BRIDGES/FERRIES: Authorizes the Department of Transportation and Development to enter into contracts for the operation and maintenance of ferry systems
HB 655 authorizes Louisiana's Department of Transportation to contract with private companies for building, operating, and maintaining state ferry systems and related facilities. It allows the department to use cost-plus contracts (where costs are reimbursed plus a fee) without following standard procurement rules when the state determines it's beneficial. This change applies to all state-owned ferries and associated infrastructure across Louisiana. The bill aims to provide the department greater flexibility in managing ferry services efficiently.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
May 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
May 2026
Signed into Law
May 2026
Introduced Feb 27, 2026
Signed May 27, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons
What changed between versions
HB655 Original
→
HB655 Act
·
4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was converted from an original draft to an enrolled act, finalizing its legal status. The substantive policy content remains focused on authorizing the Department of Transportation and Development to contract for ferry operations, with a specific new provision allowing cost-plus contracts for department-owned vessels without standard bidding requirements.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains consistent, focusing on the Department of Transportation and Development's authority over ferry systems.
TECHNICAL
The document header was updated from 'HLS 26RS-1145 ORIGINAL' to 'ENROLLED ACT No. 415', indicating the bill has passed all legislative stages and is ready for signature.
The digest section, which summarizes the bill's intent for public information, was removed entirely as it is not part of the final legal text.
The coding instructions at the bottom were updated to reflect the transition from the original version to the enrolled version, though the substantive legal text remains unchanged.
REQUIREMENT
A new provision was added allowing the department to use cost-plus contracts for operating or maintaining department-owned ferries, exempting these specific contracts from standard bidding laws.
Floor votes · Senate May 20, 2026 · House Apr 20, 2026
How they voted
36–0
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 40
May 20, 2026
D
Democratic12
83% Yea
R
Republican28
92% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
20
Key actions
4
Committee
5
May 20, 2026
Upper · Passed
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.
upper
May 12, 2026
Committee
Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
upper
May 11, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably.
upper
Apr 20, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 84, nays 8. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
lower
Apr 13, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably (12-0).
lower
Mar 9, 2026
Committee
Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works.
lower
Feb 27, 2026
Committee
Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Jacob Braud
RRepublican
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