On May 7, 2026, House Bill 1243 passed unanimously out of the Senate Local and Municipal Affairs Committee and will now advance to the full Senate. The bill would give the New Orleans City Council sweeping authority over the Sewerage and Water Board. BGR testified at the hearing, as reported in The Times-Picayune | NOLA.com.
BGR has no position on HB1243. Our position has been consistent for years: reform of this scale must be paired with a clear plan. Our 2023 report, Waterworks in Progress, found that bringing the S&WB into City government is feasible, but issues like bonds, civil service, and pensions require careful planning and expert guidance. Moving forward and planning carefully are not in conflict.
BGR was glad to learn that Mayor Moreno plans to establish a working group to guide the process if the bill becomes law, and looks forward to learning more about its charge and timeline.
It has been suggested that BGR’s testimony was an attempt to block the bill. That is not accurate. Our Capitol Commentary sent to City leaders before the vote and testimony speak for themselves.
Read full coverage from The Times-Picayune | NOLA.com, also available on our website.