Senate Bill No. 78, introduced by Senator Jenkins, amends the governing structure of the Shreveport Downtown Development District by modifying the composition and residency requirements of its board of commissioners. The bill stipulates that one member of the board must have expertise in fields such as urban planning, commercial real estate development, or architecture. Additionally, while all other members, excluding elected officials and the newly specified member, must reside in the district or have a principal place of business or own property there, the new member is exempt from these residency requirements.

The bill also clarifies that the terms for board members will remain three years, with the possibility of reappointment. It establishes a procedure for filling vacancies on the board, ensuring that nominations come from the same group that appointed the outgoing member. Importantly, the provisions of this bill will only apply prospectively, meaning they will affect only vacancies that arise after the bill's effective date of August 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
SB78 Original: 33:38(C)(2)