Senate Bill No. 334, introduced by Senator Cathey, amends and reenacts R.S. 13:2575(A) to enhance the enforcement capabilities of municipalities and parishes regarding various ordinances related to public health, housing, fire codes, building codes, zoning, vegetation, nuisances, and licensing. The bill allows municipalities and parishes to impose civil fines for violations of these ordinances by property owners, their agents, tenants, or representatives, and establishes procedures for administrative adjudication. Notably, the definition of "housing violations" is expanded in municipalities with populations of 70,000 or more to include building codes, zoning, vegetation, and nuisance ordinances.

The proposed law also introduces new provisions that allow the administrative adjudication procedures to be applied to the enforcement of additional ordinances concerning building codes, zoning, vegetation, nuisances, and licensing, without the previous population limitation. This change aims to streamline the enforcement process and ensure that all municipalities and parishes can effectively address issues related to blighted and abandoned properties, as well as other ordinance violations. The bill is set to take effect on August 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
SB334 Original: 13:2575(A)