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Panel adopts guardrail before allowing over‑the‑counter sales of adjudicated property
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Summary
The committee approved Representative Marcel’s bill to let political subdivisions sell small adjudicated properties 'over the counter' if public auctions within the previous 12 months had no buyers; committee amendment and questions centered on notice, title clarity and anti‑abuse safeguards.
The Ways and Means Committee on April 7 reported House Bill 515 with a committee amendment that adds a prior‑auction safeguard before a political subdivision may sell adjudicated property directly.
Representative Marcel said the bill is a permissive tool municipalities can use to return small, long‑unwanted adjudicated properties to commerce, capped at appraised values under $50,000. Homeowner witnesses including Dionne Badon and property owner Ricky Griffin said the change would help rehabilitate blighted lots and improve neighborhood safety. Debbie Hinton of the Police Jury Association told the committee the measure targets properties already adjudicated to local authorities and is designed to clear a backlog.
Members repeatedly pressed the sponsor on compatibility with recent tax‑lien reform, notice and title issues, and the risk that repeat purchasers could game the process. After discussion the committee adopted an amendment requiring the governing authority to have offered the property at a public auction within the preceding 12 months before selling it OTC; Representative Jackson moved the bill as amended and the committee reported HB 515 favorably by voice consent.
