Louisiana 2023 2023 Regular Session

Louisiana Senate Bill SB229 Comm Sub / Analysis

                    HASBSB229 TYLERT 2667
SENATE SUMMARY OF HOUSE AMENDMENTS
SB 229	2023 Regular Session	Duplessis
KEYWORD AND SUMMARY AS RETURNED TO THE SENATE
SPECIAL DISTRICTS. Provides for the boundaries and certain payments to the New
Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority Economic Growth and Development District. 
(8/1/23)
SUMMARY OF HOUSE AMENDMENTS TO THE SENATE BILL
1. Provides that improvements shall be subject to ad valorem taxes or payment
in lieu of taxes.
2. Provides relative to payment in lieu of taxes.
3. Provides relative to the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance of the city of New
Orleans.
DIGEST OF THE SENATE BILL AS RETURNED TO THE SENATE
DIGEST
SB 229 Reengrossed 2023 Regular Session	Duplessis
Present law provides for the boundaries of the New Orleans Exhibition Hall Authority
Economic Growth and Development District.
Proposed law expands those boundaries.
Proposed law provides that any property that is acquired or owned by the district or any
subdistrict is hereby declared to be public property used for public purposes and shall be
exempt from all ad valorem taxes. Any improvements, other than those improvements owned
by the district, shall be subject to all ad valorem taxes, or, in the alternative, a payment in lieu
of taxes. Subject to prior review by the New Orleans City Council of an economic
development project with a payment in lieu of taxes, the district or any subdistrict may
designate property it acquires or owns to be an "economic development project" that may be
leased to a lessee subject to the lessee making payments to the tax collector for the city of
New Orleans in an annual sum in lieu of ad valorem taxes to compensate the city of New
Orleans for any services rendered to such economic development project; provided further
that the annual sum, together with any fees and charges to be paid by such lessee, shall not
be in excess of the ad valorem taxes such lessee would have been obligated to pay in such
year had such property been owned by the lessee during the period for which such payment
in lieu of taxes is made. 
Proposed law provides that such payments to be made in lieu of taxes, together with any fees
and charges of the district or any subdistrict, shall constitute statutory impositions within the
meaning of present law (R.S. 47:2128).
Proposed law provides that prior to entering into a payment in lieu of tax agreement, the
district or any subdistrict, acting by and through the board, shall provide the city council with
the payment in lieu of tax proposal for property designated an economic development project
serving the public purposes of the district or subdistrict, which proposal shall consist of the
following: 
(1) The term of the payment in lieu of tax proposal evidenced in a payment in lieu of tax
agreement. 
(2) The annual amount of the payment in lieu of taxes to be paid by the lessee. HASBSB229 TYLERT 2667
(3)A description of the economic development project identified in the payment in lieu
of tax agreement, which, at a minimum shall consist of either a development project
creating at least 10 new permanent jobs, or an affordable workforce housing
development of not less than 75 housing units.
Proposed law provides that prior to acquiring or owning an economic development project
with a payment in lieu of tax agreement, a payment in lieu of tax proposal shall be submitted
to the city council of the city of New Orleans for review through the clerk of the city council
via personal delivery in exchange for a stamped receipt by the clerk of the city council or via
registered or certified U.S. mail.
Proposed law provides that the council of the city of New Orleans shall have 15 days from
the date the proposal is received by the clerk of the city council to review said payment in
lieu of tax proposal.
Proposed law provides that the payment in lieu of tax agreement shall be deemed approved
for execution by the district or any subdistrict if the city council fails to adopt a resolution
disapproving said proposal within 30 days following such 15-day review period; provides
that the city council may adopt a resolution approving the proposal with amendments to the
payment in lieu of tax agreement.
Proposed law provides that the payment in lieu of tax agreement related to an economic
development project within the district or any subdistrict shall become effective upon
approval by resolution of the board of the district or any subdistrict after either 
(1) The city council fails to adopt a resolution disapproving said payment in lieu of tax
agreement within 30 days following the 15-day review period, or 
(2)The payment in lieu of tax agreement has incorporated the city council amendments
to the payment in lieu of tax agreement.
Proposed law provides that in connection with the lease of any property owned by the district
or subdistrict to a private entity, the contract of lease or other agreement shall not be subject
to present law (R.S. 33:4710.11(D)(4) and R.S. 33:4710.11(D)(5)).
Effective August 1, 2023.
(Amends R.S. 33:130.862(A); adds R.S. 33:130.865.1)
______________________
JAMES BENTON
ATTORNEY