In a Lawrason Act municipality, the Attorney General (AG) has given the opinion that, absent an ordinance to the contrary, the Mayor, as presiding officer of the meeting and consistent with R.S. 33:404(A)(9), has control over the items scheduled for discussion on the agenda with the provision that the Council has the authority to amend the agenda during the meeting to add an item for discussion as permitted by R.S. 42:19 by unanimous vote. AG Op. No. 11-0102.

For police juries, the AG has opined that absent a policy or procedure providing otherwise, the president of a police jury has the authority to set the final agenda for a meeting of the police jury and may adjust or remove proposed agenda items. AG Op. No. 14-0173. The police jury may also add an item to the agenda for discussion at the public meeting by unanimous vote in accord with R.S. 42:19.

Given this fact, it is reasonable to assume that the chief presiding officer of a non-municipality board should prepare the agenda. Any person wishing to add items to the agenda must go through the presiding officer. However, the board may adopt a policy through resolution that establishes a different process for creation of the agenda. The policy must allow for the addition of an item to the agenda during the meeting by unanimous vote.

An item that is on the agenda may be removed or otherwise tabled at the public meeting after motion and by a simple majority vote.