LA HB247

Authorizes East Baton Rouge Parish and the city of Baton Rouge to expropriate abandoned or blighted properties through a "quick-taking" declaration process, allowing title to transfer before final compensation is determined by the court

Requires the governing authority to provide property owners at least 15 days notice before filing an expropriation petition, and owners have 15 days after citation to contest the taking on grounds it lacks public purpose or the property has been substantially rehabilitated

Mandates deposit of the appraised property value into the court registry, after which the court issues an ex parte order immediately transferring full title to the governing authority free of all liens, mortgages, and encumbrances

Allows expropriated properties to be sold at public or private sale, with the governing authority permitted to establish preferences for allocating properties to low-income families or organizations providing rehabilitated housing

Requires quarterly public reports listing properties sold, purchaser names, addresses, and sale prices when the governing authority sells expropriated property through private sale