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LouisianaHB 12322026 Regular SessionHouse

PORTS/HARBORS/TERMINALS: Provides relative to waterway projects

Sponsored By: Ryan Bourriaque (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Transportation, Highways and Public Works

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

New rules for local waterway applicants

Government bodies, including parishes, towns, ports, and levee districts, must submit waterway funding applications by September 1 each year. Applications seek funding or authority to commit money for the following fiscal year. They must describe the project, its need and area, and include a preliminary design and cost estimate. Review cannot begin until required information is complete, and projects cannot be considered until all required permits are obtained. The program office must submit its new review process for joint committee approval no later than September 1, 2026. Applying authorities must prepare plans and specifications, advertise and seek bids, and supervise construction under the program’s rules.

Waterway funding comes with project limits

Louisiana establishes the Waterway Assistance Program and a state treasury fund, replacing the prior program rules. Eligible projects primarily dredge and deepen waterways, including construction, maintenance, and disposal of dredged material; federal cost sharing is allowed. The fund supports approved projects alongside capital outlay and general funds, and unused project money can support other projects. Money no longer needed to finish projects returns to the fund. The office submits qualifying projects to the joint committee, which sets the list based on the program’s appropriation. The Legislature cannot add projects, and unfunded projects stay listed unless the committee votes to remove them the next year. The office carries out approved projects in priority order using appropriations, authority to commit funds, or legally authorized cash management. It can use other program projects’ committed funds without delaying those projects; that temporary authority ends when project funds become available. The office cannot delete, add, or replace projects except through the law’s authorized process.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Ryan Bourriaque

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 146 • No: 5

Senate vote • 5/13/2026

Rules suspended. Read by title, passed by a vote of 35 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

Yes: 35 • No: 0

House vote • 4/14/2026

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 96, nays 5. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

Yes: 96 • No: 5

House vote • 4/8/2026

Read by title, substitute title adopted, lies over in the same order of business, substitute for HB No. 647 reported by the Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works

Yes: 15 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 341.

    5/22/2026House

  2. Effective date: 08/01/2026.

    5/22/2026House

  3. Sent to the Governor for executive approval.

    5/19/2026House

  4. Received from the Senate without amendments.

    5/18/2026House

  5. Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.

    5/18/2026House

  6. Signed by the President of the Senate.

    5/18/2026Senate

  7. Rules suspended. Read by title, passed by a vote of 35 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

    5/13/2026Senate

  8. Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.

    5/5/2026Senate

  9. Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.

    5/4/2026Senate

  10. Reported favorably.

    4/29/2026Senate

  11. Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works.

    4/15/2026Senate

  12. Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 96, nays 5. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

    4/14/2026House

  13. Received in the Senate. Rules suspended. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.

    4/14/2026Senate

  14. Scheduled for floor debate on 04/14/2026.

    4/13/2026House

  15. Read by title, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.

    4/9/2026House

  16. Read by title, substitute title adopted, lies over in the same order of business, substitute for HB No. 647 reported by the Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works (15-0).

    4/8/2026House

Bill Text

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