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LouisianaHB 7202026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

PROPERTY/PUBLIC: Provides relative to the tacit dedication of roads

Sponsored By: Neil Riser (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Transportation, Highways and Public Works

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.

Disposed road land returns to donors

When a Louisiana local government disposes of donated or tacitly dedicated road, street, or right-of-way land, it returns to the original donor, heirs, or assigns. The government must notify the donor or heirs at their last known address by certified mail, return receipt requested. They have 90 days after receiving notice to respond; without a response, the government disposes of the land under applicable law. Any deed returning the land must preserve passage rights for landowners whose property touches it. These rules apply to past and future cases.

Public roads stay protected from private sales

Louisiana roads dedicated through local upkeep remain in public use, with their rights-of-way under public control. This lasts until the maintaining parish or municipality formally ends the dedication. Public improvements within those rights-of-way remain in public use unless the parish or municipality lawfully disposes of them, including locally built and maintained boat launches, landings, and parking areas. Adjoining landowners and owners of land beneath the right-of-way cannot privately sell the dedicated road or right-of-way. These rules apply to past and future cases.

Road upkeep helps establish public rights

In Louisiana, local road maintenance can establish public-use rights without a formal donation, called tacit dedication. After at least four years of maintenance, the law conclusively presumes knowledge of that upkeep for tacit dedication. The presumption does not apply if lawful action interrupts or pauses the legal time period within 60 days of actual or legally presumed knowledge. These rules apply to past and future cases.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Neil Riser

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 147 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/11/2026

Read by title, passed by a vote of 36 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

Yes: 36 • No: 0

House vote • 3/23/2026

Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 97, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

Yes: 97 • No: 0

House vote • 3/16/2026

Reported favorably

Yes: 14 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 173.

    5/15/2026House

  2. Effective date: 08/01/2026.

    5/15/2026House

  3. Sent to the Governor for executive approval.

    5/13/2026House

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

    5/12/2026House

  5. Signed by the President of the Senate.

    5/12/2026Senate

  6. Read by title, passed by a vote of 36 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

    5/11/2026Senate

  7. Received from the Senate without amendments.

    5/11/2026House

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

    4/28/2026Senate

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

    4/27/2026Senate

  10. Reported favorably.

    4/22/2026Senate

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

    3/25/2026Senate

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

    3/24/2026Senate

  13. Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 97, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

    3/23/2026House

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

    3/18/2026House

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

    3/17/2026House

  16. Reported favorably (14-0).

    3/16/2026House

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

    3/9/2026House

  18. Prefiled.

    2/27/2026House

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

    2/27/2026House

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

    2/27/2026House

Bill Text

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