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LouisianaSB 402026 Regular SessionSenate

TRANSPORTATION/DEV DEPT: Provides for approaching emergency or disabled vehicles on or near highways. (8/1/26)

Sponsored By: William "Bill" Wheat Jr. (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Transportation, Highways and Public Works

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Drivers must follow updated roadside safety rules

Beginning August 1, 2026, Louisiana updates rules for drivers approaching emergency vehicles and stopped vehicles. For an approaching authorized emergency vehicle using audible or visual signals, you must yield, pull right clear of intersections, and stop. Stay stopped until it passes, unless a police officer directs otherwise. Warning lights include alternately flashing green, amber, blue, red, or yellow lights; emergency drivers must still drive safely. You must also yield to disabled, immobilized, or nonoperational vehicles parked on or near a highway with visual warning signals. These include flashing lights, hazard lamps, and other emergency warning devices, on both emergency and nonemergency vehicles. On roads with at least two lanes going your direction, move into a lane not beside the stopped vehicle when safe. If you cannot move over safely, or the road has only two lanes, slow down and maintain a safe speed. Your actions must not endanger the stopped vehicle or other road users. The law removes the previous fine of up to $200 from this section and sets no replacement dollar amount.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • William "Bill" Wheat Jr.

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 148 • No: 0

House vote • 5/12/2026

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

Yes: 97 • No: 0

House vote • 5/5/2026

Reported favorably

Yes: 13 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/24/2026

Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title and passed by a vote of 38 yeas and 0 nays; ordered reengrossed and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

Yes: 38 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 234.

    5/15/2026Senate

  2. Effective date 8/1/2026.

    5/15/2026Senate

  3. Sent to the Governor by the Secretary of the Senate.

    5/14/2026Senate

  4. Enrolled. Signed by the President of the Senate.

    5/13/2026Senate

  5. Signed by the Speaker of the House.

    5/13/2026House

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

    5/12/2026House

  7. Received from the House without amendments.

    5/12/2026Senate

  8. Scheduled for floor debate on 05/12/2026.

    5/11/2026House

  9. Read by title, passed to 3rd reading.

    5/7/2026House

  10. Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.

    5/6/2026House

  11. Reported favorably (13-0). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.

    5/5/2026House

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

    3/26/2026House

  13. Received in the House from the Senate, read by title, lies over under the rules.

    3/25/2026House

  14. Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title and passed by a vote of 38 yeas and 0 nays; ordered reengrossed and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

    3/24/2026Senate

  15. Read by title. Ordered engrossed and passed to third reading and final passage.

    3/23/2026Senate

  16. Reported favorably.

    3/18/2026Senate

  17. Introduced in the Senate; read by title. Rules suspended. Read second time and referred to the Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works.

    3/9/2026Senate

  18. Prefiled and under the rules provisionally referred to the Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works.

    2/10/2026Senate

Bill Text

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