Transportation

HB 756 amends Louisiana's watercraft operation rules to clarify right-of-way procedures, collision reporting requirements, and enforcement protocols for all vessel operators. It specifies that motorboats must yield to sailboats, vessels approaching docks must give way, and operators must report collisions causing death, injury, or property damage exceeding $500 within five days. The bill also defines "boating incidents" and requires registered boat owners to report thefts to the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries within five days. These changes directly affect all recreational and commercial vessel operators navigating Louisiana waterways.

HB 488 establishes the Belle Chasse Bridge Merit-Based Special Fund using 1/5 of severance tax revenues collected from Plaquemines Parish that would otherwise go to the state general fund. The fund's money must be used exclusively to reduce tolls on the Belle Chasse Bridge, pay developer costs for an early contract handback, cover annual inflation adjustments, or fund related transportation projects. It directly affects Plaquemines Parish residents (through severance tax contributions) and bridge users (through toll adjustments). The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and creates a dedicated funding mechanism for the Belle Chasse Bridge public-private partnership contract.

HB 447 creates the Avondale and Waggaman Economic Development District in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, covering the area along Highway 90 from the St. Charles/St. Bernard parish line to Lapalco Boulevard. The district will be governed by a seven-member board appointed by local civic associations and elected officials (including a Jefferson Parish council member), with no tax authority. Its purpose is to enhance economic development, improve infrastructure, and promote job growth for property owners and residents within the defined district boundaries through coordinated planning and public improvements. The district cannot levy taxes but may receive grants and enter contracts to fund projects outlined in its annual budget.

HB 743 creates the "Harry P. Williams Memorial Airport District" in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana, to govern the Harry P. Williams Memorial Airport. The district, established upon approval by the St. Mary Parish Council and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), will operate as a political subdivision with authority to manage airport operations, infrastructure, and financial matters. It will be governed by a seven-member board of commissioners appointed by the parish council, who will oversee airport planning, facility development, and acceptance of federal grants. The district’s boundaries align with St. Mary Parish, and it will assume responsibility for airport management currently held by local government. This bill does not impose new taxes or fees but reorganizes airport governance under a dedicated district structure.