House Bill No. [insert bill number] amends existing Louisiana law to authorize the parish of Lincoln to expropriate property through a declaration of taking, commonly referred to as "quick-take." This bill modifies the heading of Part III-F of Title 19 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes and several sections, including R.S. 19:135(2), 135.1(A), 135.2(1) and (3), 135.4, and 135.7(1). The amendments clarify that both the parish of Lincoln and the city of Ruston can utilize quick-take procedures for acquiring property needed for various capital projects, such as streets, roads, drainage, and utilities.

The bill retains the procedural requirements for expropriation while expanding the authority to include Lincoln Parish. Key insertions include defining the governing authority as the "parish of Lincoln or the city of Ruston" and allowing either entity to file petitions for expropriation in the Third Judicial District Court. Additionally, the bill specifies that title to the property will vest in the parish or city upon a final court order, enabling them to take possession of the property immediately after the ruling.

Statutes affected:
HB98 Original: 19:135(2), 19:1(A), 19:2(1), 19:7(1)