HR 327 Louisiana House · 2025 Regular Session

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: Requests the office of broadband development and connectivity to provide quarterly reports on the implementation, performance, and rural coverage of broadband infrastructure projects

HR 327 requires the Office of Broadband Development and Connectivity to submit quarterly reports on broadband infrastructure projects. These reports must detail consultant/vendor payments, grant recipient payments, all fund expenditures (including administrative costs), unexpended funds as of June 1, 2025, and funds eligible under specific statutes. The bill directly affects the broadband office, mandating transparency in how state funds are managed and spent on rural broadband projects. It does not create new programs or funding but establishes specific financial reporting requirements to track implementation progress. This is a transparency measure focused on accountability for existing broadband infrastructure funding.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jun 2025

Committee Review

House Passage

Jun 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jun 8, 2025 Last action Jun 13, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

HR327 Original → HR327 Enrolled · 7 edits · Jun 11, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was formatted into an official enrolled version with expanded text and significantly strengthened reporting requirements. The resolution now explicitly requests quarterly reports to two specific committees (Commerce and Appropriations) with a defined timeline starting in September 2025. Most notably, the scope of required reporting was expanded from general project updates to include detailed financial audits, contractor performance metrics, and specific accounting of unspent funds and state-mandated utility management programs.

Scope change

The scope of the bill's requirements was substantially broadened. While the original version asked for general progress reports, the enrolled version mandates a comprehensive financial and operational audit, including specific line items for consultant payments, vendor payments, and compliance with state utility management laws.

TIMELINE

Reporting is now scheduled to begin no later than September 1, 2025, and continue quarterly through December 2026, replacing the vague original request.

REQUIREMENT

New requirement to submit a detailed accounting of all broadband program funds expended, including administrative costs and specific state utility management systems.

New requirement to list all consultant and vendor payments, detailing work performed, amounts owed, and amounts paid to date.

New requirement to report on all payments made to grant recipients, including expected payment timelines and any delays exceeding fifteen days.

New requirement to account for all funds eligible for expenditure under specific state statutes (R.S. 51:2370.19), detailing how they have been or will be spent.

New requirement to assess whether underserved or unserved areas are being bypassed or deprioritized in project implementation.

ENFORCEMENT

The resolution now explicitly directs reports to the House Committee on Commerce and the House Committee on Appropriations, establishing clear oversight bodies.

Floor votes · House Jun 10, 2025

How they voted

92–0

Passed · 10 other

Total votes 102

Jun 10, 2025

D Democratic31

26 Yea 5

83% Yea

R Republican71

66 Yea 5

92% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jun 10, 2025

Lower · Passed

Read by title, amended, roll called, yeas 94, nays 0. The resolution was adopted.

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors