All Roll Calls
Yes: 165 • No: 1
LouisianaSB 972025 Regular SessionSenateWALLET
FLOODS/FLOODING: Creates the Coordinated Use of Resources for Recreation, Economy, Navigation, and Transportation Authority. (8/1/25) (EN INCREASE SD EX See Note)
Sponsored By: Thomas A. Pressly (Republican)
Signed by Governor
Transportation, Highways and Public WorksNatural Resources
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
13 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 1 costs, 6 mixed.
New authority coordinates Louisiana inland flood projects
Beginning August 1, 2025, Louisiana creates the Coordinated Use of Resources for Recreation, Economy, Navigation, and Transportation Authority. Called CURRTA, it leads combined flood, navigation, water, recreation, and economic projects outside the legally defined coastal area. The authority operates within the Louisiana Office of Public Works, with transportation department staffing and an executive director. It coordinates water plans and flood-risk data, carries out flood plans, and sponsors board-approved projects. The coastal authority keeps its leading coastal role; existing local legal and contract powers remain protected.
Flood project limits allow emergency action
CURRTA generally can undertake only projects in a legislatively approved annual plan, regardless of their funding source. An exception covers projects financed through the plan's emergency fund under board procedures. During a legally declared emergency, projects can start immediately with the governor's written certification of necessity. Certification must concern public health, safety, critical military infrastructure, or essential federal navigation or flood-control interests. Those projects must enter the next annual plan for ratification; approved projects can use appropriated state funds, federal aid, grants, gifts, or donations.
Inland flood plans gain enforceable rules
The board must create master and yearly inland plans covering projects, priorities, schedules, costs, upkeep, and three-year funding forecasts. It must review the master plan at least every six years and hold at least three inland public hearings. The yearly plan goes to lawmakers by the regular session's 15th day; committee action is due June 1. Implementation follows legislative approval or no disapproval by July 1. Covered agency funding requests need board approval, except requests using self-generated or dedicated funds. Enforcement must follow state administrative law and can include withholding funds or seeking court orders.
Public resources can offset project damage
With board approval, CURRTA, the state, or local governments can use their own resources to meet required project mitigation. The requirement must relate to an integrated noncoastal project within CURRTA's jurisdiction. Through cooperative agreements, the wildlife department can provide staff, equipment, or state-owned or leased land. Those resources must meet mitigation duties imposed by law on CURRTA or a levee district.
Residents can watch flood board votes
CURRTA's transportation-department board has up to 16 governor-appointed members, and the governor chooses its chair. Representation is limited to no more than two port directors and members from no more than two levee boards. Meetings with scheduled votes must stream live audio and video, with recordings publicly available for at least six years. Executive sessions are excluded; equipment shortages or technical failures beyond the board's control prevent votes when broadcasting or recording fails. The specified public-records exemption does not apply to authority records or activities.
Flood contracts gain reviews and cleanup options
Covered Army Corps contracts need independent flood-protection review before Louisiana assumes liability or upkeep costs; both sponsors must approve the reviewer. Reviews use the best available science; exceptions cover routine maintenance, minor construction or repairs, imminent threats, and board-approved emergencies. For federally required hazardous-substance action, the board can approve directly hiring an existing Corps contractor within CURRTA's jurisdiction. It must verify public bidding, compare that contractor's estimate with at least two others, and find the choice economical, feasible, and protective. CURRTA also gains rule-based alternative construction contracting options and can partner with Louisiana universities and the Water Institute of the Gulf.
Local projects can bypass yearly plans
Local governments, levee and drainage districts, navigation districts, and ports can pursue projects outside CURRTA's annual plan. Those projects must remain consistent with the master plan. Entities not seeking CURRTA funding can proceed under other applicable laws and regulations. CURRTA's sponsor role does not override applicable federal sponsor arrangements with levee or navigation districts.
Fully private projects escape authority requirements
A project is exempt from this chapter only when private entities fully fund and build it on private property. It cannot use public money or require inclusion in the annual plan. It also cannot require public infrastructure under CURRTA's jurisdiction. This exemption concerns the chapter's requirements, not other applicable laws.
Blocking inland drainage brings criminal fines
Beginning August 1, 2025, drainage-interference violations involving an integrated inland project carry criminal fines of $25 to $300 upon conviction. Local officials must issue citations when requested by the transportation department, CURRTA, or its board. Fines go to the state treasury; people without a conviction owe no fine under this provision.
Local flood funding applications gain appeals
Any Louisiana local government or political subdivision can apply by November 1 for the next fiscal year's infrastructure funding. Applications need project benefits, preliminary designs, costs, land ownership details, and alignment with plan priorities and flood-risk reduction needs. Statewide flood requests go jointly to both flood boards and must address both master plans; CURRTA evaluates inland projects. Ranking requires at least three public hearings in separate inland locations; applications are exempt from the specified state procurement approval procedure. Denied sponsors have 30 days after notice to appeal; CURRTA must decide within 60 days of receipt, before court review.
Local flood projects get help with costs
CURRTA can seek federal planning grants, including grants requiring state matches; nonfederal money or in-kind donations can provide matches where practical. Projects depend on legislative appropriations, and debt requires State Bond Commission approval; the law sets no project funding amount. Local governments and districts can contract for inland drainage projects and agree on cost shares. Within its role and available facilities, CURRTA must offer technical advice and may recover reasonable costs. The board may require local sponsorship and cost sharing; transportation engineering fees exclude state- or federally funded projects.
Parishes gain flood agreements and oversight
Parishes wholly or partly coastal, but outside a levee district, can make project agreements with CURRTA's board. Agreements can cover flood protection, restoration, conservation, storm-damage reduction, and infrastructure, and can grant levee-district powers. Specified inland levees protecting Louisiana land separated by Mississippi River channel changes also need CURRTA approval. Required local and other state approvals remain, including oversight of authorized joint arrangements with Mississippi or the federal government.
Local flood rules follow statewide standards
Local flood-insurance ordinances must follow federal requirements and, inland, any statewide floodplain standards CURRTA establishes. The chief resilience officer helps communities qualify for the National Flood Insurance Program and coordinates state participation with federal officials. Subject to the governor's approval and legislative funding, the officer also coordinates flood policy, federal involvement, and inland planning. Property effects depend on the standards and local rules adopted; this law does not itself change household premiums or coverage.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Thomas A. Pressly
Republican • Senate
Cosponsors
Adam Bass
Republican • Senate
Cameron Henry
Republican • Senate
John C. "Jay" Morris
Republican • Senate
Katrina R. Jackson-Andrews
Democratic • Senate
Sam Jenkins
Democratic • Senate
Stewart Cathey Jr.
Republican • Senate
Valarie Hodges
Republican • Senate
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 6/9/2025
Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 101, nays 1. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.
Yes: 101 • No: 1
House vote • 6/2/2025
Reported with amendments
Yes: 19 • No: 0
House vote • 5/27/2025
Reported favorably
Yes: 8 • No: 0
Senate vote • 5/19/2025
Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title and passed by a vote of 37 yeas and 0 nays; ordered reengrossed and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
Yes: 37 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 418.
6/20/2025SenateEffective date 8/1/2025.
6/20/2025SenateEnrolled. Signed by the President of the Senate.
6/11/2025SenateSigned by the Speaker of the House.
6/11/2025HouseSent to the Governor by the Secretary of the Senate.
6/11/2025SenateCalled from the calendar.
6/9/2025HouseRead third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 101, nays 1. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.
6/9/2025HouseReceived from the House with amendments.
6/9/2025SenateRead by title, returned to the calendar.
6/8/2025HouseNotice given.
6/8/2025HouseScheduled for floor debate on 06/09/2025.
6/8/2025HouseRead by title, amended, passed to 3rd reading.
6/4/2025HouseScheduled for floor debate on 06/08/2025.
6/4/2025HouseReported with Legislative Bureau amendments.
6/3/2025HouseReported with amendments (19-0). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.
6/2/2025HouseRead by title, recommitted to the Committee on Appropriations.
5/28/2025HouseReported favorably (8-0). To be recommitted to the Committee on Appropriations.
5/27/2025HouseRead by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works.
5/21/2025HouseReceived in the House from the Senate, read by title, lies over under the rules.
5/20/2025HouseSenate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title and passed by a vote of 37 yeas and 0 nays; ordered reengrossed and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
5/19/2025SenateRules suspended. Recalled from Committee.
5/14/2025SenateRead by title and passed to third reading and final passage.
5/14/2025SenateRead by title. Committee amendments read and adopted; ordered engrossed and recommitted to the Committee on Finance.
5/5/2025SenateReported with amendments.
4/30/2025SenateIntroduced in the Senate; read by title. Rules suspended. Read second time and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources.
4/14/2025Senate
Bill Text
Enacted
Engrossed
Enrolled
Introduced
Reengrossed
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