HB 1215

HLS 26RS-2157  ENGROSSED
 2026 Regular Session
 HOUSE BILL NO. 1215
 BY REPRESENTATIVE BAYHAM
 CULTURE/REC/TOUR DEPT: Provides relative to the disposition of certain historical
  statues and monuments
1AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 25:915, relative to historical statues and monuments; to provide relative to the
3disposition of certain historical statues and monuments; to provide relative to the
4powers and duties of the office of state parks within the Department of Culture,
5Recreation and Tourism; to require certain historical statues and monuments to be
6transferred to the office of state parks; to provide for placement and display of such
7historical statues and monuments; to provide for definitions; to provide for the
8promulgation of rules; and to provide for related matters.
9 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
10Section 1. R.S. 25:915 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
11§915. Disposition of certain historical statues and monuments
12A. As used in this Section, the following terms shall have the following
13meanings:
14(1) "Public entity" means the state or any political subdivision, including any
15agency, board, or commission thereof.
16(2) "Historical statue or monument" means any statue, memorial, marker, or
17commemorative structure owned by a public entity and located on public property
18for the purpose of commemorating a historical person, event, or era.
19(3) "Office of state parks" means the office of state parks within the
20Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism.
  Page 1 of 3
 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
 are additions.
 HLS 26RS-2157  ENGROSSED
  HB NO. 1215
1B.(1) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, any historical
2statue or monument owned by a public entity that is removed from public display on
3or after August 1, 2006, and that is in the possession of the public entity shall be
4transferred to the office of state parks.
5(2) The transfer shall include all rights of custody and control.
6(3) The public entity shall coordinate with the office of state parks to provide
7for the delivery of the historical statue or monument to the office of state parks.
8C.(1) The office of state parks shall designate and maintain a location within
9the state park system for the placement of historical statues or monuments
10transferred pursuant to this Section.
11(2) The office of state parks shall determine the placement and manner of
12display with due regard for preservation and public access.
13(3) The office of state parks shall not place any historical statue or monument
14that is transferred pursuant to this Section within the parish from which the historical
15statue or monument was removed from public display.
16D. The office of state parks shall provide interpretive signage or materials
17for each historical statue or monument that present accurate historical context,
18including the subject commemorated and the circumstances of its original placement
19and subsequent removal.
20E. The office of state parks may promulgate rules in accordance with the
21Administrative Procedure Act to implement the provisions of this Section.
22F. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to abrogate, impair, or
23supersede the provisions of R.S. 44:406.
  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 1215 Engrossed  2026 Regular Session  Bayham
 Abstract: Provides for the transfer of custody and control of certain historical statues and
  monuments that are removed from public display to the office of state parks within
  the Dept. of Culture, Recreation and Tourism.
  Page 2 of 3
 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
 are additions.
HLS 26RS-2157  ENGROSSED
  HB NO. 1215
Proposed law provides the following definitions:
(1)        "Public entity" means the state or any political subdivision, including any agency,
  board, or commission thereof.
(2)        "Historical statue or monument" means any statue, memorial, marker, or
  commemorative structure owned by a public entity and located on public property
  for the purpose of commemorating a historical person, event, or era.
(3)        "Office of state parks" means the office of state parks within the Dept. of Culture,
  Recreation and Tourism.
Proposed law requires any publicly-owned historical statue or monument that is removed
from public display on or after August 1, 2006, and that is in the possession of a public entity
to be transferred to the office of state parks, including all rights of custody and control.
Proposed law requires public entities to coordinate with the office of state parks to provide
for delivery of a removed historical statue or monument to the office of state parks.
Proposed law requires the office of state parks to designate and maintain a location within
the state park system for the placement of historical statues or monuments transferred
pursuant to proposed law, and prohibits placement in the parish from which the statue or
monument was removed.
Proposed law requires the office to determine the placement and manner of display with due
regard for preservation and public access. Requires the office to provide signage or
materials that provide accurate historical context, including the subject commemorated and
the circumstances of its original placement and subsequent removal.
Proposed law authorizes the office of state parks to promulgate rules in accordance with
present law (Administrative Procedure Act) to implement the provisions of proposed law.
Proposed law provides that the provisions of proposed law shall not be construed to
supersede the provisions of present law (R.S. 44:406), relative to the collection of records
by the state archivist.
(Adds R.S. 25:915)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
  The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Municipal, Parochial
  and Cultural Affairs to the original bill:
  1.      Provide that proposed law applies to any historical statue or monument that is
  removed on or after August 1, 2006, and that is in the possession of the public
  entity.
  2.      Remove requirement that a public entity provides for the delivery of a historical
  statue or monument that is removed from public display to the office of state
  parks and require that a public entity coordinate with the office of state parks to
  provide for the delivery of a historical statue or monument that is removed from
  public display to the office of state parks.
  3.      Prohibit the office of state parks from placing a historical statue or monument in
  the parish from which it was removed.
  4.      Provide that proposed law shall not be construed to supersede present law (R.S.
  44:406) relative to the collection of records by the state archivist.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.