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 756 Engrossed 2024 Regular Session McMakin
Abstract: Provides for the allocation and use of space in the state capitol complex, including
specifying the allocation of the pentagon barracks buildings.
Present law relative to the allocation and use of space in the capitol complex, provides that
notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the allocation and use of space within the state capitol,
pentagon court buildings, and the Old Arsenal Museum, including the subbasement, basement, and
all floors of the state capitol, all buildings in the pentagon court, and the Old Arsenal Museum, shall
be as follows:
(1)The fourth floor and three floors of the state capitol building shall be allocated to and be used
by the governor for his office, the offices of the members of his personal staff, and the offices
of such other personnel of agencies within the office of the governor as the governor shall
determine.
(2)Four floors of the state capitol building shall be designated for use by the attorney general
and one floor of the state capitol building shall be designated for use by the treasurer and the
secretary of state. That space leased to members of the press on July 1, 1979, by the division
of administration shall constitute the press area of the capitol and shall be under the control
of the governor; however, if renovations require reassignment of the press, such reassignment
shall be determined by the governor, the House speaker, and Senate president.
(3)The designation of the eight floors set forth in (1) and (2), not including the fourth floor, shall
be jointly determined by the governor, the House speaker, and Senate president.
(4)All areas of the state capitol, pentagon court buildings, and Old Arsenal Museum not
allocated in (1) and (2) shall be for the sole use of the legislature. In addition, the former
nurses' dormitory at the Our Lady of the Lake Hospital, located on Capitol Lake, shall be for
the sole use of the legislature until such time as it shall be renovated in accordance with the
Capitol Complex Master Plan and it shall then revert to the control of the division of
administration. The allocation of these areas shall be made by the legislature by joint rule
or through the Legislative Budgetary Control Council.
(5)Provides that except as otherwise provided in existing law, the superintendent of state
buildings shall have charge of the management, operation, and maintenance of the state
capitol building, pentagon court buildings, the Old Arsenal Museum, and the capitol complex
grounds and that in the performance of such duties, the superintendent shall be under the authority and direction of the governor, the House speaker, and the Senate president.
(6)Provides that subject to the joint approval and oversight of the governor, the Senate
president, and House speaker, the superintendent of state buildings shall set aside and
maintain areas on the grounds of the state capitol for specified memorials.
Proposed law retains present law except:
(1)Includes additions or appurtenances to state capitol and deletes specific reference to the
subbasement, basement, and all floors of the capitol.
(2)Changes references from state capitol building to state capitol and Old Arsenal Museum to
Old Arsenal Magazine Museum.
(3)Changes reference from pentagon courts buildings to pentagon barracks buildings and
specifies that Building A is allocated to the House, and allocation and use of space within
the building is determined by the speaker; Building D is allocated to the Senate, and
allocation and use of space within the building is determined by the president; and Buildings
B and C are allocated to the House and the Senate, and allocation and use of space within the
building is determined jointly by the speaker and the president.
(4)Deletes reference to the former nurses' dormitory at the Our Lady of the Lake Hospital.
(5)Removes provisions allocating four floors to the attorney general and one floor to the
treasurer and secretary of state. Provides that the third floor is allocated to the treasurer and
the commissioner of agriculture. Provides that the treasurer shall have space on another
floor. Provides that at least one floor shall be allocated to the secretary of state and at least
one floor shall be allocated to the Attorney General. Maintains that the designation of the
floors to the executive branch officials shall be jointly determined by the governor, the
speaker of the House of Representatives, and the president of the Senate.
(6)Specifies that the designation of the floors not otherwise specifically designated shall be
jointly determined by the speaker of the House and the president of the Senate or by the
legislature by joint rule.
(Amends R.S. 49:150.1(A)-(G), (H)(1)(a), and (I)(1)(a))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on House and Governmental
Affairs to the original bill:
1. Provide that at least one floor shall be allocated to the secretary of state and that at least
one floor shall be allocated to the attorney general rather than those officials sharing a floor.
2. Remove specific reference to the State Bond Commission relative to use of space on a
floor allocated to the treasurer.