HLS 25RS-455 ORIGINAL
2025 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 413
BY REPRESENTATIVE DESHOTEL
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
PUBLIC SERVICE COMN: Provides relative to expanding the Public Service Commission
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 45:1161.1, 1161.2(B), 1161.3, and 1161.4(B), relative to
3 increasing the membership of the Public Service Commission; to provide for
4 commissioner qualifications; to provide for terms of commissioners; to provide for
5 quorum of the commission, to provide for staffing; to provide for districts; and to
6 provide for related matters.
7Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 45:1161.1, 1161.2(B), 1161.3, and 1161.4(B) are hereby amended
9and reenacted to read as follows:
10 §1161.1. Creation; composition; age; residence; domicile; qualifications;
11 appointment; election; terms
12 A. There shall be a Public Service Commission, which shall consist of five
13 seven members, who shall be qualified electors. The Five members shall be elected
14 from single-member districts, established as provided by law. Two members shall
15 be appointed by the governor and shall represent the state-at-large.
16 B.(1) An elector elected member, who at the time of qualification as a
17 candidate has attained the age of eighteen years, resided in the state for the preceding
18 two years, and been actually domiciled for the preceding year in the single-member
19 district established by law from which he seeks election, is eligible for election to the
20 commission.
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HB NO. 413
1 (2) An appointee, who has attained the age of eighteen years and resided in
2 the state for the preceding two years, is eligible for appointment to the commission.
3 C. The five elected members shall be elected at the congressional elections
4 for overlapping terms of six years, and shall take office and begin their terms on the
5 first day of January following election.
6 D. The two appointed members shall be appointed by the governor, approved
7 by the Senate, and shall serve at the pleasure of the governor, not to exceed two
8 consecutive four-year terms.
9 §1161.2. Domicile; quorum; officers
10 * * *
11 B. Three Four commissioners shall constitute a quorum for the transaction
12 of business at any regular or special meeting. All official action of the commission
13 shall require the favorable vote of a majority of the elected commission's
14 membership.
15 * * *
16 §1161.3. District staffing Staffing
17 There shall be thirty-seven full-time employee positions available for district
18 staffing, the allocation of which per district shall be as determined by the
19 commission. There shall be sufficient staff for the appointed commissioners to serve
20 the state-at-large.
21 §1161.4. Public Service Commission districts
22 * * *
23 B. Each elected commissioner in office on January 1, 2023, shall be the
24 commissioner for the district as composed in this Section having the same
25 designation as the district from which the commissioner was elected and may
26 complete the term for which he was elected.
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HB NO. 413
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 413 Original 2025 Regular Session Deshotel
Abstract: Increases the membership of the Public Service Commission from five to seven.
Present law provides that there are five members of the Public Service Commission
(commission) that shall be elected from single-member districts, established in present law.
Proposed law changes present law by adding two members to the commission that shall be
appointed by the governor and shall represent the state-at-large.
Present law provides for the qualifications for elected members of the commission.
Proposed law retains present law and provides for the qualifications of the appointed
members of the commission.
Present law provides that members shall be elected at the congressional elections for
overlapping terms of six years and shall take office and begin their terms on the first day of
Jan. following election.
Proposed law retains present law and provides that the two appointed members shall be
appointed by the governor, approved by the Senate, and shall serve at the pleasure of the
governor, not to exceed two consecutive four-year terms.
Present law provides that three commissioners shall constitute a quorum.
Proposed law amends present law to increase the quorum from three to four commissioners.
Present law provides that there shall be 37 full-time employee positions available for district
staffing, the allocation of which per district shall be as determined by the commission.
Proposed law changes present law and states that there shall be sufficient staff for the
appointed commissioners to serve the state-at-large.
Present law provides that each commissioner in office on Jan. 1, 2023, shall be the
commissioner for the district as composed in this present law having the same designation
as the district from which the commissioner was elected and may complete the term for
which he was elected.
Proposed law clarifies present law so that it applies to elected commissioners.
(Amends R.S. 45:1161.1, 1161.2(B), 1161.3, and 1161.4(B))
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