PRESS RELEASE

July 10, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Mayor McDavid Attends First BREC Commission Meeting Following House

Bill 649

Mayor David McDavid attended his first official meeting serving on the BREC Commission on

July 8, 2025. House Bill 649, recently signed into law and authored by Representative Lauren

Ventrella, makes several changes to the structure and reporting requirements of the Recreation

and Park Commission for East Baton Rouge Parish (BREC).

Under the new law, the commission’s membership is expanded to include the mayors of Baker,

Baton Rouge, Central, St. George, and Zachary. These mayors will serve on the commission for

the length of their elected terms. In addition, four members will be appointed by the governing

authority of the city of Baton Rouge to serve three-year terms. Of these appointed members, at

least two must reside within the city of Baton Rouge, and at least one must reside in the

unincorporated area of East Baton Rouge Parish.

The legislation also establishes new reporting requirements. BREC must now submit a written

annual report to each municipality as well as to the state senators and representatives

representing those municipalities. The report must detail:

• The amount of taxpayer funds received from each municipality;

• The amount of funds BREC spent on facilities in each municipality; and

• The revenue generated at BREC facilities located within each municipality.