HB 763 — PUBLIC RECORDS: Provides for a public Settlement Agreement Information Database to contain certain information regarding settlements entered into by state agencies (EG NO IMPACT See Note)

HLS 26RS-1044 ORIGINALENGROSSED Regular Session HOUSE BILL NO.

763 BY REPRESENTATIVEREPRESENTATIVES BILLINGS AND WALTERS PUBLIC RECORDS:

As used in this Section, the termfollowing "settlementterms agreement"shall meanshave athe finalfollowing documentmeanings, evidencingunless athe compromisecontext ofclearly aindicates legalotherwise: action related to an alleged violation of federal or state law that is entered into by a state agency.

(1) "Agency" means any state office, department, board, commission, institution, division, officer or other person, or other organizational unit of government within the executive branch of state government.

(2) "Settlement agreement" means a final document evidencing a compromise of a legal action related to an alleged violation of federal or state law that is entered into by a state agency.

(1) The date the settlement agreement became final.

(2) A description of the claims settled pursuant to the agreement.

(3) The total amount the settling parties are obligated to paypursuant to the agreement and an itemization of each of the following:

HLS 26RS-1044 ORIGINALENGROSSED HB NO.

763 (a)(1) The amountdate of attorney fees and other litigation costs awarded, if any, including a citation to the legalsettlement basisagreement forbecame suchfinal. award.

(2) A description of the claims settled pursuant to the agreement.

(3) The total amount the settling parties are obligated to paypursuant to the agreement and an itemization of each of the following:

(a) The amount of attorney fees and other litigation costs awarded, if any, including a citation to the legal basis for such award.

C.(1)C. The requirement to submit information about a settlement agreement or a copy of a settlement agreement pursuant to the provisions of this Section shall not apply to the extent the information or the settlement agreement is exempt from disclosure pursuant to Public Records Law.

(2)Each Ifagency theshall administrativeprovide head of the stateinformation agencyrequired thatpursuant is a party to the settlementprovisions agreement determines that the Public Records Law prohibits disclosure of allthis orSection partfor ofeachsettlement the agreement orentered thatinto thebythat sealingagency ofonorafterJanuary1,2027,withinninetydaysofthesettlementagreementbecoming afinal. settlement agreement is required to protect the public interest, he shall execute a written statement of confidentiality that contains at least one of the following:

(a)The Ainformation citationshall toremain available on the Publicwebsite Recordsfor Lawfive exceptionyears invokedfrom forthe thatlaterofthedateofinitial agreement.entryin thedatabaseorthelastdatetheentrywasmodified by the agency.

(b) A statement as to why withholding the information or agreement is required to protect the public interest, which shall explain what interests are being protectedandwhythoseinterestsoutweighthepublic'sinterestinknowingaboutthe settlement and the expenditure of state resources pursuant to that settlement.

Each state agencyshall provide the information required pursuant to the provisions of this Section for each settlement agreement entered into bythat agency Page 2 of 4 CODING:

Wordsinstruckthroughtypearedeletionsfromexistinglaw;wordsunderscored are additions.

HLS 26RS-1044 ORIGINAL HB NO.

763 onorafterJanuary1,2027,withinninetydaysofthesettlementagreementbecoming final.

The information shall remain available on the website for five years from the laterofthedateofinitial entryin thedatabaseorthelastdatetheentrywasmodified by the state agency.

E.

E.

An agency may apply to the commissioner for a waiver from the requirements of this Section as long as the agency maintains a publicly accessible database or website that the commissioner deems to include information regarding settlement agreements that is substantially similar to the information required Page 2 of 4 CODING:

Wordsinstruckthroughtypearedeletionsfromexistinglaw;wordsunderscored are additions.

HLS 26RS-1044 ENGROSSED HB NO.

763 pursuanttotheprovisions ofthisSection.

Thecommissionershallensurethatalink toeachofthesepubliclyaccessibledatabasesandwebsitesisincludedonthewebsite established pursuant to the provisions of this Section.

Section 3.(A) The provisions of this Section and Section 2 of this Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not signed by the governor, upon expiration ofthetimeforbillstobecomelawwithoutsignaturebythegovernor,asofthetime providedbyArticleforbills to becomelawwithoutsignaturebythegovernor,asprovidedbyArticle III, Section 18 ofoftheConstitution theofLouisiana. Constitution of Louisiana.

IfvetoedbythegovernorIf vetoed bythe governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, the provisions of this Section and Section 2 of this Act shall become effective on the dayfollowing such approval.

1:13(B) and 24:177(E)] HB 763 OriginalEngrossed 2026 Regular Session Billings Abstract:

Proposed law adds the requirement that the commissioner maintain a databasedatabaseforsettlementagreementsexecutedbythestateoranyagency. for settlement agreements executed by the state or any state agency.

DefinesDefines"settlement "settlementagreement"tomeanafinaldocumentevidencingacompromiseofalegalactionagreement" to mean a final document evidencing a compromise of a legal action related to an alleged violation of federal or state law that is entered into by a state agency, including a consent decree.

PresentFurther law defines "state"agency" agency" to mean any state office, department, board, commission, institution, division, officer or other person, or functionalorganizational group,unit authorizedof togovernment exercise,within or that does exercise, any functions of the executive branchbranch. of the state government, including higher education agencies and state retirement systems.

PageProposedlawrequireseachagencytoenterinformationintothedatabaseforeachsettlement 3agreement ofentered 4into CODING:on or after Jan.

Wordsinstruckthroughtypearedeletionsfromexistinglaw;wordsunderscored are additions.

HLS 26RS-1044 ORIGINAL HB NO.

763 Proposed law requires each state agency to enter information into the database for each settlement agreement entered into on or after Jan.

(3) The total amount the settling parties are obligated to pay pursuant to the agreement andanitemizationand ofan theitemization amount of attorneyfeestheamountofattorneyfeesandother andotherlitigationcostsawarded,litigation ifcosts anyawarded, andPage the3 amount, if any, of any4 civilCODING: or criminal penalty or fine listed in the settlement agreement.