A proposed state land transfer (Attached) in Natchitoches Parish has drawn public interest as House Bill 1056 moves through the 2026 Regular Session. The legislation, authored by Rep. Young, would authorize the state to transfer approximately 1.16 acres of property to Brian Briggs, a current employee of the City of Natchitoches.

The property, located in Sections 40 and 43 of Township 9 North, Range 7 West, was previously under the jurisdiction of the local school board before being returned to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE). It is currently inventoried by the Louisiana State Land Office as Site Code / Business Entity No. 7-35-017.

As the bill progresses, several key points of the transaction address common public inquiries:

Legal Authorization and Employment Status

While Briggs currently serves as a city employee, HB 1056 provides specific legal authorization for this transfer. The bill includes a “notwithstanding” clause, which allows the legislature to sanction this specific conveyance to a named individual regardless of general statutory restrictions that might otherwise apply.

Constitutional Compliance vs. “Legislative Gift”

Public questions regarding whether this constitutes a “gift” are addressed in the bill’s requirements for “appropriate consideration”. Under Article VII, Section 14(A) of the Louisiana Constitution, the state is generally prohibited from donating property. Consequently, Section 2 of the bill mandates that the transfer be made in exchange for value sufficient to meet these constitutional standards.

Property History and Maintenance

The site includes a former pre-school building on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Before his current employment with the city, Briggs was active in cleaning and securing the improvements on the land after the structure had been condemned by the Natchitoches City Council in 2025.

Terms of the Transfer

• Mineral Rights: The State of Louisiana will reserve all mineral rights to the property; only the surface and improvements are subject to the transfer.

• Approval Process: The transfer requires the joint authorization of the president of BESE and the commissioner of administration.

• Effective Date: If passed, the act becomes effective immediately upon the governor’s signature or after the constitutional window for gubernatorial action expires.

Public Inquiry and Accountability

Local residents have raised specific questions regarding the future of the site and the transparency of the transaction:

• What are the long-term plans for the building? Having previously been owned by the school board and returned to BESE, the public is seeking clarity on how the site will be utilized following the transfer.

• How will the purchase price be determined? While HB 1056 does not list a specific dollar amount, it requires the price to follow state law. Citizens are looking for confirmation on the Fair Market Value to be paid by Mr. Briggs to ensure the state is not illegally donating public assets.

https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/BillInfo.aspx?i=251263

Note:

The “Notwithstanding” Clause

In the text of HB 1056, the phrase “notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary” acts as a legal “trump card”.

• Overriding General Laws: Usually, there are general state laws (statutes) that dictate how state property must be sold—often requiring public auctions, competitive bidding, or prohibiting sales to certain public officials or employees to avoid conflicts of interest.

• Specific Authorization: By using this clause, the legislature establishes a clear legal framework that allows this particular transaction to proceed, ensuring that the authorized transfer of the property takes precedence over general administrative procedures that might otherwise delay or complicate the process..

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