Provides for the board of commissioners of the Algiers Development District. (8/1/25)
Summary
SB 204 makes a narrow change to the statute governing the Algiers Development District in Orleans Parish. The bill amends the section describing the district’s seven-member board of commissioners by updating one of the board’s appointing members: instead of referring to the two state senators who represent the 15th Ward of Orleans Parish, the law is revised to refer to the senator who represents that area, or the senator’s designee. The bill also adds a new board seat for the member of the U.S. House of Representatives who represents Louisiana’s 2nd Congressional District, or that member’s designee.
In practical terms, the bill adjusts who may serve on or designate representation to the district’s governing board, while leaving the district’s broader powers and structure intact. The Algiers Development District remains authorized under existing law to levy ad valorem taxes and issue bonds, and SB 204 does not change those powers; it only revises board composition and appointment language.
Impact
SB 204 amends R.S. 33:2740.27, the statute creating and governing the Algiers Development District, by changing the membership provisions for its board of commissioners. It replaces outdated plural language tied to the state senators representing the 15th Ward with singular language and adds a congressional district representative or designee to the board. The bill affects local governance in the Algiers area of Orleans Parish and the officials eligible to participate in district oversight, but it does not alter the district’s taxing authority, bonding authority, or other substantive powers.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been noncontroversial and received unanimous support in both chambers. It passed the Senate 38-0 and the House 102-0, indicating broad agreement that the board composition update was appropriate and routine. There is no committee transcript indicating debate or opposition, and the voting history suggests a generally favorable sentiment toward the measure.
Contention
There is little evidence of substantive contention around SB 204. The only potentially notable issue is the governance change itself: the bill shifts board representation from the state legislative delegation to include the federal congressional representative for Louisiana’s 2nd District, which may reflect an effort to modernize or broaden representation on the district board. However, the unanimous votes and absence of recorded committee debate suggest that any concerns were minimal or not publicly expressed.