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2023 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 178
BY SENATOR STINE
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
LOCAL AGENCIES. Provides for grant programs to attract residents to Louisiana.
(gov sig)
1 AN ACT
2 To enact Chapter 50 of Title 33 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, to be comprised
3 of R.S. 33:9720, relative to municipalities and parishes; to provide relative to
4 population growth; to provide with respect to a grant program to attract residents to
5 Louisiana; to provide incentives to prospective residents through the use of income
6 tax reimbursements; to provide relative to the purpose and administration of such
7 grants; to provide for an effective date; and to provide for related matters.
8 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
9 Section 1. Chapter 50 of Title 33 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950,
10 comprised of R.S. 33:9720, is hereby enacted to read as follows:
11 CHAPTER 50. GROW LOUISIANA GRANT PROGRAM
12 ยง9720. GROW LOUISIANA GRANT PROGRAM
13 A. Findings and purpose. (1) The legislature finds that the population
14 of Louisiana is consistently declining year by year. The rate of deaths and
15 people leaving Louisiana is outpacing births and immigration to the state.
16 Retaining and attracting residents is vital to growth and the economic success
17 of the state of Louisiana. Population loss translates into fewer customers and
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 178
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1 workers for local businesses and a diminishing tax base for public services. The
2 state of Louisiana and it municipalities could benefit from a grant program that
3 incentivizes individuals to move to this state and move the state forward.
4 (2) The legislature recognizes that many municipalities are facing
5 increasing residential loss and uprooting and that there is a need for
6 revitalization through creative initiatives which attract new citizens. It is the
7 purpose of this Chapter to encourage immigration to Louisiana.
8 B. Creation. There is hereby created the "Grow Louisiana Grant
9 Program", referred to in this Section as the "grant", which would allow local
10 governing authorities to reimburse an individual's annual Louisiana individual
11 income tax liability as an exchange for an out-of-state citizen or citizen of the
12 state of Louisiana relocating to a municipality that it governs.
13 C. Governance. The local governing authority shall establish the
14 criteria for the grant, administer the grant, and establish any other rules
15 necessary to implement the provisions of this Chapter.
16 D. Funding. The local governing authority shall appropriate funds to
17 pay for the grant. Implementation of the grant shall be subject to the
18 availability of funds for this purpose.
19 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
20 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
21 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
22 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
23 effective on the day following such approval.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by James Benton.
DIGEST
SB 178 Engrossed 2023 Regular Session Stine
Proposed law provides that the legislature finds that the population of Louisiana is
consistently declining. Population loss translates into fewer customers and workers for local
businesses and a diminishing tax base for public services. The state of Louisiana and its
municipalities could benefit from a grant program that incentivizes individuals to move to
this state and move the state forward.
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 178
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Proposed law provides that the legislature recognizes that many municipalities are facing
increasing residential loss and uprooting and that there is a need for revitalization through
creative initiatives which attract new citizens. It is the purpose of proposed law to encourage
immigration to Louisiana.
Proposed law provides that there is hereby created the "Grow Louisiana Grant Program",
referred to in proposed law as the "grant", which would allow local governing authorities to
reimburse an individual's annual individual income tax liability as an exchange for an
out-of-state citizen or citizen of the state of Louisiana relocating to a municipality that it
governs.
Proposed law provides that the local governing authority shall establish the criteria for grant,
administer the grant, and establish rules necessary for the implementation of the grant.
Proposed law provides that the local governing authority shall appropriate funds to pay for
the grant. Implementation of the grant shall be subject to the availability of funds.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 33:9720)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Local and Municipal
Affairs to the original bill
1. Removes provisions related to disclosures from the Department of Revenue.
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.