Committee advances bill to raise cemetery millage and allow land acquisition in Morehouse Parish
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Summary
The committee reported HB 299 favorably. Counsel for Morehouse Parish said the bill increases available cemetery millage from 2 to 3 mills and allows proceeds to be used for acquisition when cemeteries are out of space.
The Senate Committee on Local and Municipal Affairs on Wednesday reported HB 299 favorably after counsel for Morehouse Parish described the local bill as authorizing an increase in cemetery millage and permitting acquisition of adjacent property for burial needs.
Rob Reager of Adams and Reese, representing Morehouse Parish, told the committee the bill "increases the available cemetery millage from 2 to 3 mills, and it also allows, the proceeds from this millage to be used not only for improvement or maintenance, but also for acquisition of property." He said several parish cemeteries are out of space and need adjacent land to continue operations.
The sponsor said the parish had already voted unanimously for the proposed millage, and Senator Morris moved to report the bill favorably. The committee recorded no objections and advanced HB 299. Implementation would proceed under local law, subject to the millage election and subsequent local administrative steps if the Legislature enacts the change.
As a local bill, HB 299 affects cemetery finance and land acquisition in Morehouse Parish; no statewide appropriation or policy change was proposed in committee testimony.
