Abstract: Prohibits state agencies and local governments from naming buildings, roads, and other
facilities after persons.
Present law prohibits naming a public building, public bridge, public park, public fish or game
preserve, or public wildlife refuge owned by the state or by any political subdivision of the state or
by any institution receiving support from the state in honor of a living person.
Proposed law prohibits naming such facilities after any person and also makes the prohibition
specifically applicable to roads, streets, schools, and athletic facilities and any portion of a public
facility covered by present law or proposed law.
Present law requires that the name of any facility named in violation of present law be changed.
Proposed law provides that proposed law does not require that the names of facilities named after
persons prior to July 1, 2022, be changed. However, requires that if the name of a facility is
changed, the new name shall comply with proposed law.
Present law authorizes any person to commence a suit in district court for mandamus, injunctive, or
declaratory relief to require compliance with the provisions of present law together with reasonable
attorney fees and costs. Proposed law retains applicability of present law to the prohibition in
proposed law.
Proposed law repeals the following provisions of present law:
(1) Authorizing a local public school board to name a street that it maintains or an existing
athletic facility in honor of a living person.
(2) Authorizing a public postsecondary education management board to name buildings in honor
of living persons.
(3) Authorizing the governing authorities of certain parishes to name sports complexes,
buildings, parks, and civic complexes after living persons.
Effective July 1, 2022.
(Amends R.S. 42:267; Repeals R.S. 17:85 and 3351(G) and R.S. 33:4712.22 and 4712.23)


Statutes affected:
HB247 Original: 17:3351(G)