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 410 Original 2025 Regular Session Knox
Abstract: Provides relative to the renovation of landmarks and public property within historic
preservation districts.
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 that is greater
than $200,000 in value and that is performed on the exterior of public property that is a contributing
rated structure within a historic preservation district or designated as a landmark, the following also
apply:
(1)Prior to beginning any such project on a historic structure, the state or parish or municipality
shall notify the legislators representing the legislative district is in which the historic
structure is located and the local historic district commission. The notification shall be
submitted in writing, describe the scope of the proposed work, and reference proposed law.
(2)A local historic district commission may, at its discretion, choose to undertake the process
of review and approval of a project. The decision to review must be made within 30 days
of the submittal of the project to the historic district commission. If a historic district
commission chooses to review a project proposal, it shall provide an opportunity for public
hearing.
(3)Any project that meets such criteria shall be subject to review and approval at the discretion
of the local historic district commission. Such project must adhere to the guidelines and best
practices outlined by Dept. of the Interior, including the Secretary of Interior Standards for
Rehabilitation and other relevant preservation best practices, or receive a certificate of
appropriateness as prescribed under present law (R.S. 25:738).
Proposed law provides the following definitions:
(1)"Contributing rated structures" means resources that are designated by a local historic district
commission as historically or architecturally significant to a city or community.
(2)"Project" means any restoration, renovation, or other construction work that is greater than
$200,000 in value and that is performed to the exterior of property that is owned by the state
or a parish or municipality and that is designated as a landmark or is a contributing rated
structure within a historic preservation district. Proposed law provides that proposed law does not apply to emergency repairs that prevent further
damage to a historic structure.
Proposed law authorizes a local historic district commission to issue a stop order for any planned or
active project that is not in compliance with the provisions of proposed law, or file suit within 30
days from the date of the public hearing in a district court in the parish in which the district is located
to seek reversal or modification of the project, injunctive relief, or any other relief provided by law
or equity, in order to seek compliance with proposed law.
Proposed law applies prospectively only and does not apply to any project that begins before Aug.
1, 2025.
(Adds R.S. 25:747)