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HB 713

PORTS/HARBORS/TERMINALS: Establishes that the total compensation of the executive port director of the Caddo-Bossier Parishes Port Commission cannot exceed the statewide average compensation of the top ten port directors in Louisiana (OR DECREASE LF EX See Note)

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Danny McCormick

Caddo-Bossier executive director’s compensation cannot exceed the statewide average of the top ten Louisiana port directors’ total pay, calculated annually.

Involuntarily deferred in committee.
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Bill Summary · HB 713

Summary of Louisiana HB 713 (2026 Regular Session)

Purpose and Intent

HB 713 seeks to limit the total compensation of the executive port director for the Caddo-Bossier Parishes Port Commission. The bill establishes that this compensation cannot exceed the statewide average total compensation of the top ten port directors in Louisiana. It aims to bring the Caddo-Bossier port director’s pay in line with peer port authorities statewide.

Key Provisions

  • New statutory framework (R.S. 34:3160.1):

    • Defines “total compensation” to include all forms of remuneration: base salary, allowances, benefits, bonuses, incentives, deferred compensation, and any other monetary or nonmonetary compensation.
    • Sets a cap: the executive port director for the Caddo-Bossier Parishes Port Commission cannot have total compensation that exceeds the statewide average total compensation paid to executive port directors of the top ten port authorities and port commissions in Louisiana.
    • The statewide average is calculated annually by the Legislative Auditor and the Division of Administration using the most reliable data available, based on the mean of the top ten port directors’ total compensation.

  • Data reporting and calculation:

    • Each port authority/commission must annually submit compensation data for its executive port director within 90 days after the end of its fiscal year, in a standardized format prescribed by the Legislative Auditor and the Division of Administration.
    • Vacancies or incomplete data must be handled to ensure an accurate statewide representation.

  • Implementation timeline:

    • Initial calculation: The Legislative Auditor and Division of Administration must determine the statewide mean total compensation for the top ten port directors by January 1, 2027.
    • Prospective application: Beginning January 1, 2028, the established average total compensation applies to new contracts, amendments, or renewals for the Caddo-Bossier port director. Contracts executed before that date are not retroactively affected.
    • No enforcement mechanism or penalties are created by this act; the language reflects an expectation that commissions adhere to the average “in the ordinary course of their practices.”

  • Prospective only:

    • The act applies prospectively and does not impair existing lawful contracts as of its effective date.

  • Effective date:

    • Effective upon the governor’s signature or a gubernatorial action lapse if not signed, with further details aligning to standard constitutional timing.

Who is Affected

  • The Caddo-Bossier Parishes Port Commission (executive port director’s compensation package).
  • All other Louisiana port authorities and port commissions (required data submissions and the statewide averaging process).
  • Louisiana Legislative Auditor and Division of Administration (responsible for data collection and annual calculations).

Potential Impact

  • Creates a formal cap tying Caddo-Bossier’s executive pay to statewide peer compensation, promoting consistency among port authorities.
  • May influence hiring, contract negotiations, and compensation structuring for the Caddo-Bossier executive port director starting in 2028.
  • Requires systematic annual reporting and data standardization across port authorities to support accurate statewide averaging.

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

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