2025 Legislative Bills

 

 

 

Two Louisiana House Bills (HB) have been filed in the 2025 State Legislative Session that would impact BREC, HB 86 and HB 87. 

 

 

What is House Bill 86?

House Bill 86 is a state bill proposed in the 2025 Louisiana legislative session that would change the make-up of the BREC Commission.  

Current: The current make-up of 9 Commissioners with appointments as follows 

  • 6 Appointed by the Metro Council 
  • 1 Appointed by the Mayor-President of Baton Rouge
  • 1 Appointed by the East Baton Rouge Parish (EBRP) School Board 
  • 1 Appointed by the East Baton Rouge Parish (EBRP) Planning Commission 

Proposed: A proposed make-up of 5 Commissioners being the mayors of the cities within East Baton Rouge Parish as follows: 

  • Mayor-President of Baton Rouge
  • Mayor of the City of Baker 
  • Mayor of the City of Zachary 
  • Mayor of the City of Central 
  • Mayor of the City of St. George 

Key Facts

  • The Commission make-up is set forth by the law that created BREC and has been the same for almost 80 years. 
  • The make-up was designed with representation from all across the parish. It requires all 12 elected council members to vote on 6 of the 9 members along with representation from parish-wide stakeholder municipalities, including the City-Parish, the East Baton Rouge Parish School System, and the East Baton Rouge Parish Planning Commission.  
  • The bill would give equal voting rights on decisions about BREC policies and plans to each of the 5 Mayors.   
 

What is House Bill 87?

House Bill 87 is a state bill proposed in the 2025 Louisiana legislative session that would repeal the law that created BREC in 1946. If passed, this bill proposes to:

  • Eliminate BREC as a special district that functions as East Baton Rouge Parish’s parks and recreation system and effectively make it a department of City-Parish government
  • Transfer all 175 parks, the Baton Rouge Zoo, its 5 golf courses, 500+ employees, and assets as well as the operations, management and maintenance of the parks and assets to the City-Parish government

These changes, affecting a park system responsible for providing services to all East Baton Rouge Parish residents and funded by the voters of the parish, would be made without a public vote.

Key Facts

  • This bill will put YOUR park system, which was built on almost 80 years of input from the residents of East Baton Rouge Parish, at risk of possible closures or reductions in recreational programming. The bill seeks to eliminate a nationally accredited, three-time national Gold Medal award-winning park system. This would place it under the control of City-Parish government, risking the funding approved by voters to fund the operations, maintenance, and improvement of BREC’s 175 parks with 5 golf courses, a Zoo, a waterpark, conservation areas, and many miles of walking/biking trails.
  • East Baton Rouge Parish voters have consistently supported BREC, most recently approving two ballot measures renewing 65% of BREC’s funding. Since 1947, BREC has added modest millages gradually, with voter support, to match the growth of the park system, focusing on responsible, transparent funding aligned with community needs.
  • Despite decades of voter support for BREC, the bill would fundamentally change how parks and facilities are managed in East Baton Rouge Parish, all with no voter input.

What's at Stake

  • This bill may significantly delay or even derail the Imagine Your Parks 3 Master Plan, which was developed with significant community input and approved by the voters in November 2024. This plan includes:
    • A new recreation center portfolio with brand new centers across the parish
    • Safer parks addressing security issues across the parish
    • Enhanced conservation efforts to protect natural habitats and connect parish residents with nature while also addressing localized flooding through green infrastructure
    • 450 miles of parish-wide bike/pedestrian trails for walking and biking
    • More universal programming for everyone in the community
    • More shade and heat relief in parks to beat the Louisiana heat

Major Construction Plans and Projects at Risk

  • Future phases of the reimagined Baton Rouge Zoo and Greenwood Community Park
  • The Louisiana Watershed Initiative funded Green Infrastructure project at Greenwood Community Park
  • The federally funded Safe Rooms at Airline Highway Community Park and Memorial Stadium that will function as first class recreation centers outside of disaster situations
  • Federally-funded Greenway Trails from the Health District in South Baton Rouge to Southern University
  • New Airline Highway Community Park, which includes 16 new pickleball courts
  • Updated master plans for Perkins Road Community Park and City-Brooks Community Park
  • Build-out of the Scotlandville Parkway Park Master Plan

How to Get Involved

Email or call your legislator

Spread the word: Download the fact sheets in each section above and share with friends, family, and neighbors + Post key points on social media using the hashtag #BRECmakesParksBETTER

Stay informed: Follow updates at brec.org/2025legislativebills and subscribe to text updates from the Baton Rouge Zoo Foundation by texting BRECBills to 844-541-9170 or scan the QR code below to text. 

Show up: Attend public meetings and legislative sessions. 

The bill is set to go before the House Committee on Municipal, Parochial and Cultural Affairs after session begins on April 14, 2025.