Committee approves transfer of Old Governor’s Mansion to Secretary of State’s office

The House Governmental Affairs Committee unanimously reported House Bill 576 favorably after members approved technical amendments that keep title of the Old Governor’s Mansion in the state while transferring maintenance and operational responsibility to the Department of State.

Representative Gadbury said HB 576 codifies a de facto arrangement: an interagency agreement has put the Secretary of State’s office in charge of running the mansion since 2021, and the bill aligns statute with current practice by granting the department ownership and maintenance responsibilities as well as authority to enter contracts and accept outside contributions.

Secretary of State Nancy Landry told the committee the office has invested in repairs and programming since taking operational control and supports the statutory transfer. “We have been managing and operating the Old Governor’s Mansion for them for 5 years now,” Landry said.

Sinella Agassi, introduced as the mansion’s executive director, described visitor and program growth since state operations began: “The Old Governor’s Mansion is one of Louisiana’s most recognizable historic landmarks and serves as a center for education, tourism and civic engagement,” Agassi said, and said visitation has increased and partnerships have expanded.

Committee members asked technical questions about title and supervision; amendment set 17‑19 (technical, with amendment 10 ensuring title stays with the state of Louisiana) was adopted with no opposition. Representative Marcel moved to report the bill favorably as amended and the committee approved HB 576 without objection.

Next steps: HB 576 will be reported as favorable and proceed according to the legislative process.