HB 221 Louisiana House · 2026 Regular Session

HIGHWAYS/INTERSTATE: Designates the new bridge to be constructed over the Mississippi River connecting Louisiana Highway 1 and Louisiana Highway 30 as the "President Donald J. Trump Expressway"

HB 221 proposes naming a new Mississippi River bridge connecting Louisiana Highways 1 and 30 as the "President Donald J. Trump Expressway." The bill requires the Louisiana Department of Transportation to install signage once construction is complete, using local or private funds to cover costs up to $750 per sign. It does not change transportation laws, funding, or affect any policies beyond the bridge's official designation. The bill is currently pending in committee and has not been enacted.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 19, 2026 Last action Mar 25, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB221 Reengrossed → HB221 Engrossed · 3 edits · Mar 23, 2026

MINOR

The bill was reorganized to remove a list of sponsors and condense the legislative text. Most significantly, the provision requiring federal funding by January 20, 2029, for the bill to take effect was deleted, meaning the law will now apply regardless of federal funding status. The bill retains its core purpose of naming the new Mississippi River bridge the 'President Donald J. Trump Expressway' and directing the Department of Transportation and Development to install signage funded by local or private sources.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded regarding its effectiveness; it no longer requires a specific federal funding deadline to become active.

TIMELINE

Deleted the requirement that the bill only becomes effective if the federal government provides substantial funding for the bridge by noon on January 20, 2029.

TECHNICAL

Removed the list of co-sponsors from the bill header, leaving only Representative Echols.

Condensed the legislative text by merging lines and removing the 'provide for effectiveness' clause from the act's title.

Floor votes · House Mar 23, 2026

How they voted

67–27

Passed · 9 other

Total votes 103

Mar 23, 2026

D Democratic32

1 Yea 25 Nay 6

78% Nay

R Republican71

66 Yea 2 Nay 3

92% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 68, nays 26. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported favorably (12-2).

lower

Mar 9, 2026

Committee

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

lower

Feb 19, 2026

Committee

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

lower

1 primary · 32 co-sponsors