The bill enacted as Act No. 359 introduces new provisions to the Louisiana Revised Statutes, specifically R.S. 33:113(A) and (B), which pertain to the procedures for planning commissions in parishes and municipalities regarding the approval of plats. Under the new law, planning commissions are required to approve or disapprove a submitted plat within sixty days; if they fail to do so, the plat is automatically deemed approved, and a certificate will be issued upon request. The bill also stipulates that the grounds for disapproval must be recorded, and it mandates that notice of hearings regarding the plats be sent to a designated individual by certified mail, as well as published in a local newspaper. Notably, the bill allows for the waiver of public hearings in certain circumstances, particularly for subdivisions creating five or fewer lots without new streets in municipalities with populations over 150,000.

Additionally, the bill establishes that any requirements or restrictions imposed by a parish planning commission must be stated on the plat before approval and recording, granting them the same legal force as zoning ordinances. This ensures that the regulations are enforceable and subject to the same amendments or repeals as traditional zoning laws. Overall, the legislation aims to streamline the approval process for plats while maintaining transparency and public involvement in planning decisions.