Louisiana Legislative Update: 2026 Regular Session

Act 13 (SB 139)

Author: Foil | Category: Suits Against State

Provides the amount of interest awarded on claims for personal injury or wrongful death in suits against the state or political subdivisions.

Act 13 establishes that judicial interest accruing after the signing of the judgment as a result of a personal injury or wrongful death suit against the state or its public subdivisions is fixed at the lesser of 6% per annum or the rate of judicial interest in accordance with present law.

Act 593 (SB 198)

Author: Mizell | Category: Historic Preservation

Amends La. R.S. 25:742 to extend the regulatory powers conferred on a historic preservation district commission to apply to all property in the area controlled by it.

It also limits the requirement to seek advice from the historic district only when there is a new construction project in locally designated historic district. State or local governmental agencies cannot commence new construction projects until a certificate of appropriateness has been issued by the local historic district commission (unless waived by the commission).

It also authorizes a historic district commission to file for injunctive relief to enforce the provisions of this act.

Act 255 (SB 235)

Author: Womack | Category: Public Contracts

Act 255 amends La. R.S. 38:2191(C) – (E); Adds La. R.S. 38:2191(F). Expands upon the prompt pay statute against public entities. Act 255 revises Louisiana’s public works prompt payment statute (La. R.S. 38:2191) by significantly limiting a public entity’s ability to withhold payments and clarifying enforcement and remedies. Public entities may no longer withhold contested liquidated damages from amounts otherwise owed to contractors, unless payment to the contractor would prejudice the entity’s ability to assert a claim. Instead, the entity must pay the contractor and pursue liquidated damages separately through an ordinary proceeding, preserving its claim without interrupting payments owed. Act 255 also provides that the prevailing party in such a liquidated damages dispute is entitled to attorney’s fees, and allows the public entity to recover interest on liquidated damages accruing from the date it paid the contested amount.

The amendments further strengthen contractor protections by stating that these prompt payment provisions cannot be waived by contract, eliminating prior flexibility to contract around them. In addition, while existing law already allowed mandamus to compel payment, the revisions expand and clarify remedies: courts may order payment together with attorney’s fees and interest, and if the public entity successfully defends such an action, the contractor may be required to pay the entity’s attorney’s fees. However, the bill also limits mandamus by specifying that claims by a public entity to recover liquidated damages must be pursued separately and cannot be resolved within a mandamus action. Finally, the bill adds clarity that even if a public works contract is later declared null for statutory violations, contractors are still entitled to payment (including overhead and profit) for work already performed.

Takeaway: Overall, Act 255 shifts the balance strongly in favor of contractors by ensuring steady payment flow on public projects, even when disputes over liquidated damages arise. Public entities lose a major leverage tool (i.e. withholding funds) and must instead pursue damages through separate litigation, which may increase administrative burden and litigation costs. Contractors benefit from improved liquidity and clearer rights to payment, along with enhanced fee-shifting provisions that make it easier to enforce those rights. At the same time, both sides face greater exposure to attorney’s fees and interest, which will likely encourage quicker resolution of any dispute but also raise the stakes of litigation.

Act 481 (SB 280)

Author: Abraham | Category: Contractors

To enact La. R.S. 37:2150.1(25) and (26) and 2156.5, which create definitions for “Environmental well or hole” and “water well drilling” and expands upon the classifications of licenses contractor can obtain from the State Licensing Board.

Act 481 requires that the appropriate contractor’s license classification be held by any person who advertises, solicits, undertakes, attempts, offers, or submits a price, bid, quote, or estimate to construct, supervise, direct, oversee, or perform any construction, modification, repair, or maintenance of any portion of a water well, environmental well or hole.

It also requires a water well contractor or environmental well or hole contractor to pass the appropriate examination, be registered with the LSLBC, be registered and in good standing with the Dept. of Conservation and Energy and meet all other licensure requirements of a contractor.

Act 484 (SB 291)

Author: Abraham | Category: Architects

Amends La. R.S. 37:141-154, 156, 157, and 158 and repeals La. R.S. 37:146.1 to adjust initial licensing requirements for architects in Louisiana.

Requires that an architectural firm shall be a legally formed business entity and comply with board-adopted rules to offer or perform architectural services in this state.

Act 484 repeals the previous requirement that architects must pass an examination to be able to practice in this state. Instead, for initial licensure Act 484 now requires completion of approved education and experience programs, approved examinations, submission of an application and fee, paid restitution if convicted of a felony, and to provide grounds that may preclude eligibility for licensure, including certain criminal convictions, misrepresentation, rule violations, and unauthorized practice.

Act 755 (SB 300)

Author: Mizell | Category: Procurement Code

Act 755 modifies the La. Procurement Code with respect to information technology procurement procedures.

Act 755 authorizes insights gained during the negotiation process, including items of cost, to be used to refine a solution and prohibits disclosure of proprietary information derived from competing proposals during the negotiation process.

Requires certification for invitations to bid that vendors do not engage in boycotts of Israel.

It also sets forth additional deadlines and procedures governing petitions for judicial review filed under La. R.S. 39:1691 in actions brought in the 19th JDC by or against the State.

Act 485 (SB 303)

Author: Cloud | Category: Procurement Code

Creates the “Interstate Technology Collaboration Act” to provide for use of cooperative purchasing for information technology system procurement.

Act 485 authorizes state agencies to procure information technology systems and services from other states when utilizing cooperative purchasing. It also authorizes state agencies to procure information technology systems and services from the General Services Administration supply schedules when utilizing cooperative purchasing.

Act 260 (SB 315)

Author: Reese | Category: Public Contracts

Amends La. R.S. 38:2316, to add a provision requiring agencies to ensure that not less than 50% of public contracts are awarded to separate, distinct, and unaffiliated professional services firms in certain circumstances.

Act 757 (SB 326)

Author: Abraham | Category: Contractors

Act 757 expands the definition of “mechanical contractor”, “residential contractor”, and “residential roofing” and overall procedures of LSLBC meetings and adjudications.

Modifies the definition of “residential roofing.”

A structure containing no more than four dwelling units is classified as a residential roofing project and is subject to applicable licensure requirements.

Removes the ability to have LSLBC board meetings outside of Baton Rouge and provides that all meetings of the board shall be conducted in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order.

Investigative records, documents, and evidence of the board are confidential and not subject to disclosure or subpoena until the investigation is complete and adjudicated, restricts testimony of board personnel regarding ongoing investigations, and clarifies that such provisions do not limit oversight by the legislative auditor or inspector general.

It also provides that a failure to meet licensure requirements results in denial of the application and establishes an appeal process that requires the applicant to first appeal to the board at its next regular meeting, and thereafter permits appeal of the board’s final decision, within 30 days of receiving final notice or order from the board, to the 19th Judicial District Court.

Act 382 (SB 334)

Author: Cathey, Jr. | Category: Local Agencies

Expands La. R.S. 13:2575(A) to provide that the administrative adjudication contained in Chapter 13 may apply to the enforcement of ordinances concerning building codes, zoning, vegetation, nuisances, and licensing. Permits and such other ordinances may be determined by the governing authority of the parish or municipality.

Act 764 (SB 388)

Author: Hodges | Category: Homeland Security

Authorizes the division of administration to review state contracts to determine if they are held by a foreign adversary, a foreign terrorist organization, or the agents of a foreign adversary or of a foreign terrorist organization.

Act 510 (SB 425)

Author: Morris | Category: Public Employees

Authorizes the attorney general or the legislature to initiate an action by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the elected members of either the Senate or House of Representatives.

Authorizes either house of the legislature, upon two-thirds vote of that house, to bring an action to remove a public official. Adds that a public officer may be removed for malfeasance or gross misconduct while in office.

Act 391 (SB 466)

Author: Seabaugh | Category: Expropriation

Amends La. R.S. 19:2 to authorize the expropriation of property when an agreement with the owner as to compensation cannot be reached by any domestic corporation, foreign corporation organized or incorporated under the laws of another state and doing business in this state, limited liability company, or other legal entity that engages in any activity involving the research, development, testing, operation, manufacture, or construction of aircraft, airports, or related aviation facilities, including spaceflight activities, landing fields, landing strips, and navigation facilities, when the property utilized consists of not less than twentythousand contiguous acres and contains no residential structures.

Act 268 (SB 476)

Author: Pressly | Category: Civil Procedure

Amends La. Civ. Code Proc. arts. 2412(A) and 2413(B) and (C) to:

(1) require that the citation served by the sheriff to the garnishee include the following statement in boldface type: “The failure to file into the court record within 30 days your sworn answer to these interrogatories may cause you to be personally responsible for the entire amount owed by the judgment debtor.

(2) if a judgement is rendered against the garnishee as a result of his failure to appear after proper service, then the garnishee has 30 days from service of the judgment to move for a new trial. But the motion for a new trial will only be granted if it includes an affidavit affirming the facts that the garnishee has never had any propertyofand was never indebted to the judgment debtor during the pendency of the garnishment proceeding, or that he has satisfied the judgment to the full extent of the amount of the property or indebtedness actually in hispossession at any time after the garnishment proceeding is commenced by service of the petition upon him.

Act 917 (SB 513)

Author: Fesi | Category: Public Contracts

Amends La. R.S. 38:2225.2.6(A) to allow public airports to use the design-build method to contract for construction for vertical facilities on airport property, excluding passenger terminal facilities at commercial service airports.

Act 917 also provides that vertical facilities may include education or workforce development facilities, airport air traffic control towers, parking garages, and aircraft hangars.

SR 169

Author: Wheat | Category: Transportation

Directs the Department of Transportation and Development to establish and study a two-year pilot program for the use of dispute review boards on certain highway and transportation construction projects beginning in the state fiscal year July 1, 2026.

As of 6/1/2026, SR 169 was signed by the President of the Senate and sent to the Secretary of the Senate.

HB 1

Author: McFarland | Category: Appropriations

House Bill 1 provides for the ordinary operating expenses of the state government for the Fiscal Year 2026-2027.

HB 4

Author: Gadberry | Category: Constitution/Convention

House Bill 4 provides for the calling of a constitutional convention on December 29, 2026, to frame a new constitution for the State of Louisiana. The purpose is to streamline the fundamental and foundational laws of the state, including the basic principles of the state, the structure of government, and the foundational rights of citizens. Other extremely detailed provisions in the constitution should be transitioned out of the constitution and made statutory to allow for flexibility and innovation in legislative solutions to problems of the present and the future.

HB 70

Author: Walters | Category: Crime/Theft

House Bill 70 adds commercial property to the crime of contractor fraud. Contractor fraud is the misappropriation or taking of anything of value, which belongs to another, either without the consent of the other to the misappropriation or taking, or by means of fraudulent conduct, practices, or representations by a person who has contracted to perform any building improvement or construction, or who has subcontracted for the performance of any building improvement or construction. Includes fraud causing a person to enter into a contract for building improvements or construction, damaging property with the intent to induce that person into entering a contract for building improvements or construction, failing to possess the required license for building improvements or construction required by State, municipal, or parochial law.

HB 95

Author: Bacala | Category: Civil Law and Procedure

House Bill 95 provides relative to recovery of damages in an automobile accident when a claimant does not use available health insurance. In any action to recover past medical expenses arising from an automobile accident, if a claimant fails to utilize available health insurance coverage, the recovery for those expenses shall not exceed the amount the insurance provider would have paid.

The act defines “health insurance coverage” as benefits consisting of healthcareservices provided through insurance, reimbursement, or otherwise which includes items and services paid for as healthcare services under any hospital or medical service policy or certificate, hospital or medical service plan contract, preferred provider organization agreement, or health maintenance organization contract offered by a health issuer, the office of group benefits, Medicare, Medicaid, or equivalent state health plans. The recovery of past medical expenses shall not exceed the amount the claimant’s health insurance would have paid. Does not apply to claims made pursuant to the La. Workers’ Compensation Law.

HB 118

Author: Boyer | Category: Civil/Damages

House Bill 118 provides a limitation on recovery of general damages in certain circumstances. House Bill 118 provides that in a suit for damages arising from an action based on fault, the tortfeasor shall not be required to pay an amount in excess of $5,000,000 for general damages to any one claimant or plaintiff. La. R.S. 22:1899 defines “General damages” as 1) subjective, nonpecuniary damages arising from death, pain, suffering, inconvenience, mental anguish, worry, emotional distress, loss of society and companionship, loss of consortium, bystander injury, physical impairment, disfigurement, injury to reputation, humiliation, embarrassment, loss of the enjoyment of life, hedonic damages, other nonpecuniary damages, and anyother theory of damages, including but not limited to fear of loss, illness, or injury.

Act 132 (HB 170)

Author: Riser/Cathey | Category: Contracts

House Bill 170 limits the definition of Construction Contract. HB 170 amends La. R.S. 9:2779 and defines construction contract as any agreement for the design, construction, alteration, renovation, repair, or maintenance of a building, structure, highway, road, bridge, water line, sewer line, oil line, gas line, appurtenance, or other improvement to real property, or repair or maintenance of a highway, road, or bridge, including any moving, demolition, or excavation. “Construction contract” does not include any design, construction, alteration, renovation, repair, or maintenance of the following: any dirt or gravel road used to access oil and gas wells and associated facilities. Oil flow lines or gas gathering lines used in association with the transportation of production from oil and gas wells from the point that oil and gas becomes comingled for transportation to oil storage facilities or gas transmission lines. Any deed, lease, easement, license, or other instrument granting an interest in, or the right to possess property, even if the instrument includes the right to design, construct, alter, renovate, repair, or maintain improvements on such real property.

HB 173

Author: Bamburg | Category: Civil/Damages

House Bill 173 limits uninsured motorist recovery. HB 173 enacts La. R.S. 32:866 and provides that there is no recovery for the first $100,000 of bodily injury or property damage for injuries or damage occasioned by an owner or operator of a motor vehicle who fails to own or maintain compulsory motor vehicle liability security. HB 173 provides an exception that there is no recovery for bodily injury or property damage for a driver with a lapse in coverage that exceeds 30 days.

Act 135 (HB 194)

Author: Riser/Cathey | Category: Liability

House Bill 194 requires owners to bring action against certain professionals within 5 years of occupation or possession if acceptance is not timely recorded. If the owner’s acceptance of work was not timely recorded, HB 194 requires the owner to bring any action against a professional engineer, surveyor, professional interior designer, architect, or real estate developer within five years from the date the owner occupied or took possession of the improvement. Present law La. R.S. 9:5607(A)) provides a peremptive period of five years for actions against certain design and construction professionals. Requires an action to be brought within five years from: (1) The date that the acceptance of work by the owner is filed for registry in the mortgage office. (2) The date the owner has occupied or taken possession of the improvement if no acceptance is recorded. (3) The date the person furnishing services has completed the services, when the services were not in preparation for construction, or the services were in preparation for construction, but the person did not inspect the work.

HB 259

Author: DeWitt | Category: Utilities

House Bill 259 provides for the repair of damaged infrastructure from certain excavators or demolishers. For the purpose of this Section, “BEAD Program” means the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program administered by the National Telecommunications and Information administration of the United States Department of Commerce. An excavator or demolisher utilizing funding provided by the BEAD program shall be required to give notice at least one calendar week in advance of the commencement of any excavation or demolition activity. Section C of HB 259 provides that an excavator or demolisher, who is excavating or demolishing utilizing funding provided by the BEAD Program, that damages an underground utility or facility shall be responsible for all the following: (1) Providing immediate measures to prevent further damage and to stop any leakage. (2) Notifying the relevant parties pursuant to present law immediately. (3) Repairing the damage or paying the cost to repair the damage. Section D of HB 259 provides that an excavator or demolisher, who is excavating or demolishing utilizing funding provided by the BEAD Program and who is in violation of Subsection C of this Section, shall not receive its final reimbursement from the office of broadband development and connectivity pursuant to R.S. 51:2370.32 until it is in compliance with Subsection C of this Section.

HB 348

Author: Dickerson | Category: Insurance

House Bill 348 prohibits insurers from issuing a notice of cancellation or nonrenewal for certain insurance policies through electronic means unless written consent is provided. HB 348 prohibits insurers from issuing a notice of cancellation or nonrenewal for property, casualty, and liability insurance policies through electronic means unless the insured consents in writing to receiving such notices by electronic means. Such notices issued by electronic means without the insured’s prior consent are considered ineffective.

HB 353

Author: Phelps | Category: Employment/Minimum Wages

House Bill 353 establishes a state minimum wage. Establishes a state minimum wage and sets it at $12 per hour beginning Jan.1, 2027. And $15 per hour beginning Jan. 1, 2029. Requires that if the federal minimum wage is raised the state minimum wage shall also be raised. Provides a fine of not less than $500 and not more than $1000 per employee for failure to pay minimum wage. Requires that the employer who fails to pay his employee minimum wages shall pay the difference between what was paid and the minimum wage rate.

Act 798 (HB 387)

Author: Gadberry | Category: Architects

House Bill 387 modifies the incidental engineering exception for architects by limiting permitted site work—specifically drainage, grading, sidewalks, pavements, and utilities—to the area within 5 feet of the foundation. The law currently provides an exception to the rule that engineering work shall be supervised by a licensed engineer, allowing architects to conduct certain engineering work incidental to their architectural work on a given construction or renovation project, but HB 387 limits this exception on architects to conducting site work including drainage, grading, sidewalks, pavements, and utilities only to areas within 5 feet of the foundation. HB 387 also adds that in the event plans submitted to the fire marshal do not satisfactorily comply with laws, regulations, and codes of this state, the fire marshal need not furnish a letter to the submitting party listing the requirements which must be met before construction or renovation work can begin.

HB 388

Author: Glorioso | Category: Contractors

House Bill 388 provides for Acts that are prohibited for performing contracting services. HB 388 expands the prohibition against unsolicited contractor contracts with homeowners. Banned contact methods include but are not limited to door hangers, business cards, magnets, flyers, pamphlets, text messages, emails, and any unscheduled sales visits. Additionally, HB 388 increases the fine for a violation to up to 20% of the total contract value or the value of the work being bid or performed.

HB 490

Author: Kerner | Category: Public Contracts

House Bill 490 provides limited exemptions from payment under contract requirements for public entities in certain circumstances. Provides that if a public entity, pursuant to a public contract, is the recipient of all or a portion of the funding for a public works contract from another public entity or the government of the United States, the recipient public entity shall not be subject to the payment-related conditions and penalties established in present law, unless and until it receives funds from the paying public entity in an amount necessary to pay its obligations to a contractor. Provides for notification requirements in cases in which payments to contractors are delayed for the reasons provided in the proposed law. Authorizes interruptions in the payment-related time limits and requirements provided in present law during gubernatorially or presidentially declared emergencies.

HB 605

Author: Beaullieu | Category: Workers’ Compensation

House Bill 605 provides relative to experience modifiers and subrogation in workers’ compensation cases. Proposed law provides that if an insurer is due reimbursement from a third party for compensation and medical benefits paid as a result of an accident and the insurer has acted, as provided for in present law (R.S. 23:1101 et seq.), to recover the reimbursement from the third party, the insurer shall not factor the accident into the calculation of the employer’s experience modifier until the parties reach an agreement or a final judgment is rendered. Proposed law provides that after an agreement is met, or final judgment is rendered, the insurer may recalculate the employer’s experience modifier based on the allocation of fault and the reimbursement finally obtained, retroactive to the date of the accident. Proposed law requires any additional premium owed as a result of the adjusted experience modifier to be amortized over a period of two calendar years, unless otherwise agreed by the Parties.

Act 822 (HB 638)

Author: Landry | Category: Contractors

Act 822 outlines prompt payment to contractors and subcontractors and updates Louisiana’s prompt payment law for private construction projects by strengthening deadlines, clarifying payment obligations, and standardizing penalties. Act 822 now requires owners to pay contractors within 35 days after receiving a proper written payment request, and if they fail to do so without a good-faith dispute, they are subject to penalties in addition to any other contractual remedies. It also significantly revises how payments must flow down the contracting chain by requiring contractors to pay subcontractors—and subcontractors to pay lower-tier subs and suppliers—within seven days of receiving payment, with amounts tied specifically to the value of work performed or materials supplied rather than prior percentage-based formulas. Interest is included.

If the contractor or subcontractor fails to make an owed payment to his subcontractors and suppliers within seven consecutive days of the receipt of the payment from the owner for improvements to an immovable in the absence of a good faith dispute, the contractor or subcontractor shall pay to the subcontractors and suppliers, in addition to the payment, a penalty in the amount of one and a half percent of the amount due; per day, beginning on the day after the date on which the payment is due.

A good faith dispute may include a dispute regarding whether the work was performed in a proper manner.

If a good faith dispute exists concerning an amount owed for a payment under a contract for construction, the disputing party must pay the amount that is not in dispute within the time frame established in this section. An unpaid amount as described in this section shall have an interest rate of 1.5% each day, capped at 15%. Interest stops accruing on the earlier date of delivery of payment, the date payment is mailed (if delivered within 3 days), or the date a judgment is rendered on an action brought pursuant to this Section. Any waiver of a provision in this section is absolutely null.

Importantly, Act 822 introduces a clear rule that any contractual waiver of these prompt payment protections is null, with a limited exception allowing up to 61 days for payment in certain single-family residential contracts.

Takeaway: Overall, Act 822 strengthens payment protections for subcontractors and suppliers by shortening payment timelines, providing clarity in allocation methods, and making penalties more predictable and consistently enforceable. Contractors and owners face greater financial consequences for delay and less flexibility to contract around these rules, while lower-tier parties gain stronger leverage and faster access to funds. This likely reduces payment disputes but increases compliance pressure and litigation risk for those who fail to meet the stricter deadlines.

HB 703

Author: McMakin | Category: Transportation

House Bill 703 requires DOTD to notify residences of certain road closures through the DOTD website and by mail. House Bill 703 requires the DOTD to issue a notice on the official DOTD website and by mail to addresses within 500 ft. of road closures when prohibiting the operation of vehicles on state highways due to substandard conditions, deterioration of the road, rain, snow, other climatic conditions, constructions, or because traffic conditions threaten public safety, unless the road closure is caused by a traffic collision, medical emergency, or serious road hazard.

HB 709

Author: Wright | Category: Administrative Procedure

House Bill 709 provides for the promulgation of rules pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act. Amends R.S. 49:961(A)(1) and (2)(a) and 966(D)(1)(a) and (L); Adds R.S. 49:965(C); Repeals R.S. 49:966(E)(2)) If an agency is proposing to adopt a new rule, the agency shall at the same time, identify, and give notice of its intention to repeal two rules of the agency.Requires the agency to identify the two rules in its notice of intent for the proposed new rule. A rule adopted in accordance with nonemergency procedures shall expire on June 30th of the year following the year of its adoption unless legislation is enacted to continue such rule to a certain date or indefinitely. Removes present law provision that specifies that the failure of a subcommittee to conduct a hearing or to make a determination regarding any rule proposed for adoption, amendment, or repeal shall not affect the validity of a rule otherwise adopted in compliance with present law APA. Proposed law further requires an oversight subcommittee to conduct hearings of all rules proposed for adoption, amendment, or repeal and additionally requires a standing committee to hold a hearing on an agency’s annual rulemaking report for the purposes of reviewing the report with the agency. Specifies that proposed law applies to rules proposed for adoption, amendment, or repeal and a notice of intent submitted before the effective date of proposed law for publication in the La. Register.

Act 831 (HB 755)

Author: Fontenot | Category: Public Contracts

House Bill 755 Establishes indefinite delivery and indefinite quantity professional design service contracts. Establishes procedures and requirements for contracting indefinite delivery and indefinite quantity professional design services, including board selection, advertising, and professional submissions. Sets contract limits, amendments for ongoing projects, and ensures agencies maintain compliance before issuing task orders. Clarifying that provisions of present law apply specifically to professional design service contracts for construction projects. Requires agencies seeking IDIQ professional design services to notify the Division of Administration with project details and requires the Division of Administration to evaluate the request and refer it to the appropriate selection board. Provides that if a selection board chairman objects to a referral, the division of administration must submit the request to a committee composed of the chairmen of the La. Architects Selection Board, the La. Engineers Selection Board, the La. Landscape Architects Selection Board, the head or representative of the user agency whose request is under consideration, and the commissioner of the division of administration or his designee. Requires the committee, by majority vote, to designate which selection board has authority to select the design professionals. Further requires the division of administration to notify the designated board of the decision. Requires the designated board to advertise one time in the official state journal, providing the following information: (1) The professional services required.(2) The name, location, and user agency for which the professional services is required. (3) Time and instructions for applicants to submit applications for employment to the appropriate board. (4) General description of the design services sought, and the availability of details upon request. (5) The contract term limit set forth in proposed law. (6) The maximum fee and method for calculating total design contract value, which shall be determined by the division of administration. (7) The number of design professionals to be selected. Authorizes any person who wishes to be considered for an IDIQ professional design services contract to submit data to the appropriate selection board regarding experience, previous and current projects, scope and amount of work on hand, key personnel, and other relevant information, and allows the boards to develop standard forms for submitting such data. Requires that an IDIQ professional design services contract under proposed law exclude design services for new buildings and have a term not to exceed two years and a maximum total fee of $1 million. Requires each agency to always maintain at least two IDIQ contracts in effect. Further requires an agency with only one contract in effect to follow the procedures in proposed law at the next available selection board and prohibits issuing further task orders. Clarifies that the applicability of proposed law does not apply to any other professional design contract governed by Public Contracts, Works and Improvements. (Title 38).

Act 678 (HB 856)

Author: Wilder | Category: Transportation

House Bill 856 establishes the use of Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity contracts by the Department of Transportation and Development. Enacts La. R.S. 48250.5 and declares that improving efficiency in highway and bridge construction and maintenance is in the public interest. Authorizes the Dept. of Transportation and Development (DOTD) to award indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contracts for maintenance, repair, reconstruction, and construction projects when the secretary determines it is in the best interest of taxpayers. Provides definitions for “Best Value”, “Indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity”, “Indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract”, “Low Bid”, “Multiple Award”, “Single Award”, Work Order or Task Order”. Requires the department to comply with all federal regulations that are conditions to federal assistance; and orders that when in conflict with State law, the federal regulation shall control. Authorizes the department to use competitive low bid or best value, or any other form of ID/IQ to select a successful bidder or bidders. Procurements under this Section may include a single award or multiple awards. The procurement documents shall establish procedures for determining the successful bidder or bidders. Requires that single-award, low-bid ID/IQ contracts follow proper advertising procedures and authorizes the DOTD to award the contract. Requires the DOTD, before awarding multiple-award or single-award ID/IQ contracts not advertised under existing low-bid procedures, to issue a “notice of intent” (NOI) on its designated webpage to solicit letters of interest (LOI). Requires notices to be advertised at least 10 days before the response deadline and include a description of the ID/IQ services. Further authorizes the DOTD to readvertise the NOI through additional media or publications if the number of responses is deemed insufficient to encourage competition. Requires the DOTD to issue a “request for proposals” (RFP) to contractors that submitted an LOI. Further requires that the RFP include instructions for preparing and submitting proposals, evaluation criteria, estimated quantities and unit prices, and indicate whether a single award or multiple awards will be made. Additionally, it requires all procurement documents, including the NOI and RFP, comply with the Statute. Requires the DOTD to issue a “request for proposals” (RFP) to contractors that submitted an LOI. Requires that bid bonds be specified in the DOTD’s standard specifications or special provisions. Authorizes the DOTD to waive the requirement for bid bonds for procurements under the new law. Requires the assistant secretary for project deliver to establish a committee to review proposals and authorizes assistance to the committee by other DOTD personnel or external advisors. The committee will evaluate proposals as described in the RFP and recommend an award to the secretary, who makes the final determination. Authorizes the DOTD to include the following in its procurement documents or contracts: (1) Payment of mobilization or demobilization costs and the method for determining reimbursement if such costs are awarded separately from an individual work order. (2) The method for determining price escalation or de-escalation. (3) Special provisions specific to ID/IQ contracts. (4) Unit pricing or lists of work items specific to ID/IQ contracts. (5) A minimum quantity or dollar value of supplies or services the department is obligated to order and the contractor is obligated to furnish, if the department chooses to set a minimum.Limits the term of the initial ID/IQ contract and any extensions to a maximum of five years and provides that the DOTD determines the duration of the initial term and any individual extensions. Requires that the ID/IQ contract establishes the general terms and conditions governing the relationship between the DOTD and the selected bidder. Prohibits execution of the ID/IQ contract from authorizing work or serving as a notice to proceed. Requires the payment bonds, performance bonds, retainage bonds, minimum warranty periods and general requirements apply to the value and completion of individual work orders rather than the entire UD/ID contract unless otherwise specified. Further requires that payment, performance, and retainage bonds be issued at the time of execution of each individual work order, unless otherwise specified. Provides that stipulated damages apply to individual work orders and are calculated based on each work order’s required completion date. Additionally, authorizes the DOTD to determine insurance policies coverage extent, and type. Excludes engineering and design service contracts, other authorized consulting contracts, and federal-aid projects, but allows ID/IQ contracts under proposed law to be used for projects with engineering or design elements when the primary purpose is the work specified in this law. In the event of a conflict, provisions of this law will prevail and supersede conflicting state law. Authorizes the DOTD to establish guidelines, standard specifications, special provisions, handbooks, or other requirements documents for elements of ID/IQ contracting not explicitly provided for here. Authorizes the DOTD to promulgate rules and regulations to implement and enforce this law.

Act 442 (HB 860)

Author: Braud | Category: Contracts/Bids

House Bill 860 clarifies that deviations in formatting from the standard form are not violations in La. Uniform Bid Form. Authorizes public entities to use a fillable electronic bid form for submitting bids, as long as it contains all text and fields from the La. Uniform Bid Form. Prohibits additional bidder requirements or input fields from being added.

Act 680 (HB 887)

Author: McFarland/Reese | Category: Public Contracts/Bids

Act 680 (House Bill 887) revises Louisiana’s Construction Management at Risk (CMAR) procurement process to create a more transparent, qualifications-based contractor selection system. The Act restructures the selection review committee, establishes quorum requirements, requires ethics disclosures, mandates public meetings for committee training and orientation, and expands public notice requirements for CMAR solicitations. The Act also creates uniform statewide scoring and ranking procedures. Selection committees must rank proposals using a standardized point system, interview the highest-ranked qualified proposers, publicly announce scores and recommendations, and make scoring sheets and committee findings available as public records. In-person interviews are generally required, subject to limited exceptions. Most significantly, Act 680 reinforces that CMAR selection must be based on qualifications rather than price. Public entities must establish preconstruction fees in advance, and committees may not solicit, consider, or evaluate a proposer’s fees, compensation, or general conditions costs until after the most qualified CMAR contractor has been selected.

HB 900

Author: Braud | Category: Transportation Dept.

House Bill 900 allocates money damages to highways to a state general fund (Adds R.S. 48:2251 and 2252) Proposed law requires the Dept. of Transportation and Development to establish a fund for the collection of funds recovered by the dept. for damage caused to state property by traffic accidents. Proposed law requires that the funds collected be utilized to repair the damaged state property or to reimburse the district or local governing authority that paid for the repairs to state property. Proposed law excludes any costs expended by the dept. to recover the funds from the party responsible for causing the damage to state property.

HB 901

Author: Bourriaque | Category: Transportation Dept.

House Bill 901 – TRANSPORTATION DEPT: Provides for funding to certain entities for infrastructure-related projects within the Department of Transportation and Development

HB 924

Author: Glorioso | Category: Contractors

House Bill 924 is aimed at curbing aggressive contractor solicitation and insurance-related abuses following hurricanes, storms, and other declared disasters. The bill creates a six-month “catastrophe response period” after a gubernatorial disaster declaration during which contractors and their representatives are prohibited from directly soliciting homeowners through door-to-door visits, unsolicited texts, emails, phone calls, or similar targeted communications unless initiated by the homeowner. The bill also prohibits contractors from offering inducements—such as gifts, rebates, deductible waivers, or other items of value—to encourage inspections or insurance claims. In addition, contractors may not represent that insurance coverage or proceeds are guaranteed, nor may they imply they can adjust or negotiate insurance claims unless separately authorized by law.

The legislation imposes new consumer-protection disclosures for disaster repair contracts. Before obtaining a signature or accepting any payment, contractors must provide homeowners with a written notice identifying the contractor’s license information, explaining that the contractor is not a public adjuster, advising that deductibles remain the homeowner’s responsibility, and informing the homeowner of cancellation rights. Disaster repair contracts must also contain a bold, fourteen-point notice and cancellation form. Failure to provide the required notices extends the homeowner’s right to cancel from 10 days to 30 days. Contracts entered into in violation of the solicitation or insurance-related provisions are voidable by the homeowner for up to one year, and homeowners are entitled to refunds of payments already made, subject to limited reimbursement for documented emergency mitigation work and materials actually provided.

Finally, HB 924 expressly prohibits “license renting” or “license lending,” making it a disciplinary offense for a licensed contractor to allow another person to use the contractor’s license, license number, classification, registration, or name in exchange for compensation or other benefit. The bill authorizes the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors to impose substantial penalties, including license suspension, revocation, debarment, cease-and-desist orders, and fines of up to 10% of the contract value or $5,000 per violation, whichever is greater. Overall, the bill is designed to protect homeowners during disaster recovery periods while strengthening enforcement against unlicensed contracting practices and insurance-claim solicitation abuses.

Act 449 (HB 1000)

Author: Braud | Category: Transportation Dept.

Act 449 (House Bill 1000) makes several reforms to the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development’s (DOTD) Highway Priority Program and project contracting process. The Act clarifies that DOTD’s annual Highway Priority Program submission must report changes made to the completed prior year’s program, explain why those changes occurred, and continue striving to ensure that at least 90% of projects advance as previously scheduled. It also requires DOTD to provide annual status reports on projects in the current Highway Priority Program to the legislative transportation committees.

The Act further increases accountability in project selection by requiring DOTD to provide written justification for any project discussed during public hearings that is ultimately excluded from the final construction program for the upcoming fiscal year. That justification must be provided to the legislative transportation committees by October 1 of the following fiscal year.

Finally, the Act raises DOTD’s contract threshold from $1 million to $3 million for construction, maintenance, and improvement contracts. Contracts exceeding that amount must continue to be executed in the name of DOTD and signed by the secretary (or designee), while remaining subject to available project funding.

HB 1026

Author: Bourriaque/Connick | Category: Building Codes

House Bill 1026 is a straightforward enforcement measure designed to strengthen oversight of licensed contractors performing construction work in Louisiana. The bill requires any municipality or parish that issues a construction permit to verify the contractor’s license number before issuing the permit. It further requires the permitting authority to provide the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC) with a copy of the permit, along with the contractor’s name and license number. The stated purpose is to ensure that licensed contractors are properly identified and that the LSLBC receives consistent information regarding permitted construction projects.

From a practical standpoint, the bill creates an additional checkpoint in the permitting process that may help local governments and the LSLBC identify unlicensed contracting activity, improper license use, or licensing violations earlier in a project. By requiring permit offices to verify and transmit contractor licensing information, the legislation enhances coordination between local permitting authorities and the state’s contractor licensing regulator, making it easier to monitor compliance with Louisiana’s contractor licensing laws.

Overall, HB 1026 does not create new licensing requirements for contractors or alter existing permit standards. Instead, it increases administrative verification and reporting obligations for municipalities and parishes to improve enforcement of Louisiana’s contractor licensing regime and provide the LSLBC with better visibility into construction activity occurring throughout the state.

Act 332 (HB 1037)

Author: Bourriaque/Connick | Category: Transportation Dept.

Act 332 (House Bill 1037) continues the reorganization of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) by creating a new Chief Operating Officer (COO) position. The COO is appointed by the secretary and is responsible for supervising both the Office of Project Delivery and the Office of Operations, while the deputy secretary becomes the chief administrative officer of the newly emphasized Office of Transformation, which is tasked with implementing departmental optimization and reform efforts.

The Act also clarifies DOTD’s management structure by redefining reporting relationships among the secretary, deputy secretary, undersecretary, COO, and assistant secretaries. Many operational responsibilities that previously flowed directly through the secretary are placed under the supervision of the COO, with the goal of improving project delivery, operations, and departmental management.

Finally, Act 332 extends key DOTD reform deadlines from June 30, 2026, to June 30, 2027. This includes the deadline for comprehensive reforms to the department’s access permit process and the deadline for modernizing project development and execution systems, including the goal of making bi-monthly payments to vendors and contractors consistent with contract terms. Overall, the Act is primarily an organizational and administrative reform measure intended to give DOTD additional time and management capacity to complete ongoing modernization efforts.

Act 333 (HB 1072)

Author: Glorioso | Category: Transportation Dept.

Act 333 (House Bill 1072) expands the authority and operational flexibility of the Office of Louisiana Highway Construction (OLHC), a relatively new entity within Louisiana’s transportation framework. The Act authorizes the OLHC to use money from the State Highway Improvement Fund for projects on state highways that are not eligible for federal funding and allows the office to enter agreements with DOTD to design, construct, rehabilitate, or replace segments of federal-aid highways when no federal funds are used.

The Act also broadens the OLHC’s funding authority by allowing it to solicit, receive, and administer interagency transfers, state general fund appropriations, and other lawful funding sources. In addition, it extends the office’s authority to utilize emergency procurement procedures through December 31, 2027, giving the office greater flexibility in delivering projects.

Finally, Act 333 grants the executive director significant emergency powers. When an emergency is certified, the executive director may waive certain public bidding requirements to the minimum extent necessary to address the emergency, make emergency purchases without competitive bidding, and authorize immediate temporary repairs to damaged or obstructed non-federal-aid highways and related facilities while plans for permanent repairs are developed. Overall, the Act is intended to provide the Office of Louisiana Highway Construction with greater autonomy, funding flexibility, and emergency-response capability to accelerate transportation projects.

HB 1123

Author: Braud | Category: Transportation Dept.

House Bill 1123 creates the Transportation Backlog Fund, a new special fund within the state treasury intended to support transportation infrastructure projects in parishes that contribute significant severance tax revenue to the state but have already reached their constitutional cap on severance tax allocations. The bill expressly states the Legislature’s intent to provide a more equitable return of state resources to these parishes and to promote continued development of transportation infrastructure that supports oil, gas, and other revenue-generating industries.

The legislation requires the transfer of $20 million from the State General Fund into the new fund. Those monies, together with any investment earnings, remain in the fund from year to year and may be used only for qualifying transportation projects located entirely within eligible parishes. Eligible projects must already be included in an existing state transportation program, including the Highway Priority Program, Port Construction or Development Priority Program, Airport Construction or Development Priority Program, or the Federal Railroad Crossing Safety Program.

As a practical matter, HB 1123 does not create a new transportation project selection process; rather, it provides an additional funding source for projects that have already been prioritized through existing state programs. To ensure legislative oversight, any project receiving money from the fund must first be approved by the Joint Committee on Transportation, Highways, and Public Works before funds may be distributed. The bill therefore serves as a targeted infrastructure funding mechanism aimed at directing additional transportation investment to high-producing severance-tax parishes while maintaining legislative control over project expenditures.

Act 338 (HB 1174)

Author: Bourriaque | Category: Transportation Dept.

Act 338 (House Bill 1174) is primarily a sunset re-creation bill for the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD). The Act formally re-creates DOTD and all statutory entities within the department, allowing them to continue operating under Louisiana’s sunset review laws. Without legislative re-creation, agencies are subject to termination on a scheduled date.

The Act extends DOTD’s statutory existence by providing that the department and its related entities will continue in existence until July 1, 2031, unless re-created again before that date. It also updates the state’s sunset schedule table in La. R.S. 49:191 to reflect DOTD’s new review and termination date.

In practical terms, Act 338 does not make substantive changes to transportation policy, contracting procedures, or DOTD operations. Rather, it is an administrative measure that ensures DOTD and its component agencies remain legally authorized to operate for an additional five-year period, subject to future legislative review.

Act 882 (HB 1193)

Author: Sawyer | Category: Contracts/Bids

Act 882 (House Bill 1193) authorizes the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) to use Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ) construction contracts for coastal restoration and protection projects. The Act allows CPRA to procure construction services through single-award or multiple-award ID/IQ contracts using low-bid, best-value, or qualifications-based selection methods, depending on the procurement structure. The legislation is intended to increase efficiency and flexibility in delivering coastal infrastructure projects.

The Act establishes a detailed procurement framework for ID/IQ contracting, including notices of intent, requests for proposals or qualifications, evaluation committees, and work-order procedures. For multiple-award ID/IQ contracts, contractors are selected based on qualifications, but individual work orders must generally be awarded to the lowest responsive bidder among the selected contractors. The Act also exempts evaluation committee records, score sheets, and recommendations from public disclosure until the procurement is completed or canceled and exempts evaluation committee meetings from the Open Meetings Law.

Finally, Act 882 permits ID/IQ contracts with an initial term of up to five years, with extensions of up to an additional five years, for a maximum contract duration of ten years. It clarifies how performance bonds, insurance requirements, work orders, pricing provisions, and federal procurement requirements apply to these contracts and authorizes CPRA to adopt rules necessary to implement the new program. Overall, the Act provides CPRA with a procurement tool similar to those recently authorized for other public agencies to accelerate the delivery of coastal protection and restoration projects.

HB 1207

Author: Deshotel | Category: Public Contracts/Bids

House Bill 1207 is designed to increase competition in Louisiana public construction contracting by limiting the ability of public entities and the Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) to impose overly restrictive experience and qualification requirements on bidders. The bill prohibits public owners from requiring contractors or subcontractors to demonstrate prior experience with a specific proprietary product, material, or system as a condition of bidding or receiving a public works contract. It also bars qualification requirements that are tailored to a particular manufacturer, product, system, or prior project in a manner that unnecessarily restricts competition.

The legislation does not eliminate experience requirements altogether, but instead requires that any such requirements be reasonably related to the scope and complexity of the project, not unduly limit the pool of qualified bidders, and be supported by written justification demonstrating a legitimate public-safety or project-performance need. To ensure that qualified contractors are not excluded solely because they have not previously installed a particular product or system, HB 1207 requires public entities to provide alternative methods for demonstrating competency, such as manufacturer certifications, training credentials, comparable project experience, project-specific performance plans, or other reasonable evidence of the contractor’s ability to perform the work.

The bill applies both to public entities generally and specifically to DOTD projects. As a practical matter, HB 1207 seeks to prevent bid specifications from being drafted in a way that effectively favors incumbent contractors or a limited group of firms with experience using a particular proprietary product. By expanding acceptable methods for establishing qualifications, the legislation is intended to promote broader bidder participation, increase competition on public works projects, and reduce barriers to entry while still allowing public owners to ensure that contractors possess the skills necessary to perform the work safely and competently.