House Bill No. by Representative Chenevert aims to tackle the problem of blighted and abandoned properties in East Baton Rouge Parish and the city of Baton Rouge by establishing a legal framework for their expropriation. The bill introduces Part III-K of Title 19 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes, which includes definitions for "abandoned property" and "blighted property," and outlines the procedures for expropriation. The intent is to empower local governing authorities to acquire these properties to revitalize economically depressed areas and return them to productive use. The bill allows for expropriation prior to a court judgment on compensation, provided that property owners are notified at least fifteen days before a petition is filed.

Furthermore, the bill details the process for determining property value, vesting title, and notifying interested parties. It grants the governing authority the ability to sell expropriated properties, requiring transparency in the sale process, including quarterly reports on property sales. The bill mandates that any public sale of property must be preceded by at least two published notices detailing the sale's specifics. Overall, the legislation seeks to streamline the expropriation process while ensuring property owners are informed and have the opportunity to contest the taking if they believe it is unjustified.

Statutes affected:
HB247 Original: