HB 200

HLS 26RS-345  ORIGINAL
 2026 Regular Session
 HOUSE BILL NO. 200
 BY REPRESENTATIVE BAYHAM
 NUISANCE/PUBLIC: Provides relative to the growth of grass, weeds, and other
  deleterious matter in St. Bernard Parish
1AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 33:1236(21)(b)(i), (iv), (v), and (vii) and to enact R.S.
333:1236(21)(i), relative to St. Bernard Parish; to provide relative to the growth and
4accumulation of grass, weeds, and other deleterious matter; to provide relative to the
5powers granted to the parish governing authority with respect to the removal of such
6deleterious matter; to provide relative to the costs incurred by the parish governing
7authority relative to removal; to provide relative to liens granted in favor of the
8parish governing authority; and to provide for related matters.
9Notice of intention to introduce this Act has been published
10as provided by Article III, Section 13 of the Constitution of
11Louisiana.
12 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
13Section 1. R.S. 33:1236(21)(b)(i), (iv), (v), and (vii) are hereby amended and
14 reenacted and R.S. 33:1236(21)(i) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
15§1236. Powers of parish governing authorities
16The police juries and other parish governing authorities shall have the
17following powers:
18*       *  *
19(21)
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 HLS 26RS-345  ORIGINAL
  HB NO. 200
1(b)(i) The governing authority of the parishes of Jefferson and St. Bernard
2Parish may enact ordinances regulating or prohibiting the growth or accumulation
3of grass, obnoxious weeds, or other deleterious or unhealthful growths, trash, debris,
4refuse, or discarded or noxious matter.
5*       *  *
6(iv) Upon failure of any such property owner to pay the charges, the
7governing authority may file a certified copy of the charges with the recorder of
8mortgages, and the same, when so filed and recorded, shall operate as a lien and
9privilege in favor of the parish against the property on which the matter was cut or
10removed. In the parishes of Jefferson and St. Bernard Parish, the lien and privilege
11granted under this Paragraph, when recorded within sixty days from the date of
12completion of the cutting or removal, shall have the same ranking as an ad valorem
13tax lien on immovable property as provided in R.S. 9:4821(A)(1).
14(v) The parish may, at its option, enact ordinances to add cutting and
15removal charges to the annual ad valorem tax bill of the property involved. In the
16parishes of Jefferson and St. Bernard Parish, if such charges are unpaid, the ad
17valorem tax lien imposed thereby and such rights attendant thereto shall coexist with
18those granted under Item (iv) of this Subparagraph.
19*       *  *
20(vii) In the exercise of the authority granted by this Subparagraph to the
21parishes of Jefferson and St. Bernard Parish, the respective parish shall be the sole
22and proper defendant in any action, authorized by law, to contest the addition of such
23charges to the ad valorem tax bill of the property involved.
24*       *  *
25(i)(i) The governing authority of St. Bernard Parish may enact ordinances
26regulating or prohibiting the growth or accumulation of grass, obnoxious weeds, or
27other deleterious or unhealthful growths, trash, debris, refuse, or discarded or
28noxious matter.
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 HLS 26RS-345  ORIGINAL
  HB NO. 200
1(ii) In the exercise of the authority granted by this Subparagraph, the parish
2governing authority may, among other things, but not by way of limitation, require
3or compel property owners to cut or remove such grass, obnoxious weeds, or other
4deleterious or unhealthful growths, trash, debris, refuse, or discarded or noxious
5matter on their property.
6(iii) If the owner of any lot located within recognized subdivisions outside
7municipalities in the parish fails to cut or remove such matter when requested to do
8so by the governing authority, within seven days after receipt of such request or
9notice by a registered or certified letter or other adequate notice, the governing
10authority may have such matter cut or removed and may charge such property owner
11in accordance with regulations adopted by the governing authority.
12(iv) Upon failure of any such property owner to pay the charges, the
13governing authority may file a certified copy of the charges with the recorder of
14mortgages, and the same, when so filed and recorded, shall operate as a lien and
15privilege in favor of the parish against the property on which the matter was cut or
16removed. In St. Bernard Parish, the lien and privilege granted under this Paragraph,
17when recorded within sixty days from the date of completion of the cutting or
18removal, shall have the same ranking as an ad valorem tax lien on immovable
19property as provided in R.S. 9:4821(A)(1).
20(v) The parish may, at its option, enact ordinances to add cutting and
21removal charges to the annual ad valorem tax bill of the property involved. In St.
22Bernard Parish, if such charges are unpaid, the ad valorem tax lien imposed thereby
23and such rights attendant thereto shall coexist with those granted under Item (iv) of
24this Subparagraph.
25(vi) If such ordinances are enacted, the sheriff effecting collection shall be
26reimbursed by the governing authority for any amount equal to fifteen percent of the
27amount of such charges actually collected from the property owner. This collection
28charge shall be in addition to such charges and shall also be added to the ad valorem
29tax bill of the property involved.
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HLS 26RS-345  ORIGINAL
  HB NO. 200
1(vii) In the exercise of the authority granted by this Subparagraph to
2St. Bernard Parish, the parish shall be the sole and proper defendant in any action,
3authorized by law, to contest the addition of such charges to the ad valorem tax bill
4of the property involved.
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  DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 200 Original  2026 Regular Session  Bayham
Abstract: Authorizes St. Bernard Parish to cut or remove deleterious or unhealthful
  growths and other discarded or noxious matter and to charge the property owner
  under certain conditions.
Present law authorizes the governing authority of St. Bernard Parish to enact ordinances
regulating or prohibiting the growth or accumulation of grass, obnoxious weeds, or other
deleterious or unhealthful growths, trash, debris, refuse, or discarded or noxious matter on
property within the parish. Authorizes the parish governing authority, if the owner fails to
take the required action within 15 days of notice, to have the matter cut or removed and to
charge the property owner. Authorizes the parish governing authority to place a lien against
a property if the owner does not pay, such lien having the same ranking as an ad valorem tax
lien. Additionally authorizes the parish governing authority to add the removal charges to
the annual ad valorem tax bill.
Proposed law authorizes the governing authority of St. Bernard Parish to have the matter cut
or removed and to charge the property owner if the owner fails to take the required action
within seven days of notice instead of 15 days. Otherwise retains present law.
(Amends R.S. 33:1236(21)(b)(i), (iv), (v), and (vii); Adds R.S. 33:1236(21)(i))
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