Port blueprints in Louisiana could be made confidential for ‘national security’

In the name of national security, the Louisiana Legislature plans to add another exemption to the Louisiana public records law.

House Bill 249, sponsored by Rep. Mark Wright, R-Covington, would shield blueprints and floor plans for port facilities from public view. The House passed the bill Wednesday in a 97-0 vote without any debate, and the bill similarly flew through its initial hearing in the House and Governmental Affairs Committee on April 12. 

“Our ports are super important elements of our state as everybody knows,” Wright said at the committee meeting, adding that there are elements of ports dealing with “heavy security.” 

Lawmakers passed a similar bill last year for airports and one for public school buildings in 2020. 

The Louisiana Press Association was initially against Wright’s bill but withdrew its opposition when Wright agreed to an amendment that allowed for the disclosure of a port’s plans and architectural renderings when they are used during a public bidding process.

The bill’s original version called for the complete confidentiality of those documents. In a phone interview, Louisiana Press Association attorney Scott Sternberg said it was important to ensure journalists could still access renderings, plans and contracts vital to the public when governments are permitting such construction projects.

In the post Sept. 11 era, urban planners, engineers and architects have adopted a counter-terrorism approach in the construction of public buildings and infrastructure, incorporating security features into planning documents. The new World Trade Center Freedom Tower, for instance, was built to prevent damage from bomb attacks, according to an article in Building Design and Construction. 

HB 249 next heads to the Senate for consideration.