NEW IBERIA, La. (KLFY) — In Iberia Parish, a proposed state house bill could reshape how the Acadiana Regional Airport is governed.

House Bill 613 was introduced by Louisiana State Representative Beau Beaullieu (R- New Iberia), at a previous meeting in April. In the original bill, it stated the current airport board would be removed from parish oversight, creating pushback from Iberia Parish councilmembers.

However, due to concerns, the bill was amended, giving the Iberia Parish council back the authority to handle how the airport board is run. Iberia Parish President, Larry Richard, spoke on his initial reactions to the bill, and now current reactions.

“When it was started it was a lot because the parish council wasn’t aware of what was going on, the administration wasn’t aware of what was going on, but things have a way of working itself out, we have a good group of people in our area that want the best for Iberia parish,” said Richard.

So far, the amended house bill has passed through the Louisiana House of Representatives by a vote of 89 to 1. The bill also passed through the Louisiana Senate Committee. The proposed law will now make its way to the Senate floor, where it could be signed into law. Richard says he believes the bill could create positive change in Iberia Parish.

“Since then, we have worked some things out,” said Richard. “Everything is going to be in the hands of the parish council to where they could make a decision based on whatever they want to do, if they decided they want to create a district, they’re going to do it, I think they should look at it.”

State lawmakers are expected to vote on the bill in the coming weeks.

Latest news