The future of four Confederate monuments in New Orleans was decided on Thursday (12/17). The New Orleans City Council voted 6-1 to remove the monuments.

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While one group continues to fight for the future of four Confederate monuments in New Orleans, a state lawmaker filed a bill on Friday that would block the removal of similar monuments without the permission of a state commission.Senate Bill 276 would create the Louisiana Heritage Protection Commission. It was filed by Sen. Beth Mizell, R-Franklinton, and will be taken up during the regular session beginning March 14.Link: Download and read bill hereThe bill and the proposed commission would create certain protections for Confederate monuments and statues that highlight historic events or figures. It outlines what kinds of commemorative landmarks are protected based on qualifications set forth by the commission, including any war in which citizens of the U.S., state or territory have participated in."No memorial regarding a historic conflict, historic entity, historic figure, or historic organization that is, or is located on, public property, may be removed, renamed, relocated, altered, rededicated, or otherwise disturbed or altered," the bill states.Slideshow: Timeline of the Confederate monuments discussion in New OrleansIf passed, the bill would require local jurisdictions to petition the Louisiana Heritage Protection Commission for a waiver to remove a landmark. Before filing a petition, the local jurisdiction would have to make public its plans on its website and among local and state news organizations.The Louisiana Heritage Protection Commission would be made up of the secretary of the state's Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, and appointees by the president of the Senate and the House speaker.Mizell's bill comes as the Monumental Task Committee continues efforts to stop the removal of the Robert E. Lee monument, at Lee Circle, the Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard statue, at City Park, the Jefferson Davis monument in Mid-City and the Liberty Monument in the CBD.The group has sought to halt the removal by filing appeals in courts after the City Council voted to approve the removal of the monuments in December. The council voted 6-1 in favor of removing the landmarks.But the group and its efforts have proven unsuccessful as a federal judge and a civil district court judge denied requests for an injunction. Both judges have told the group the city took the appropriate measures for removing the monuments.Related: Lafayette leaders discuss future of Confederate statueThe Monumental Task Committee maintains the monuments and has said the city failed to comply with federal laws protecting the sites, which the judges have struck down. The group is set to appeal the decision to the 4th Circuit.MTC issued a statement in regards to Mizell's bill. The group said it is pleased with the effort to help protect historical monuments."The MTC has been advocating for over 25 years for the protection and preservation of our culture and heritage through maintaining, preserving and restoring the monuments that represent the historical events, figures, and organizations which have shaped Louisiana," the group said in its statement.Download: Read full statement hereWhile the city's Confederate monuments would be protected under the new commission, it may still be too late as the bids for removal are due on April 22 and the commission would meet on or before Sept. 15. There have also been a few roadblocks for the city during the removal process. In January, city officials said that the initial contractor had backed out after its owner received death threats. The owner later found his Lamborghini burned at his business.