Representative, on behalf of Secretary of State, wins vote to raise some business filing fees; small-business lawmaker objects
Loading...
Summary
On behalf of the Secretary of State, a representative brought a department bill to adjust self-generated filing fees; sponsor said the modest increases would support operations and remain competitive regionally, while a member identifying as a small-business owner called the changes a 'slow drip' burden. The House passed the bill 68–22.
A department bill to increase some Secretary of State self-generated filing fees cleared the Louisiana House on March 31 after contested floor debate.
A lawmaker speaking on behalf of Secretary of State Nancy Landry said the modest fee adjustments would help sustain agency operations and support system upgrades. The sponsor said comparing Louisiana to neighboring states showed the state would remain competitively priced: "The average rate for a corporation throughout the Southeastern States is $130. We're only gonna be increasing ours to $95," the sponsor said, and similar calculations were given for limited liability companies.
Representative (a member identifying as a small-business owner) opposed the measure on the floor, arguing incremental fee increases add up: “These increases seem minor when you look at each individual $30 to $35 here and there. But it represents a slow drip... of increase on small business,” the member said, asking colleagues to consider small firms' burdens.
After floor debate and a closing argument from the sponsor that the fees would support staff and service levels, the House voted to finally pass the bill, 68 yeas to 22 nays.
Key details: The sponsor said the proposed increases would move corporation filing fees to $95 and LLC filings to $125 (figures given on the floor); the sponsor said the secretary of state's office supported the change and had testified in committee.
Next steps: The bill advances following final passage on the House floor. Implementation timing and whether the fee schedule will be adjusted administratively will depend on enabling statutory language and agency rulemaking where applicable.
