The Louisiana Legislature, within 3 hours of completing its final action for the year, passed a new rule that will make it easier for Louisiana advertising agencies doing business with the state to also service and protect their private sector clients.

Under previous Louisiana law, any “contractor” holding state accounts with such departments as Economic Development could not do business with any other company that also held a state account. Since most local businesses interact at some point with the state, the effect was to preclude ad agencies with state contracts from representing a huge segment of the Louisiana business community.

The 4A’s River States Council and the 4A’s Washington Office worked with local members to get the law changed. Under the new rules, ad agencies now can hold state contracts and work with local businesses who also have state contracts. No other state had a similar prohibition. Contact Linda Dove in the 4A’s Washington Office for more information on this rule change.