2025 Legislative Bills
Two Louisiana House Bills (HB) have been filed in the 2025 State Legislative Session that would impact BREC.
House Bill 86 would change the make-up of the BREC Commission.
Update: HB 86 has passed the full House of Representatives. It will be discussed Wednesday, May 21 at 1 p.m. before the Senate Local and Municipal Affairs Committee.
What is House Bill 86?
House Bill 86 (as amended) is a state bill proposed in the 2025 Louisiana legislative session that would change the makeup of the BREC Commission.
Click here to review the original bill document.
Click here to review the bill amendment.
Current: The current makeup 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: This amended bill proposes to restructure the BREC Commission to remain 9 Commissioners, but with a different composition. The proposed structure would be:
- 5 Mayors or mayor-appointed designees of the 5 cities within East Baton Rouge Parish
- 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
- 4 members appointed by the Metro Council
- At least 2 of those members must live in the city of Baton Rouge
- At least 1 member must live within an unincorporated area of the parish
Key Facts
- The Commission makeup is set forth by the law that created BREC and has been the same for almost 80 years while BREC has won 3 National Gold Medal Awards and been a finalist for the Gold Medal almost two dozen times.
- This model of regional oversight has proven highly effective, placing BREC among the top-performing park systems in the country.
- BREC is one of only 2% of park and recreation agencies nationwide to be accredited by the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA).
- The success of this model is evident in both community engagement and public outcomes.
Evidence of BREC's Recent Successes
Data from IYP3 Engagement & Research:
- Based on the 2023 BREC Community Needs Assessment Survey, over 80% of residents visit BREC parks annually, with most rating park conditions as good or excellent.
- Program satisfaction remains high, with nearly 90% of participants giving positive ratings. The public overwhelmingly recognizes BREC’s important role in promoting health, preserving the environment, and enhancing quality of life. Furthermore, there is strong public support for continued investment in parks, trails, and green spaces, evidenced by the two tax renewals that passed in November 2024.
- 10-year tax passed by 61% and had over 180,000 people vote.
- IYP3 tax passed by 53% and had almost 180,000 people vote.
According to the statistically valid Community Needs Assessment Survey done for IYP3:
- 82% of respondents reported visiting a BREC park in the past year.
- Of those visitors, 80% rated the condition of the parks as good (51%) or excellent (29%).
- 90% of respondents agreed that BREC provides important outdoor recreation opportunities.
- 89% agreed that BREC improves physical health and fitness.
- 86% agreed that BREC preserves open space and the environment.
- Among those that had participated in a BREC program or event in the last year, 88% rated the quality of programs as good (49%) or excellent (39%).
BREC Attendance Growth: 2021–2024:
Since 2021, BREC has demonstrated significant and consistent growth in attendance across nearly all categories of recreational services, highlighting the agency’s effectiveness in meeting the needs of East Baton Rouge Parish residents.
- Community Recreation: Attendance has grown steadily each year, rising from approximately 275,000 in 2021 to nearly 500,000 in 2024, an increase of more than 80%.
- Athletics: Participation more than tripled, climbing from roughly 125,000 in 2021 to over 500,000 in 2024, indicating a surge in demand and successful program expansion.
- Special Use Facilities: Attendance more than doubled, from around 85,000 in 2021 to nearly 200,000 in 2024, reflecting strong community interest in unique recreational offerings.
- Zoo and Golf: Both saw moderate but consistent increases. Zoo attendance rose from ~215,000 to ~240,000, while Golf grew from ~155,000 to ~190,000.
- Tennis and Aquatics: Remained stable with slight year-over-year growth, indicating a consistent user base.
- CORE Programs: Attendance stayed relatively flat between 2021 and 2024, suggesting ongoing, steady participation.
What is House Bill 649?
House Bill 649, introduced during the 2025 Louisiana Regular Legislative Session, would separate the City of Central from BREC’s nationally accredited, parish-wide park system and establish a separate state-created recreation and park district, duplicating BREC’s current responsibilities and run solely by the City of Central.
Click here to review the original bill document.
If passed the bill would:
- Remove all parks, conservation areas, and responsibilities within the City of Central from BREC’s parish-wide park system
- Transfer annual tax revenue to a new, separate state recreation and park district controlled by the City of Central
- Eliminate parish oversight and remove these assets from a system funded and supported by all East Baton Rouge Parish taxpayers
What would this mean for East Baton Rouge Parish and the City of Central?
- Creates a New, Duplicative Government Entity: HB649 would establish a duplicative state government entity with no existing infrastucture, accreditation, nor proven success in managing parks and conservation areas.
- Strips Central Residents of Parish-Wide Key Benefits: Removal from the BREC system would strip Central residents of key benefits, such as early registration and reduced rates for parish-wide programs, camps, and events across the parish, currently subsidized by BREC’s robust parish-wide framework. The strength of this system lies in its diverse offerings and amenities that cater to all ages and backgrounds, ensuring equitable access for everyone. Dismantling it would lead to fewer choices, diminished opportunities, and a decline in quality for all.
- Possible Higher Costs for All: Reduced parish-wide revenue for BREC will lead to higher admission fees at shared BREC amenities like Liberty Lagoon, BREC golf courses, and the Baton Rouge Zoo.
- Potential Loss of CAPRA Accreditation Best Practices and National Standards: Parks, conservation areas, playgrounds, and more would be removed from a nationally accredited, award-winning system and placed under city control, jeopardizing the professional standards and long-term sustainability that have defined their success. The bill turns those responsibilities over to a new entity with no current recreation infrastructure, staff, or proven success.
- Risks to major Parish-Wide Projects: Major, parish-wide projects funded by shared tax dollars, including future phases of the Baton Rouge Zoo and Greenwood Community Park, the Bike/Ped Master Plan, and Frenchtown Conservation Area upgrades that are built on pooled parish-wide funding, could be delayed or scaled back.
- Broader Implications: Parks in the City of Central were developed using tax revenue collected from all residents of East Baton Rouge Parish. Transferring these assets out-of-parish oversight would remove them from the governance structure supported by those parish-wide contributions and could establish a precedent for similar efforts in other areas.
BREC's Ongoing Committment to the City of Central
- Investment: Over the past 5 years, BREC has invested over $20 Million within the City of Central’s parks and conservation areas. Since 2021, BREC has completed significant capital projects in Central, including the new Jackson Community Park, a brand-new dog park at Lovett Road Park, a new Nature Center at Frenchtown Conservation Area, several improvements at Central Sports Complex, and more.
- Activated Spaces: Following significant investments, parks in the City of Central have experienced a remarkable 49% surge in attendance from 2021 to 2024. This growth is notably fueled by a 25% increase at the Central Sports Complex, which attracts visitors from across the region. The addition of artificial turf by BREC at the complex has been particularly impactful, leading to a staggering 200% rise in tournament rentals.
- Increased Community Engagement: In 2021, Senator Bodi White deferred a bill to remove the City of Central from the BREC system in exchange for BREC’s creation of a community advisory council. BREC has implemented a Community Engagement Policy mandating community advisory councils for major parish-wide projects. The inaugural community advisory council played a pivotal role in shaping BREC’s Imagine Your Parks 3 Plan, a nationally recognized, equity-focused roadmap for park enhancements across East Baton Rouge Parish. Voters approved this funding for this transformative initiative that is equity-centered plan for the next decade in November 2024, ensuring continued investment in accessible, resilient, and community-driven recreational spaces.
- Kept Promises: In 2022, Senator White publicly recognized BREC’s efforts and threw out the ceremonial first pitch to celebrate the completion of Central Sports Park, in which BREC invested almost $3 Million to match approximately $500,000 in capital outlay funds secured by Senator White.
- Willing Collaborator: BREC has consistently expressed willingness to negotiate a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement (CEA) with the City of Central that would provide both tax revenue and operational oversight of park systems to the city. In exchange, BREC seeks assurances that parks and conservation areas would adhere to professional management standards and best practices in alignment with Louisiana's constitutional requirements for CEAs, including demonstrable public benefit and equivalent value exchange.
How to Get Involved
Email or call your legislator for SB 86 and HB 649
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
Show up: Attend public meetings and legislative sessions.
Both bills have passed the full House of Representatives. SB 649 will now advance to the Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee and HB 86 will be discussed Wednesday, May 21 at 1 p.m. before the Senate Local and Municipal Affairs Committee. The Baton Rouge Zoo Foundation will send text messages notifying subscribers of updates.