Louisiana blight task force seeks clearer definition, asks AG to review draft changes
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Summary
A legislative task force on blight agreed Feb. 2 to seek the Attorney General’s review of statutory language and to pursue shell bills ahead of session, aiming to narrow the law’s 'moral' standard and create more objective criteria for identifying blighted properties.
President Pro Tem Regina Barrow convened the Legislature’s Task Force on Blight on Feb. 2 and said the group’s immediate goals are clarity and constitutionally defensible tools for local governments. "I want to get more clarity," Barrow said, noting she does not want to spark costly litigation with poorly drafted language.
Attorney Benton, the task force counsel, presented a menu of options — from data‑driven prioritization and expedited judicial processes to land‑bank authority and streamlined title clearing — and urged caution about constitutional exposure. "I think there may be some issues and so I agree with that," Benton said when members raised red‑flag legal questions. Several members recommended running proposed language by the Attorney General’s office before filing bills.
Tanner Yieldell, an assistant city attorney from Shreveport, told the group his review of the Private Works Act suggests some remediation liens might already carry super‑priority status, but he recommended AG clarification. "It appears that it is, but if that's not what it means, I think we would appreciate some clarification," Yieldell said.
Senator Jay Luno proposed drafting a bill to remove the statute’s existing reference to "moral" reasons for declaring blight and replace it with narrower, criminal‑activity language. "One other thing we might could do is run this past the attorney general's office," Luno said; members agreed to circulate draft language by email for feedback.
Councilwoman Carolyn Coleman urged care for local charters and 'air property' concerns, noting East Baton Rouge Parish’s local ordinance includes detailed indicators such as accumulation of junk, dilapidated structures and zoning violations. "We need to look at the definitions of blight in these different areas," Coleman said.
The task force approved the minutes from the prior meeting at the outset (motion by Senator Jay Luno, second by Mayor Acinoe). Members agreed to file placeholder bills ('shell' bills) so drafting staff are not starting from zero and to request a formal opinion from the Attorney General’s office to identify constitutional risks and rank lien priorities.
Next steps: the task force expects to reconvene before session and to review the AG opinion, circulated draft language, and any comparative statutes and case law that members assemble.