House Bill No. [insert bill number] amends existing laws regarding the issuance of alcoholic beverage permits in Louisiana. The bill introduces a new provision that requires 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 the current process for citizens to oppose permit issuance by submitting a sworn affidavit within the same thirty-five-day timeframe. However, it specifies that no petition of opposition will be acted upon unless it includes an affidavit affirming the petitioner's intent to appear at a hearing to substantiate their claims. The act is officially titled the "Respecting Neighbors and Preserving Neighborhoods Act."

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