WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HB 481

PUBLIC PRINTING: Provides for the cost of publishing official proceedings and public notices

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Neil Riser

HB 481 standardizes official publications by requiring contract publishing and setting a uniform maximum of 3 cents per character for notices and proceedings nationwide.

Effective date: 08/01/2026.
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 481

Summary of HB 481 (2026) – Louisiana Public Printing: Cost of Publishing Official Proceedings and Public Notices

Purpose and Intent

HB 481 aims to standardize how parish and municipal governing authorities and school boards publish their official proceedings and public notices. The bill requires publishing by contract and increases the maximum allowable cost per character for such publications. It builds on existing law and seeks to adjust pricing to reflect current costs.

Key Provisions

  • Publication by contract required: The bill mandates that parish and municipal governing authorities and school boards publish their official proceedings and public notices by contract. Payment can be made monthly or quarterly, as determined by the local governing authority or school board. The contract requirement applies to both the publication of official proceedings and public notices.

  • Rate/Cost framework (per character):

    • The bill modifies the maximum per-character rates that may be charged for publishing official proceedings and public notices.
    • New statewide standard (all parishes): Up to 3 cents per character (previous law varied by parish size). This applies regardless of whether the parish has a municipality with a population over 100,000 or not, effectively setting a uniform maximum.
    • The mechanism for calculating per-character cost remains based on a standard printable space defined as one inch high by one inch wide per column, with prorating for variations in font size, tabular content, or column width as specified in the law. Spaces, letters, and kerning considerations were previously excluded from certain calculations; the bill maintains the general per-character framework but updates the maximum rate.

  • Prior framework retained in part: If parties agree to a higher rate in writing, that higher rate can be used, subject to the contract.

Who is Affected

  • Local governing authorities and school boards in Louisiana (parishes and municipalities) that publish official proceedings and public notices.
  • Publising/printing vendors engaged under contract with these local entities to print proceedings and notices.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Effective framework: The bill would amend and reenact R.S. 43:147.1(A) and (B)(1) and (2) to implement the contract publication requirement and the new maximum rate (3 cents per character nationwide, replacing previous tiered rates).
  • Administration and timing: Local entities may choose monthly or quarterly payment schedules under contract, providing flexibility in budgeting.
  • Status: As of the most recent action, HB 481 was reported favorably (10-5) in committee, with an official sponsor note indicating co-sponsor support (Neil Riser).

Potential Impacts

  • Costs to local governments: Moving to a uniform 3-cent-per-character maximum could affect annual publishing costs, depending on the volume of text and formatting requirements. For parishes with large notices or extensive proceedings, this could represent an increase or decrease relative to prior rates, depending on their previous per-character rate and formatting needs.
  • Contracting practices: Emphasizes formal contracting for publication services, which may affect vendor selection, bidding, and administration.
  • Transparency and accessibility: Standardizing publication costs could improve predictability in budgeting for official notices and ensure consistent publication practices across parishes and municipalities.

If you’d like, I can provide a comparison of potential annual costs under prior law versus the new three-cent-per-character cap using sample notice sizes.

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

Sign in to ask a question.