Committee advances local bill allowing East Baton Rouge Parish to expropriate abandoned, blighted property

The House Committee on Civil Law and Procedure voted to report House Bill 247, a local measure granting the city‑parish of East Baton Rouge authority to expropriate abandoned and blighted property, after testimony from local officials and legal counsel on May 6.

Representative Chenover, the bill’s author, said the measure mirrors expropriation authority already granted to other Louisiana municipalities and would allow the city‑parish to acquire, clear title for and return abandoned properties to productive use after fair‑market compensation and judicial approval. “This is a local bill, properly advertised, and is in support of our mayor‑president of East Baton Rouge Parish,” Chenover said.

Greg Anning, an attorney with Kean Miller who said he has practiced expropriation law for 30 years, told the committee the draft follows procedures used by DOTD and other municipalities: the city would run title searches, publish notices, use absentee‑owner provisions where necessary, deposit funds into the court registry, and allow claimants to come forward to make claims against deposited funds.

Rodney Braxton, representing Build Baton Rouge, described steps the nonprofit would take to reuse acquired properties for affordable homeownership and said Build Baton Rouge seeks to work with neighborhoods to prevent outside investors from “poaching” vacant lots. The committee asked staff and proponents to consider additional language — including rights of first refusal or other priorities — so that properties returned to commerce favor local owners and families rather than large consolidated buyers.

Representative Brown and other members noted title‑clearing is a primary impediment to redevelopment and commended the bill’s approach to use the court registry to protect lienholders’ rights while enabling marketability. Several members raised the need to coordinate with recent state reforms affecting tax liens and succession law; Representative Loyoza asked staff to verify consistency with recent constitutional and statutory changes before the bill reaches the floor.

Committee members moved and adopted the motion to report HB 247 favorably; the committee did not record votes against the motion and reported the measure for further consideration. Proponents and members requested follow‑up drafting to add protections such as first‑refusal rights for heirs or community nonprofit purchasers and to ensure the process does not concentrate rehabilitated properties in the hands of a single private buyer.