemented.