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Committee approves framework allowing colleges to create economic development districts with local approval and a legislative seat
Summary
SB 374 would create a permissive statutory framework for college and university economic development districts; an amendment to allow a legislator appointed jointly by chamber leaders to serve on each district board was adopted before the bill was reported with amendments.
Sen. Cathy presented SB 374, a bill that would create a uniform, permissive framework enabling colleges and universities to establish campus economic development districts (EDDs) with local governing‑authority approval. Sponsor said the bill does not unilaterally create districts but supplies a single statutory template so individual institutions need not seek a separate local bill for each district.
Rep. Tarver questioned taxation, district boundaries and resident taxpayers' lack of vote on taxes that would benefit campus districts, using McNeese and Calcasieu Parish as an example of how local tax flows can affect residents who do not live inside campus boundaries. Tarver offered an amendment to require that the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House jointly appoint one member of the legislature to serve on the district's board, to ensure legislative involvement.
Staff read the amendment into the record; Sen. Cathy said she had no objection. The committee adopted the amendment without objection and later voted to report SB 374 with amendments favorably. Sponsors and staff clarified that existing campus districts (for LSU, Southern, ULL) would not be retroactively removed and that any tax levies or debt would require local governing‑authority approval.
The measure passed out of committee with the Tarver amendment providing legislative representation on district boards.
