Senate Bill 51, a local bill to extend a public‑records exception to the City of Alexandria’s municipally owned utility, was reported favorably by the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs on April 23, 2025.

Senator Luna presented the bill as a local measure properly advertised for the city of Alexandria. Jacques Roy, mayor of Alexandria, told the committee that current Louisiana law (La. R.S. 44:3.3) already protects "commercially sensitive information" for public power authorities but defines those authorities as political subdivisions created under Title 33. Because Alexandria operates its utility as an enterprise fund within the city charter rather than as a separately created political subdivision, the city does not clearly fall under the existing exception. "We simply want to add the City of Alexandria to the exception," Roy said, adding the change would not withhold standard public records such as contracts or rate ordinances.

Roy described Alexandria’s utility as an owner/operator that generates power (including Wartsila engines and a share of Bayou Cove) and said the city competes in a market where disclosure of resource plans, generation portfolios or other commercially sensitive planning details could disadvantage the utility. Senator Carter asked for confirmation that billing and rate information would remain public; the mayor and sponsor said rates set by ordinance and other standard public records would remain accessible.

Committee members expressed concern about public‑records access but acknowledged the bill’s narrow scope. The committee moved SB 51 forward on a motion by Senator Carter; the transcript records the motion to report the bill favorably and no objection was recorded on the floor of the committee.

Votes at a glance: motion to report SB 51 favorably moved by Senator Carter; reported favorably by voice/no objection on April 23, 2025.