LEVEES/BDS & DISTRICTS: Modifies the board of commissioners within the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Stephanie Hilferty

The bill requires Senate reconfirmation of all SLFPA-East board members as of Dec 1, 2026, with nonreconfirmed members becoming vacancies for two years.

Read by title.

Purpose and intent

HB 1240 seeks to reconstitute and reconfirm the membership of the board of commissioners for the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East (SLFPA-East). The bill adds a specific mechanism to reconstitute the board as of December 1, 2026, and to require Senate reconfirmation of the board members. It aims to ensure ongoing alignment of the board with current governance requirements and to establish consequences for members who are not reconfirmed.

Key provisions and changes

New statutory provision added: Adds R.S. 38:330.1(C)(1)(a)(iv) to establish the reconfirmation process for SLFPA-East.

Current board structure preserved, with an added reconfirmation trigger:

The SLFPA-East board is currently composed of nine members, with specified representation (one from St. Bernard Parish, two from Jefferson Parish, three from Orleans Parish, and three members who reside outside the authority’s territorial jurisdiction).
Governors appoint board members from nominations submitted by a nominating committee; vacancies are typically handled through a specified notification and appointment process.

Constitution of the reconfirmation process (as of December 1, 2026):

The composition and membership of the SLFPA-East will be reconstituted and reconfirmed by the Louisiana Senate.
If a member is not reconfirmed, the member’s position is treated as an “unexpected vacancy.”
The nominating committee must follow the existing vacancy-closure procedures to fill the vacancy.
Any member not reconfirmed expires immediately and cannot be reappointed for two years.
Members who are reconfirmed keep the same term structure as their original appointment; any successor appointed to complete the predecessor’s term must also complete that term.

Who/what is affected

Board of Commissioners of the SLFPA-East: All nine current members will be subject to reconfirmation by the Senate as of December 1, 2026.

Nominating committee and governor: The existing process for nominating and appointing members remains in place, but now operates within the reconfirmation framework.

Senate: Given the reconfirmation duty, the Senate gains an additional role in certifying continued service for SLFPA-East board members.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Effective action date for the new provision: December 1, 2026.

Process after December 1, 2026:

Reconstitution and reconfirmation by the Senate.
Unconfirmed members are treated as vacancies, triggering the nominating committee’s reappointment procedures.
Immediate expiration for non-reconfirmed members and a two-year non-reappointment window.

Continuity: If reconfirmed, members retain the term requirements that applied to their original appointment; successors appointed to complete a term must finish that term.

Practical impact

The bill introduces a formal, Senate-driven revalidation of the SLFPA-East board, potentially altering board continuity and governance dynamics. It creates concrete consequences for non-reconfirmation (vacancy status and a two-year cooldown) and ties future appointments to the existing nominating-and-confirmation framework. This may affect board stability, oversight of flood protection projects, and the authority’s long-term planning and operations.

Bill