HB 1232 Louisiana House · 2026 Regular Session

PORTS/HARBORS/TERMINALS: Provides relative to waterway projects

This bill updates Louisiana's laws to create a structured Waterway Assistance Program that helps local governments fund projects for dredging and deepening state waterways. It establishes a quarterly application process where parishes, municipalities, and port authorities can submit project requests to a specific office for review. A joint committee will evaluate these applications, hold public hearings, and create a prioritized list of projects based on available funding before the legislature appropriates money. The bill also creates a dedicated state fund to support these projects and clarifies that local authorities remain responsible for preparing project plans and managing construction.

Issues: ✓ Transportation

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Apr 2026

Committee Review

May 2026

House Passage

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Apr 8, 2026 Signed May 22, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB1232 Original → HB1232 Act 341 · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was converted from a draft to an enrolled act, finalizing its legal status. It significantly restructured the Waterway Assistance Program by adding specific deadlines for project applications and establishing a formal quarterly review process. The changes clarify eligibility for various governmental entities and define how projects are prioritized and funded based on legislative appropriations.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to explicitly include parish, municipality, port authority, and levee district entities as eligible applicants, while adding strict submission timelines and a structured evaluation workflow.

TIMELINE

Added a requirement for applications to be submitted on a quarterly basis by the first of March, June, September, and December.

Established a deadline for the office to submit the evaluation process for approval by the joint committee no later than September 1, 2026.

REQUIREMENT

Mandated that no project be considered without all required local, state, and federal permits obtained.

Changed the legislative process to require the joint committee to hold public hearings and vote to accept, reject, or modify project lists each quarter.

DEFINITION

Added a specific definition for 'Waterway dredging and deepening priority program Assistance Program' to clarify the priority list mechanism.

ELIGIBILITY

Explicitly listed port authorities and levee districts alongside parishes and municipalities as eligible applicants for funding.

Floor votes · Senate May 13, 2026 · House Apr 14, 2026

How they voted

36–0

Passed · 4 other

Total votes 40

May 13, 2026

D Democratic12

10 Yea 2

83% Yea

R Republican28

26 Yea 2

92% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

Rules suspended. Read by title, passed by a vote of 35 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

upper

May 4, 2026

Committee

Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.

upper

Apr 29, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported favorably.

upper

Apr 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 96, nays 5. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

lower

Apr 8, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read by title, substitute title adopted, lies over in the same order of business, substitute for HB No. 647 reported by the Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works (15-0).

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors