House Bill 32, which would raise the maximum penalty for violations of parish ordinances in St. Bernard Parish, was amended and moved favorably by the House Committee on Municipal, Provincial and Cultural Affairs.

Sponsor Representative Bayham said the measure responds to persistent blight, Katrina-damaged structures that slowly deteriorate, and unpermitted short-term rentals whose out-of-state owners "factor the $500 fine into the cost of continuing" operations. St. Bernard code compliance manager Clay Dillon told the committee unpaid fines are entered as liens and then added to the property's ad valorem tax if unresolved.

The committee adopted a technical amendment reducing potential jail time in the bill from six months to three months. Representative Freiberg raised enforcement questions from his experience in East Baton Rouge Parish: some property owners lack funds to comply, and fines can be difficult to collect. Dillon said St. Bernard's process converts unpaid fines to liens and lists them on ad valorem taxes, and that approach improved collections.

Representative Newell raised concerns about the bill's original language, which referenced "any parish ordinance," and sought assurance the change would be limited to property-related code violations rather than applying to all ordinances. The sponsor agreed to work with Newell and committee staff to limit the bill to property-related violations and to obtain a resolution from the St. Bernard governing body if possible before the bill reaches the floor.

Action summary: committee adopted an amendment changing the proposed jail term from six months to three months, adopted the amended language on the floor, and moved the bill favorably with the sponsor's pledge to tighten the bill's scope to property violations and to seek a local resolution.

Next steps: Committee staff and the sponsor will prepare a narrow amendment limiting the bill to property violations and may seek a resolution from the St. Bernard Parish Council prior to floor consideration.