Committee approves bill to authorize state lease to development corporation for Kenner amphitheater project

The Committee on Natural Resources on May 14, 2025, reported House Bill 196 favorably, a measure that would authorize the state to lease certain reclaimed lake-bottom property in Jefferson Parish directly to the Kenner Laketown Development Corporation.

Representative Stagney presented the bill on behalf of Representative Villio and said the property is in Kenner and subject to an existing recreational lease dating to the early 1980s. Councilwoman Rita Bohannon described plans for a “state-of-the-art, huge amphitheater” that would serve the region and noted a public benefit corporation would help manage the venue and negotiate directly with the state. Michael Glaser, identified as the mayor of the City of Kenner, told the committee the site includes a fishing pier, boat launch and vacant land where a riverboat casino once moored and that a mid-sized amphitheater would fill a regional gap in 2,500–10,000-seat venues.

Senator Lambert asked about past siltation at the Williams boat launch; Bohannon and the mayor said the parish previously invested about $3.8 million to redevelop the boat launch and that ongoing sedimentation near Lake Pontchartrain remains a management challenge. The mayor and councilwoman said the parish and city have provided resolutions in support and that the city is the current leaseholder for the recreational property.

Senator Faizy moved to report HB 196 favorably; the committee recorded no objections and reported the bill favorably.