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HB 1215

CULTURE/REC/TOUR DEPT: Provides relative to the disposition of certain historical statues and monuments

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Mike Bayham

Transfers custody of removed publicly owned statues/monuments to Louisiana Office of State Parks for placement in the state park system with context and public access.

Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.
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Bill Summary · HB 1215

Summary of HB 1215 (Louisiana, 2026 Regular Session)

Purpose and Intent

HB 1215, introduced by Representative Bayham and amended by the House Committee on Municipal, Parochial and Cultural Affairs, establishes a process for transferring custody and control of historical statues and monuments that are removed from public display. The bill directs that these publicly owned statues/monuments be transferred to the Office of State Parks within the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism (DCRT). The overarching goal is to relocate removed historic monuments to a state park system location, with proper preservation, public access, and historical context.

Key Provisions

  • Definitions

    • Public entity: The state or any political subdivision, including agencies, boards, or commissions.
    • Historical statue or monument: A statue, memorial, marker, or commemorative structure owned by a public entity and located on public property to commemorate a historical person, event, or era.
    • Office of State Parks: The state parks office within the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism (DCRT).

  • Transfer of custody and control

    • Any publicly owned historical statue or monument removed from public display on or after the effective date of the bill must be transferred to the Office of State Parks, including all rights of custody and control.

  • Placement and display within the state park system

    • The Office of State Parks must designate and maintain a location(s) within the state park system for the placement of transferred statues/monuments.
    • The office must determine the placement and manner of display with due regard for preservation and public access.
    • Signage or materials must be provided to give accurate historical context, including information about the statue/monument, its subject, and the circumstances of its original placement and subsequent removal.

  • Rulemaking authority

    • The Office of State Parks is authorized to promulgate rules under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) to implement the provisions of the bill.

  • Note on existing law

    • Amendment No. 2 clarifies that nothing in this section should abrogate, impair, or supersede the provisions of R.S. 44:406 (public records/records laws), preserving existing disclosure or related statutory protections.

  • Effective framework (implied)

    • The amendments reference transfer “on or after August 1, 2006” in relation to the possession of statues, guiding the scope of applicable statues/monuments.

Who is Affected

  • Public entities in Louisiana that own historical statues or monuments currently on public display and subsequently removed.
  • Office of State Parks (within DCRT), which would receive custody of transferred monuments, decide locations within the state park system, and provide contextual information.
  • The public, which would gain access to relocated monuments in state parks and receive educational context through signage and materials.
  • State agencies and boards involved in public display of monuments, given the potential changes in custody and display considerations.

Procedural and Timeline Considerations

  • The bill becomes law in a manner consistent with the legislative process; specific effective dates are tied to provisions stating transfer requirements for statues removed from public display on or after the amendment’s effective date.
  • The Office of State Parks would develop rules under the APA to implement the statute’s requirements, including placement criteria, signage standards, and display practices.
  • Compliance with existing public records laws (R.S. 44:406) is protected, ensuring that any related records or disclosures remain governed by current law.

If you’d like, I can provide a side-by-side comparison with current law (R.S. 25:915 and related statutes) or draft a layperson-friendly explainer graphic to accompany this summary.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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