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LouisianaHB 5032026 Regular SessionHouse

HIGHWAYS: Authorizes utility terrain vehicles to travel on the shoulder of certain roadways in Golden Meadow

Sponsored By: Joseph A. Orgeron (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Transportation, Highways and Public Works

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Golden Meadow shoulder access with driver rules

Golden Meadow can pass an ordinance allowing golf carts, utility terrain vehicles, and low-speed vehicles on public road shoulders. Access is limited to roads with speed limits of 30 miles per hour or less, excluding Louisiana Highway 3235. The ordinance must be recorded in the town's minutes. The town can set rules consistent with the law or revoke all or part of the permission at any time. Drivers must have a valid license for driving on Louisiana highways and carry the required proof of insurance. Vehicles need town registration and a decal displayed as the town directs. Registration lasts as long as the owner keeps the vehicle. The town can charge a registration fee; no amount is set. The municipal clerk keeps these fees and deposits them into the town's general fund. Golf carts no longer have to be electric. They must have four wheels, have been made for off-road use on golf courses or other green spaces, and have a maximum speed of 25 miles per hour. Utility terrain vehicles must be recreational motor vehicles designed for road travel, 50–74 inches wide, and weigh 700–3,500 pounds. That definition includes recreational off-highway vehicles and vehicles without the federal certification label required by 49 C.F.R. Part 567.4. It excludes golf carts, vehicles specially designed to carry a person with a disability, and vehicles registered under R.S. 32:299.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Joseph A. Orgeron

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 146 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/20/2026

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 • 3/23/2026

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 98, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

Yes: 98 • No: 0

House vote • 3/16/2026

Reported with amendments

Yes: 13 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 554.

    5/29/2026House

  2. Effective date: 08/01/2026.

    5/29/2026House

  3. Sent to the Governor for executive approval.

    5/26/2026House

  4. Received from the Senate without amendments.

    5/25/2026House

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

    5/25/2026House

  6. Signed by the President of the Senate.

    5/25/2026Senate

  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.

    5/20/2026Senate

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

    5/13/2026Senate

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

    5/12/2026Senate

  10. Reported favorably.

    5/11/2026Senate

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

    3/24/2026Senate

  12. Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 98, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

    3/23/2026House

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

    3/23/2026Senate

  14. Scheduled for floor debate on 03/23/2026.

    3/18/2026House

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

    3/17/2026House

  16. Reported with amendments (13-0).

    3/16/2026House

  17. Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works.

    3/9/2026House

  18. First appeared in the Interim Calendar on 2/27/2026.

    2/27/2026House

  19. Prefiled.

    2/26/2026House

  20. Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works.

    2/26/2026House

Bill Text

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