SR 168

2026 Regular Session  ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 168
BY SENATOR BARTHELEMY
  A RESOLUTION
To create and provide for the Dream Starter Program Task Force to study the development
       and implementation of a unified statewide homeownership assistance program and
       to evaluate program design, funding mechanisms, eligibility frameworks, and market
       feasibility.
       WHEREAS, expanding sustainable homeownership strengthens workforce stability,
local tax bases, and long-term household wealth, and is a critical driver of economic mobility
across Louisiana; and
       WHEREAS, despite income-qualified households being otherwise mortgage-ready,
many Louisiana residents remain unable to purchase homes due to structural barriers,
including lack of generational wealth, limited access to upfront capital for down payments
and closing costs, and reduced exposure to homeownership pathways; and
       WHEREAS, research and policy analysis demonstrate that disparities in
homeownership are not explained by income alone, but are also driven by intergenerational
access to wealth and opportunity, requiring targeted and data-informed policy solutions; and
       WHEREAS, the Legislature of Louisiana has considered multiple approaches to
expanding access to homeownership, including the "Dream Starter Act" and the "Louisiana
First-Generation Homebuyer Assistance Act" which reflect shared objectives but differ in
program structure, funding mechanisms, and administrative design; and
       WHEREAS, a clear opportunity exists to consolidate these approaches into a single,
cohesive, and scalable statewide program that balances fiscal responsibility with meaningful
impact; and
       WHEREAS, a unified program must be designed to ensure accountability, market
feasibility, and measurable outcomes, while also preserving flexibility to respond to regional
housing conditions across urban and rural communities; and
       WHEREAS, it is the intent of the Legislature of Louisiana to develop a program that
is both fiscally responsible in its initial implementation and capable of scaling over time
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SR NO. 168  ENROLLED
based on demonstrated outcomes, return on investment, and program performance; and
  WHEREAS, the Louisiana Housing Corporation, in coordination with state agencies,
lenders, and community stakeholders, is uniquely positioned to administer such a program
without the creation of additional bureaucratic structures.
  THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby establish and provide for the Dream Starter Program Task Force to study the
development and implementation of a unified statewide homeownership assistance program
and to evaluate program design, funding mechanisms, eligibility frameworks, and market
feasibility.
  BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Dream Starter Task Force shall propose
recommendations, together with specific proposals for legislation, by written report to the
legislature and to the David R. Poynter Legislative Research Library as required by R.S.
24:771 and R.S. 24:772, no later than January 15, 2027.
  BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force should include consideration of
the following:
  (1) Program structure and design.
  (2) Funding strategy and fiscal impact.
  (3) Eligibility and target population.
  (4) Assistance Structure and Program Terms.
  (5) Market participation and lender accountability.
  (6) Geographic and data-driven targeting.
  (7) Program outcomes and performance measurement.
  (8) Implementation and administration.
  BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall consist of the following
members:
  (1) The senator from Senate District 3 who shall serve as the chairman of the task
force.
  (2) The chairman of the Senate Committee on Local and Municipal Affairs who shall
serve as vice chair of the task force.
  (3) The president and chief executive officer of the Urban League of Louisiana, or
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SR NO. 168  ENROLLED
his designee.
       (4) The executive director of the Housing Authority of New Orleans, or his designee.
       (5) The chief executive officer of the East Baton Rouge Parish Housing Authority,
or his designee.
       (6) The president and chief executive officer of the United Way of Southeast
Louisiana, or his designee.
       (7) The chief executive officer of Liberty Bank & Trust, or his designee.
       (8) The executive director of the Louisiana Housing Corporation, or his designee.
       (9) The state treasurer, or his designee.
       (10) The commissioner of the division of administration, or his designee.
       (11) The chief executive officer of Pelican State Credit Union, or his designee.
       (12) The chief executive officer of the HOPE Credit Union, or his designee.
       (13) The fund manager of Community Development Capital, or his designee.
       (14) The chairman of the board of directors for OnPath Federal Credit Union, or his
designee.
       (15) The New Orleans market president of First Horizon Bank, or his designee.
       (16) The chief executive officer of Red River Bank, or his designee.
       (17) The Louisiana region president for Cadence Bank, or his designee.
       (18) The commissioner of the Department of Insurance, or his designee.
       (19) The chairperson of the Housing Authority of Jefferson Parish, or his designee.
       (20) The chairman of the board of directors of the Kenner Housing Authority, or his
designee.
       (21) The executive director of the Westwego Housing Authority, or his designee.
       (22) The New Orleans field office director of the United States Department of
Housing and Urban Development, or his designee.
       (23) The director of the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency
Preparedness, or his designee.
       (24) The chief executive officer of Home by Hand, or his designee.
       (25) The executive director of the Jericho Road Episcopal Housing Initiative, or his
designee.
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        (26) The director of homeowner services at the Habitat for Humanity St. Tammany
West, or his designee.
        (27) The executive director of the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority, or his
designee.
        (28) The director of policy and communications of the Louisiana Fair Housing
Action Center, or his designee.
        (29) The chief executive officer of the Neighborhood Development Foundation, or
his designee.
        (30) The executive director of HousingNOLA, or his designee.
        (31) The senior vice president and regional community affairs manager at Regions
Bank, or his designee.
        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that each designating authority shall submit the
names of any designees to the chairman of the task force no later than August 1, 2026.
        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the task force shall convene for its first meeting no
later than September 30, 2026, at the call of the chairman, and at the first meeting, the
members shall elect officers as the task force may deem appropriate.
        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in conducting this study the task force will seek
input and advice from any additional stakeholders the task force deems appropriate.
        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a majority of the task force shall constitute a
quorum for the transaction of business. All official actions of the task force shall require the
affirmative vote of a majority of the members.
        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the task force shall serve
without compensation, except per diem or expenses reimbursement to which they may be
individually entitled as members of their constituent organizations.
        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force, for purposes of its meetings and
accomplishing its goals, shall be staffed by the staff of the Senate Committee on Local and
Municipal Affairs.
        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall terminate on the date of the
submission of its report or July 1, 2027, whichever occurs first.
        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
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president and chief executive officer of the Urban League of Louisiana, the executive
director of the Housing Authority of New Orleans, the chief executive officer of the East
Baton Rouge Parish Housing Authority, the president and chief executive officer of the
United Way of Southeast Louisiana, the chief executive officer of Liberty Bank & Trust, the
executive director of the Louisiana Housing Corporation, the state treasurer, the
commissioner of the division of administration, the chief executive officer of Pelican State
Credit Union, the chief executive officer of the HOPE Credit Union, the fund manager of
Community Development Capital, the chairman of the board of directors for OnPath Federal
Credit Union, the New Orleans market president of First Horizon Bank, the chief executive
officer of Red River Bank, the Louisiana region president for Cadence Bank, the
commissioner of the Department of Insurance, the chairperson of the Housing Authority of
Jefferson Parish, the chairman of the board of directors of the Kenner Housing Authority,
the executive director of the Westwego Housing Authority, The New Orleans field office
director of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, the director
of the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, the chief
executive officer of Home by Hand, the executive director of the Jericho Road Episcopal
Housing Initiative, the director of Homeowner Services at the Habitat for Humanity St.
Tammany West, the executive director of the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority, the
director of policy and communications of the Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center, the
chief executive officer of the Neighborhood Development Foundation, the executive director
of HousingNOLA, and the senior vice president and regional community affairs manager
at Regions Bank.
  PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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