Pending Legislation
Senate Bill 513: Public Contracts
Introduced: Senator Michael Fesi (R-20)
Summary: This bill addresses public works project delivery methods for Louisiana state agencies and airports. The bill modifies the types of airport facilities that may use design-build contracts and establishes a pilot program for the Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) and the Office of Louisiana Highway Construction (OLHC) to use an average bid method for contract awards.
Design-Build Impact: The bill modifies design-build authorization for public airports from only air traffic control towers and hangars to vertical facilities on airport property, excluding passenger terminal facilities at commercial service airports. This will allow for design-build authorization for public airports within the state when deemed in the public interest and beneficial to the entity, permissions that were previously unestablished and will lead to increased design-build activity within the state’s aviation sector.
Last Action: June 1, 2026: The bill was introduced and assigned to the SENATE Committee on TRANSPORTATION, HIGHWAYS and PUBLIC WORKS who reported favorably on the bill before it was ordered engrossed, amended on the Senate Floor and ordered re-engrossed before passing from the SENATE and into the HOUSE on May 11. The bill has been assigned to the HOUSE Committee on TRANSPORTATION, HIGHWAYS and PUBLIC WORKS and had a hearing May 26. The committee reported on the bill with amendment and reported it to the Legislative Bureau. The Legislative Bureau reported back on the bill without amendment and the committee amendment was adopted on the HOUSE floor. The bill had a hearing on May 29. The bill passed the SENATE and was sent to the HOUSE for concurrence. The HOUSE concurred and the bill was ordered enrolled and sent to the Governor. The bill has a Governor’s deadline of June 20.
Status: Sent to the Governor
DBIA Position: Neutral
DBIA Priority Level: Medium
Senate Bill 514: Transportation and Development Department
Introduced: Senator Robert Owen (R-01)
Summary: This bill addresses the Department of Transportation and Development aeronautic activities in Louisiana. The bill transfers aeronautical supervision and regulatory authority from the secretary of the Department of Transportation and Development to a commissioner of multimodal commerce. The bill updates terminology, procedures, and organizational structure for aeronautical facilities, airport development programs, and advanced aviation technologies.
Design-Build Impact: The bill outlines that the Department of Aeronautic Activities will have the authority to approve design-build plans for any proposed airport projects that are prepared by consultant or contract engineers for any recipient.
Last Action: May 20, 2026: The bill was introduced and assigned to the SENATE Committee on TRANSPORTATION, HIGHWAYS and PUBLIC WORKS who reported an amendment that was adopted on the SENATE floor. The bill has been ordered engrossed by the SENATE and had a hearing on May 29. The bill has a Governor’s deadline of June 20.
Status: In Committee
DBIA Position: Neutral
DBIA Priority Level: Medium
House Bill 755: Public Contracts
Introduced: Representative Christopher Turner (R-012)
Summary: This bill establishes procedures and requirements for indefinite delivery and indefinite quantity of professional design services contracted for certain public projects in Louisiana. A function of the bill is that it creates a framework for agencies to contract with design professionals through master contracts that allow multiple task orders for different design efforts. The bill includes limitations, selection procedures, and compliance requirements for these contracts.
Design-Build Impact: The provisions of this bill shall not be construed to invalidate or otherwise impact the validity of design-build contracts within the state. This makes it unlikely that design-build projects will be directly impacted within the state.
Last Action: June 1, 2026: The bill has been assigned to the HOUSE Committee on APPROPRIATIONS. The bill had a hearing on April 1 and has been ordered engrossed. The bill has a HOUSE Floor debate on April 7. The bill was amended on the HOUSE Floor and subsequently engrossed before it passed from the HOUSE into the SENATE. The bill has a hearing on April 13. The bill has been assigned to the SENATE Committee on FINANCE. The bill had a hearing on May 27. The bill was referred to the Legislative Bureau and was reported without amendments before the bill was passed by the SENATE. The bill has been ordered enrolled and sent to the Governor. The bill has a Governor’s deadline of June 20.
Status: Sent to the Governor
DBIA Position: Neutral
DBIA Priority Level: Medium
House Bill 901: Transportation Department
Introduced: Representative Ryan Bourriaque (R-047)
Summary: This bill proposes to create the Louisiana State Infrastructure Bank within the division of administration to provide loans and financial assistance for eligible infrastructure projects, establishing a board of directors, and creating the Louisiana State Infrastructure Fund in the process. The bill also authorizes the bank to provide various forms of financing for transportation, water, energy, resilience, and other public infrastructure projects. The bill appropriates $100 million from the state general fund for initial capitalization of the fund.
Design-Build Impact: Projects eligible for loans and financial assistance as “qualified borrowers” include design-build projects that can be considered public infrastructure projects and are mostly related to transportation department and industry within the state. This bill has the potential to assist with the financing of design-build projects within the state, giving the design-build industry the potential to grow.
Last Action: March 9, 2026: The bill has been assigned to the HOUSE Committee on TRANSPORTATION, HIGHWAYS AND PUBLIC WORKS. The bill had a hearing on March 25. The bill had another hearing on March 30. The bill had a hearing May 26. The bill has a Governor’s deadline of June 20.
Status: In Committee
DBIA Position: Support
DBIA Priority Level: Low