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Shreveport staff briefs council on state legislative session, capital‑outlay prospects and bills of local concern
Summary
City legislative staff reviewed the start of the long session, explained the capital‑outlay (HB2) process and supplemental appropriations timing, and flagged two bills of local concern that could affect port board appointments and local economic‑development negotiations.
A city legislative staff member briefed the Shreveport City Council on the early stages of the 2026 Louisiana legislative session, explaining the capital‑outlay process and highlighting bills the city should monitor.
Staff said bills are still being filed and activity typically ramps up after Easter in a long session. The governor’s original HB2 (capital outlay) lists an initial set of projects that name projects submitted on behalf of Shreveport; staff explained how committee markups and amendments can add or increase funding before the House and, later, the Senate consider money bills.
Staff also flagged two bills for council attention: Senate Bill 170, filed by Senator Presley, which staff described as a local bill that would impose qualification criteria for service on a port commission and make appointments subject to state Senate confirmation; and House Bill 674, filed by Representative Tammy Phelps, which would expand the role of legislators in certain economic‑development negotiations and non‑disclosure agreements. Councilmembers expressed concern that HB674 could reduce local discretion and urged staff to track and, where appropriate, advocate on the city’s behalf.
On funding timing: staff said the legislature often enacts a supplemental appropriations bill late in session that can be an opportunity to secure additional capital outlay funding; staff encouraged councilmembers to engage their legislators about local priorities and said they would circulate a supplemental list of bills after the filing deadline next Tuesday.
Staff asked councilmembers to notify the administration about any capital projects they consider priorities and offered to coordinate testimony if the council wished to appear before legislative committees.
