Committee advances bill to make DOA website the state’s official journal for executive boards and commissions

House Bill 526, sponsored by Representative Jacob Landry, would make a website maintained by the Department of Administration the official journal of the state for the executive branch and require posting of specified board and commission information — meeting notices, minutes, budgets and other materials — on that site.

Department of Administration representatives said the timing is opportune because funds were appropriated last year to upgrade the boards-and-commissions website and new federal accessibility (ADA) requirements are prompting a statewide update. Deputy Commissioner Patrick Goldsmith and OTS CIO Evelina Broussard said the state already maintains a boards-and-commissions database that can be expanded; the appropriation and ADA work would allow the project to be absorbed without a large new appropriation, they said. LA Wallet representatives also said they will add a link in the state mobile app at no cost, increasing reach.

Newspapers and the Louisiana Press Association opposed an exclusive-mandate approach, arguing that public notices are already aggregated on a longstanding statewide public-notice site (louisianapublicnotice.com) and that multiple publication points protect due process and public access. News publishers urged the committee and the bill sponsor to work with the industry; Representative Landry agreed to continue consultation before floor action. After discussion the committee reported the bill favorably by roll-call (8 yeas, 5 nays); the sponsor said he will work with industry stakeholders and the Governor’s office as the measure moves forward.