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HB 115

POLICE/MUNICIPAL: Provides for the abolition of the office of police chief and the police department in the village of Edgefield

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Dennis Bamburg

Edgefield would abolish its village police department and chief, then contract with Red River Parish law enforcement to provide police services.

Effective date: 08/01/2026.
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Bill Summary · HB 115

Summary of HB 115 (2026, Louisiana)

Purpose and Intent

  • Proposes to abolish the office of the chief of police and the village police department in the village of Edgefield, Red River Parish.
  • Authorizes Edgefield to contract with other law enforcement entities or officers within Red River Parish to provide police services.

Key Provisions

  • Enacts a new provision to Louisiana Revised Statutes: R.S. 33:381(C)(38).
  • Abolition of Office and Department
    • The Edgefield village board of aldermen may, upon the mayor’s recommendation, abolish the office of chief of police.
    • The abolition cannot take effect until either:
    • the current police chief’s term ends, or
    • a vacancy occurs, whichever happens first.
    • If the police chief’s office is temporarily filled at the time of abolition action, the abolition becomes effective as provided by ordinance.
  • Post-Abolition Arrangements
    • If the office of police chief and the village police department are abolished, the mayor and board of aldermen may contract with any law enforcement entity or officer within Red River Parish to provide police services for Edgefield.
  • Scope of Authority
    • The change applies specifically to Edgefield and its governance under the Lawrason Act (mayor-board of aldermen form of government).
    • Other municipalities’ rules remain unchanged except as expressly amended by this bill.

Who Is Affected

  • Primary: Residents and governance of the village of Edgefield.
  • Local government: Edgefield’s mayor and the board of aldermen (and the office of the chief of police, if currently in existence).
  • Law enforcement: Edgefield would shift to contracting with other parish law enforcement entities or officers for police services.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Action timing: Abolition takes effect at the end of the current chief’s term or upon a vacancy, whichever occurs first; if the office is temporarily filled at the time of abolition action, the abolition follows the ordinance guidance.
  • Authority to contract: Post-abolition, Edgefield can contract with any Red River Parish law enforcement entity or officer for services.
  • Constitutional notice: The bill notes that notice of intention to introduce has been published as required by the Louisiana Constitution.

Additional Context

  • Present Law Context: Under existing statutes (Lawrason Act and related provisions), municipalities with a mayor-aldermen structure typically have a chief of police as an officer, and departments are subject to board approval for creation or abolition. This bill creates a targeted exception for Edgefield to remove the police chief and department and transition to contracted law enforcement.

Summary Statement

HB 115 would pivot Edgefield from maintaining its own village police department to outsourcing police services within Red River Parish, by abolishing the office of police chief (subject to term/vacancy timing) and authorizing the village to enter contracts with other parish law enforcement entities for service delivery. The measure is narrowly tailored to Edgefield and preserves orderly transition through existing term or vacancy dynamics, while allowing contractual arrangements for policing needs.

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

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