The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Louisiana bill requires Caddo Parish local bodies to independently approve tax abatements for port projects
Last action · March 9, 2026: Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works.Sponsor: Danny McCormick
Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.
What This Bill Proposed
House Bill 502 requires the governing authority of Caddo Parish to evaluate and document property taxes abated by each before any can be approved. It mandates that the Caddo Parish Sheriff, Caddo Parish Commission, and Caddo Parish School Board each independently decide whether to approve the tax abatement for their respective portions of property taxes.
Changes the approval process for industrial tax exemptions in Caddo Parish by giving the Sheriff and School Board direct veto power over their specific shares of foregone tax revenue, allowing projects to move forward partially if only some entities approve.
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Caddo-Bossier Parishes Port Commission
Must obtain evaluations, documentation, and independent approvals from local entities before utilizing payment in lieu of taxes programs in Caddo Parish.
Caddo Parish Sheriff
Must independently determine whether to approve the abatement of its respective portion of property taxes for port projects.
Caddo Parish School Board
Must independently determine whether to approve the abatement of its respective portion of property taxes for port projects.
Caddo Parish Commission
Must evaluate and document property taxes abated by each taxing entity, independently approve its own tax share, and have the option to approve abatements for other local political subdivisions.
Key Facts
- The Caddo Parish governing authority must fully evaluate and provide documentation on property taxes abated by each taxing entity before approving the payment in lieu of taxes program.
- Documentation of abated taxes must be provided to local political subdivisions to help them determine whether to approve the program.
- The Caddo Parish Sheriff must independently determine whether to approve the abatement of its respective portion of property taxes.
- The Caddo Parish Commission must independently determine whether to approve the abatement of its respective portion of property taxes and may approve abatements for other local political subdivisions except the Sheriff and School Board.
Show all 7 facts
- The Caddo Parish School Board must independently determine whether to approve the abatement of its respective portion of property taxes.
- Approval or denial by one entity does not affect the authority of any other entity, allowing a project to proceed with tax abatements applying only to the portions approved.
- Certain docks, landings, wharves, and river operations in use on November 8, 1966, remain specifically excluded from the port area.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does House Bill 502 change regarding tax programs in Caddo Parish?
Can a port project proceed if only some local entities approve the tax abatement?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.
Procedural history
4 actions- Mar 9, 2026HouseIntroducedRead by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works.
- Feb 27, 2026HouseFirst appeared in the Interim Calendar on 2/27/2026.
- Feb 26, 2026HousePrefiled.
- Feb 26, 2026HouseCommitteeUnder the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works.
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
www.legis.la.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 50)
- Controversy20Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
Publisher tools