House Bill No. [insert number] proposes amendments to the existing laws governing the issuance of alcoholic beverage permits in Louisiana. The bill introduces new provisions that require the commissioner of alcohol and tobacco to notify the state senator and state representative of the district where a permit is requested within five calendar days of receiving the application. Legislators are granted the authority to prevent the issuance of a permit by filing a sworn petition of opposition within thirty-five days of the application date. If such a petition is filed, the commissioner must withhold the state permit and inform the local authority to do the same.

Additionally, the bill retains existing provisions that allow citizens to object to permit issuance by submitting a sworn affidavit of opposition within the same thirty-five-day timeframe. However, it clarifies that no petition of opposition will be acted upon unless it is sworn to by the petitioner and includes a commitment to appear at a hearing to substantiate the allegations made. The act is officially titled the "Respecting Neighbors and Preserving Neighborhoods Act."

Statutes affected:
HB546 Original: 26:87(B), 26:284(E)