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House okays East Baton Rouge expropriation authority for blighted property after sharp objections
Summary
The Louisiana House approved HB 2 47 on Tuesday, authorizing East Baton Rouge Parish and the City of Baton Rouge to expropriate abandoned or blighted property using a judicial process modeled on statutes in other parishes.
The Louisiana House voted to give East Baton Rouge Parish authority to expropriate abandoned and blighted property for redevelopment after an often‑tense floor debate.
Representative Cheniere’s local bill, HB 2 47, authorizes the City‑Parish to use a judicial expropriation pathway — modeled on statutes already used in places such as New Orleans and other parishes — for properties formally declared abandoned or blighted.
Cheniere said the measure replicates an existing process and includes administrative inspections, notice and a judiciary review before title can be transferred. "No expropriation occurs without judicial review," she said, adding that the bill provides for deposit of compensation into the Nineteenth Judicial District Court and includes mechanisms to address absentee owners and unidentifiable heirs.
Opponents, led by Representative Jordan and others, argued the bill lowers protections for property owners and could lead to rapid takings without adequate notice or compensation. "What this does is set up a process now where your private property can be taken, not for public use, but for any private use," Representative Jordan said, calling it a "slippery slope." Representative Marcel said the bill’s 15‑day notice and publication requirements could easily miss absent owners and families with succession issues.
Supporters responded that the local code already allows many of the same actions and that the bill is intended to clear and accelerate remediation of dangerous structures used as drug dens or otherwise endangering neighborhoods. Representative Cheniere said there are about 6,000 identified blighted properties in East Baton Rouge and a backlog of roughly 800 cases under existing processes.
The House adopted technical and substantive amendments on the floor and approved the bill on a recorded vote of 48 yeas and 43 nays. The author gave notice of further action and the measure will proceed to the Senate.
Why it matters: supporters say faster remediation will reduce neighborhood hazards and restore tax‑productive property; opponents say due‑process protections for owners and heirs are insufficient and warned of the potential for abuse.
What’s next: HB 2 47 moves to the Senate; local officials and council members indicated they will continue to refine implementation details.
