HLS 24RS-123 ENGROSSED
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 565
BY REPRESENTATIVE KNOX
HISTORIC PRESERVATION: Provides relative to renovation of public historic buildings
1 AN ACT
2To enact R.S. 25:747, relative to historic preservation; to provide relative to renovations of
3 historic property owned by the state or a parish or municipality; to provide for public
4 notice, public hearing, and public comments regarding such property; to provide for
5 terminations of such work by the state historic preservation officer; to provide for an
6 effective date; and to provide for related matters.
7Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 25:747 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
9 ยง747. Renovations of public historic property
10 In addition to all other applicable provisions of law, the provisions of this
11 Section apply to any restoration, renovation, or other construction work performed
12 on property that is owned by the state or a parish or municipality and that is
13 designated as a landmark or is located within a historic preservation district under
14 Chapter 16 of Title 25 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950 or is designated as
15 a National Historic Landmark or located within a national historic district under the
16 National Historic Preservation Act.
17 (1) All such work shall adhere to guidelines and best practices outlined by
18 the state historic preservation office and the Department of the Interior. No such
19 work shall be undertaken on critical elements of our architectural and cultural
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HB NO. 565
1 heritage without compliance with preservation guidelines and consultation with
2 qualified preservation professionals.
3 (2) All such work shall comply with the secretary of the Department of
4 Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation and other relevant preservation best practices.
5 (3) Prior to beginning any such work, the state, parish, or municipality
6 undertaking the work shall solicit advice and guidance from the state historic
7 preservation officer, the local historic districts landmark commission, and other
8 preservation experts with expertise regarding the building or structure and the work
9 being undertaken.
10 (4) Prior to beginning any such work, the state, parish, or municipality
11 undertaking the work shall notify the legislators representing the legislative district
12 in which the property is located. The notification shall be submitted in writing,
13 describe the scope of the proposed work, and reference this Section.
14 (5) The state, parish, or municipality undertaking the work shall hold a
15 public hearing in the parish or municipality where the property is located to solicit
16 public comment on the design of and plan for the renovation or other construction.
17 (6) The state historic preservation officer may issue a cease and desist order
18 for any work being planned or executed that is not in compliance with the
19 requirements of this Section. He may also impose or seek imposition of any
20 applicable fines or penalties.
21 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
22signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
23by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
24vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
25effective on the day following such approval.
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HB NO. 565
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 565 Engrossed 2024 Regular Session Knox
Abstract: Provides relative to construction work on historic buildings owned by the state
or a parish or municipality.
Proposed law provides that in addition to all other applicable provisions of law, when the
state or a parish or municipality undertakes restoration, renovation, or other construction
work performed on property that is designated as a landmark or located within a historic
district, as such landmarks and districts are established pursuant to specified state or federal
laws, the following also apply:
(1)All such work shall adhere to guidelines and best practices outlined by the state
historic preservation office and the Dept. of the Interior. No such work shall be
undertaken on critical elements of our architectural and cultural heritage without
compliance with preservation guidelines and consultation with qualified preservation
professionals.
(2)All such work shall comply with the secretary of the Dept. of the Interior's Standards
for Rehabilitation and other relevant preservation best practices.
(3)The entity undertaking the work shall solicit advice and guidance from the state
historic preservation officer, the local historic districts landmark commission, and
other preservation experts.
(4)The entity undertaking the work shall notify the legislators representing the districts
in which the property is located.
(5)The entity undertaking the work shall hold a public hearing to solicit public comment
on the design of and plan for the renovation or other construction.
(6)The state historic preservation officer may issue a cease and desist order for any
work being planned or executed that is not in compliance with proposed law. He
may also impose or seek imposition of any applicable fines or penalties.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 25:747)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Municipal, Parochial
and Cultural Affairs to the original bill:
1. Limit applicability of proposed law to landmarks and historic districts
established pursuant to specified state or federal laws.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
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