SHREVEPORT, La. — Shreveport officials and state lawmakers are exploring how existing laws could hold owners of blighted apartment complexes accountable.

State Rep. Steven Jackson led a roundtable discussion Monday after recent questions about whether the city could use state laws to address problems at apartment complexes.

Jackson, who authored a 2025 law aimed at punishing property owners who misappropriate funds intended for utility services, said the meeting was intended to inform city leaders about the enforcement tools and laws already available to them.

The goal, Jackson said, is to “get the ball rolling on enforcement of the law.”

The roundtable brought together city officials, law enforcement, utility representatives and members of the real estate industry.

Shreveport City Council Chairwoman Tabitha Taylor participated in the discussion, along with Shreveport City Attorney Marcus Edwards; Councilmembers Ursula Bowman and Alan Jackson; Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith; state Rep. Tammy Phelps; Shreveport Property Standards Director Terrence Green; Caddo Parish Sheriff Henry Whitehorn; and representatives from SWEPCO and the Shreveport-Bossier Association of Realtors.

Jackson's 2025 law addresses property owners who collect money for utility services but fail to use the money for its intended purpose.

Under the law discussed during the meeting, misappropriating more than $1,000 can result in a felony charge.

The group discussed whether the law could be used to address apartment complexes where tenants experience problems with utilities and other basic services.

The discussion followed a July 27 meeting in which the city attorney raised questions about whether state law provided the city with the authority to pursue certain cases. The city attorney also advised the Caddo Parish District Attorney's Office about potential investigations.

Jackson said the purpose of Monday's meeting was to help clarify the options available to city leaders and law enforcement.

Criminal blighting was added to the state's list of racketeering activities in 2023. Officials said that provision could potentially provide another tool for pursuing property owners or companies connected to multiple properties and repeated violations.

The discussion included the possibility of targeting limited liability companies or shell companies that may be used to own or manage properties.

Officials said the state's racketeering law can apply when there are multiple qualifying incidents within five years.

Taylor said the city also needs to make sure the right agencies are involved in addressing the problems.

“NPC needs to be at the table,”  Taylor said, referring to the need for additional stakeholders to be involved in the process.

SWEPCO representatives said the utility has encountered red flags at some apartment complexes, including properties without master meters and management companies that change names.

Those circumstances can make it difficult to determine who owns a property or who is responsible for unpaid utility bills.

SWEPCO said its primary remedy when utility bills are not paid is to disconnect service.

The utility has coordinated with the city when water and electricity have been disconnected at apartment complexes. During the meeting, leaders discussed potentially having SWEPCO and Shreveport Water help flag concerns when properties begin accruing large arrears for utility payments. 

Officials said enforcement starts with a complaint.

Whitehorn said his agency had not received some of the complaints discussed during the meeting and that the city would generally be the first point of investigation.

The White Collar Crime Unit works cases jointly with the Shreveport Police Department, officials said.

Smith said he did not know the status of the individual cases discussed during the meeting.

The discussion highlighted the need for complaints to be properly documented and directed to the appropriate law enforcement agency, city attorney or district attorney's office.

Edwards said complaints made during City Council meetings can be directed to law enforcement, the city attorney's office or the district attorney's office for investigation.

The group also discussed whether tenants know where to report problems involving utilities, maintenance and potentially unsafe living conditions.

Participants discussed requiring apartment complexes to be properly registered and ensuring they have certificates of occupancy.

Officials said having that information could make it easier to identify property owners and determine whether complexes are operating in compliance with city requirements.

The group also discussed the city's administrative hearing process, which can allow officials to pursue civil penalties against properties that violate applicable laws.

Fairmont Apartments was cited during the discussion as an example of a property that could potentially be brought before an administrative hearing.

The roundtable was part of an effort to determine whether Shreveport can make greater use of laws already on the books to address criminal blight and alleged financial misconduct involving apartment properties.

Jackson said the city does not necessarily have to wait for new legislation and can explore enforcement options under existing state and local laws.

Officials said they will continue examining what constitutes compliance, how complaints are investigated, and whether criminal blight and racketeering laws can be used to hold property owners and related companies accountable.