HB 728: MTR VEHICLE/TOWING: Establish regulations for intrastate towing by out-of-state operators and implement uniform signage for private property towing throughout the state - Louisiana

HB728 Original → HB728 Act 440 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was enacted as Act 440, renumbering the statute from 32:1715 to 32:1736 and significantly reorganizing its structure. The most substantive change is the addition of a new subsection (D) that prohibits out-of-state tow trucks registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration from performing intrastate towing within Louisiana, effectively barring them from local towing jobs. The bill also expanded the definition of 'parking areas' to explicitly include housing, apartment complexes, and schools, broadening the scope of properties subject to towing regulations.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to explicitly include housing, apartment complexes, private institutions of learning, and other similar locations under the definition of 'parking areas,' whereas the original text was less specific regarding these property types.

REQUIREMENT

Added a prohibition preventing out-of-state tow trucks with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration registration from engaging in intrastate towing operations within Louisiana.

DEFINITION

Expanded the definition of 'parking areas' to explicitly list housing, apartment complexes, private or public institutions of learning, and other similar locations.

Added a new definition for 'Authorized representative' to clarify who can delegate towing authority on private property.

STRUCTURE

Reorganized the statute by adding new subsections (D) and (E) and renumbering existing sections, shifting the statute number from 32:1715 to 32:1736.

HB728 Enrolled → HB728 Original · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill text was reorganized to clarify the distinction between interstate and intrastate towing operations. The most significant substantive change is the removal of a provision that allowed out-of-state tow trucks with federal authority to operate freely within Louisiana, replacing it with a requirement that such operators must now comply with specific state registration and signage rules. Additionally, the definitions section was cleaned up to fix numbering errors, and the bill's page count increased due to these structural adjustments.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed regarding out-of-state operators; previously, federally registered interstate carriers were largely exempt from state towing regulations, but the revised text now subjects them to state oversight and signage requirements.

ELIGIBILITY

Deleted an exemption that allowed out-of-state tow trucks with federal authority to operate in Louisiana without adhering to state-specific towing regulations.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement for out-of-state tow trucks to comply with state registration and signage rules to operate intrastate.

DEFINITION

Corrected numbering errors in the definitions section regarding 'Authorized representative' and 'Parking space' to ensure legal clarity.

TECHNICAL

Reordered sections and fixed page numbering to reflect a more logical flow of the bill's provisions.

HB728 Reengrossed → HB728 Enrolled · 5 edits · May 20, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was renumbered from 'Reengrossed' to 'Enrolled' and finalized for passage. Substantive changes include reorganizing exemptions for interstate tow trucks, adding a requirement for interstate carriers to provide proof of intent to transport vehicles before entering the state, and establishing new definitions and signage requirements for private property towing.

Scope change

The scope of exemptions for interstate tow trucks was expanded to include carriers with five or more vehicles, while a new requirement was added mandating that all interstate tow trucks provide documentation proving their intent to engage in interstate commerce prior to entering Louisiana.

REQUIREMENT

Interstate tow trucks must now provide documentation to the Office of State Police proving a fixed intent for interstate commerce transport before entering the state.

Property owners towing unauthorized vehicles must place approved TRU signage at entrances and exits to warn motorists.

The structure of exemptions for tow trucks was reorganized, splitting rules for interstate carriers and local repair shops into distinct subsections.

ELIGIBILITY

The exemption for interstate car carriers was modified to explicitly include carriers capable of carrying five or more vehicles.

DEFINITION

New definitions were added for 'Authorized representative', 'Parking space', 'Parking areas', 'Tagged for removal', and 'TRU'.

HB728 Engrossed → HB728 Reengrossed · 2 edits · May 19, 2026

MINOR

The bill text was re-engrossed to correct a grammatical error in the definition of 'authorized representative,' changing 'an individual a property' to 'an individual that a property.' Additionally, the document headers were updated to reflect the new 'Reengrossed' status, indicating a second revision of the bill.

DEFINITION

Corrected a grammatical error in the definition of 'authorized representative' to improve clarity regarding who has managerial responsibilities for property.

TECHNICAL

Updated document headers from 'Engrossed' to 'Reengrossed' to reflect the legislative status of the bill.

MTR VEHICLE/TOWING: Establish regulations for intrastate towing by out-of-state operators and implement uniform signage for private property towing throughout the state

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