(The Center Square) — Rep. Steven Jackson spoke to the newly introduced House Bill 6 in this week’s Shreveport City Council meeting that addresses tighter legislation for the ongoing issues of blight and landlord theft in the city.
“I see this as a solution for hard working honest people who have been taken advantage of,” the Shreveport Democrat said on Tuesday.
HB 6 aims to implement criminal penalties for complex owners who misuse tenant funds. According to Resolution 31, which supports HB 6, there have been four or more situations in Caddo Parish where utilities were shut off, forcing tenants to leave the property after landlords failed to pay their utilities.
In a previous meeting, Councilwoman Tabitha Taylor noted the increasing issues with landlords and the condition of complexes in the Shreveport city area. The concern of blight is ongoing as vacant buildings and homes have caught fire, and squatters, some of whom have died on the premises, have later been found by authorities, according to recent reports.
Jackson spoke about the problems HB 6 is looking to fix. This piece of legislation aims to take a more criminal route than civil. Jackson also said that Sen. Sam Jenkins, D-Baton Rouge, will present a bill on the issue that aims to take a more civil route.
HB 6 will implement definitive measures for people taking the money of tenants and clear prosecution actions against them.
He spoke with House staff and mentioned their confidence in the current route taken. He plans to discuss legislation with the district attorney to get feedback.
“Ultimately, whatever we put on the books, it’s going to be up to the municipalities to enforce, and it’ll be up to the district attorneys and the judges to prosecute and carry out the administration of law,” he said.
Another aspect of the bill will allow for asset forfeiture, allowing municipalities to take control of vacant properties and abandon assets to get them back in the tax rotation contributing to the city.
A big area brought up was concerning the ongoing issues at the Jolie Apartments, where local businesses were experiencing vandalism, theft of equipment, prostitution, and squatters wandering, according to reports from 2024.
Other crimes reported for the apartment complex include fires, a shooting, and residents forced to leave after utilities were not paid by the landlords. Recent crime statistics show 75 reports of violent and property crime at the complex from May 2023 to May 2024.
According to a few council members, the issue is becoming a criminal enterprise. Companies are coming in, buying up properties at low prices, and selling to someone else within the company for an elevated appraisal price, which is against the law, noted one council member. This issue has been ongoing since 2021.
The White Collar Crime Division is looking at citizen complaints and those who have been victims of these landlord crimes for evidence.
The council has forwarded Resolution 31 to the Speaker of the Louisiana House, the President of the Senate, the Caddo Parish legislative delegation, and Gov. Jeff Landry to show their support for HB 6.
