ASSESSORS: Increases the membership of the assessor's certification program committee and provides for educational requirements for certification and recertification of assessors (EN NO IMPACT See Note)
Summary
HB 553 revises Louisiana law governing the assessors' professional certification program. The bill expands the assessors' certification program committee from five members to eleven members and changes the appointment structure so that more certified assessors and deputy assessors serve on the committee, along with representatives appointed by the Louisiana Tax Commission and the Louisiana Assessors Association. It also updates committee qualifications and terminology to reflect current certification roles and organizational titles.
The bill broadens the educational pathways for both initial certification and recertification of assessors. For certification, it updates the approved coursework to include specified International Association of Assessing Officers and Appraisal Institute courses or equivalent assessment administration courses. For recertification, it expands the list of acceptable continuing education options, including USPAP-related coursework and appraisal courses, and preserves the five-year recertification period. The act becomes effective January 1, 2027.
Impact
HB 553 amends R.S. 47:1907, which governs assessor salaries and the assessors' certification program, by enlarging the certification committee and revising the educational and continuing-education requirements for Louisiana assessors and deputy assessors. The changes affect the Louisiana Assessors Association, the Louisiana Tax Commission, certified Louisiana assessors (CLA), certified Louisiana deputy assessors (CLDA), and other assessors seeking certification or recertification. The fiscal note indicates no impact on state finances.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been broadly supported and noncontroversial. It passed the House 96-0 and the Senate 36-0, indicating unanimous approval in both chambers. The lack of committee transcript material also suggests there was little recorded debate or opposition in the available materials.
Contention
No significant contention is evident in the available record. The main policy choices were administrative and professional in nature: expanding committee membership, adjusting who appoints members, and revising acceptable coursework for certification and recertification. Any potential concern would likely have centered on whether the broader committee and expanded course options would improve oversight and training standards, but no recorded opposition or disputed issues appear in the voting history or transcripts provided.
Establishes the High Impact Job Program within Louisiana Economic Development and provides for administration of the program (EN SEE FISC NOTE SD EX See Note)
Provides for the inspection of assessment lists, challenges to the correctness of assessments, and reviews by boards of review and the La Tax Commission (EG NO IMPACT See Note)