Shedding Light on Louisiana’s Boards and Commissions: Opportunities for Transparency, Accountability, and Reform

Louisiana’s occupational licensing boards get a lot of attention, and rightfully so. The state requires a permission slip from the government to work in 77 of 102 lower income occupations, making it the sixth worst state for occupational licensing burden in the U.S., according to the Institute for Justice. However, there are hundreds of boards and commissions in the state that have oversight power, set policy, and spend taxpayer dollars. It’s time to shine a light on all of  them. 

According to a Legislative Auditor report released in late 2025, Louisiana has 489 boards that manage a variety of concerns ranging from the Cajundome in Lafayette to dairy industry promotion. For fiscal year 2025, boards budgeted approximately $1.5 million for board member per diems, $2.6 million for member salaries, and $2.6 million for travel expenses, for a total of $6.7 million in taxpayer dollars. 

Why does Louisiana have so many boards and commissions? One explanation is that Louisiana has a part-time legislature with a relatively short legislative session, so boards and commissions provide a way to address matters that arise outside of session. Another explanation is Louisiana’s long history of political patronage; they’re a way to reward a governor’s most loyal supporters. Accountability to the public is all the more important when unelected board members wield so much power over Louisianans’ lives. 

Fortunately, there are a number of ways in which these boards can operate transparently. A 2009 law requires the Commissioner of Administration to maintain a website that provides current board contact information, identifies board members, and publishes meeting notices and minutes. There is no reason why, with the technology available at a very low cost in 2026, these boards should not go a step further and livestream their meetings and make them available for on-demand viewing. Citizens whose property rights might be affected by the activities of their local port commission should be able to keep up with the board’s activities and follow up with their board representative with questions or concerns. Likewise, licensees who can be fined or disciplined by a state board who may not be able to travel to a licensing board meeting should be able to weigh in on proposed rule changes discussed at these meetings that might affect their profession. 

Finally, the legislature can help taxpayers keep track of the state’s boards by evaluating whether the sheer number of boards and commissions are necessary. The Legislative Auditor’s report identified 56 boards that were either inactive or had not met since 2021. These boards and commissions should be eliminated if they have fulfilled their mission and are no longer needed, or simply can’t be staffed. Further, the legislature should examine whether some boards should be eliminated or consolidated. The State Board of Electrolysis Examiners, which is responsible for examining and licensing applicants who wish to practice electrolysis, is an example of a board that warrants a closer look into whether state resources should support its existence. The chairman reports that there are not enough board members to hold a meeting or conduct the business of the board. A closer examination of the state’s boards and commissions, particularly of the state’s occupational licensing boards, should ask serious questions about whether an occupational license, and therefore a board to govern licensees, is even necessary for certain occupations. 

Louisiana’s extensive network of boards and commissions demands greater transparency and accountability. By embracing technology and evaluating the necessity of these boards, the state can ensure these entities truly serve the public and adapt to changing needs. Ultimately, a more open and efficient system will empower citizens and foster trust in the government.