SB 104 Louisiana Senate · 2026 Regular Session

ROADS/HIGHWAYS: Designates a portion of Louisiana Highway 1 in Pointe Coupee Parish as the "Ernest J. Gaines Memorial Highway". (8/1/26) (EN +$3,000 SG EX See Note)

SB 104 designates a specific segment of Louisiana Highway 1 in Pointe Coupee Parish (from the intersection with Highway 78 to the Pointe Coupee Parish line) as the "Ernest J. Gaines Memorial Highway" to honor the renowned author. The bill requires the state transportation department to install signage only if local or private funds cover the costs (capped at $750 per sign for materials and installation). This is a commemorative measure with no substantive policy changes, directly affecting the designated highway corridor and its signage. The bill is currently in the prefiling stage and has not yet been voted on.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Feb 22, 2026 Signed May 14, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB104 Original → SB104 Act · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to change the designated highway from Louisiana Highway 1 in Pointe Coupee Parish to Louisiana Highway 16 in Livingston Parish. The memorial name was updated from 'Ernest J. Gaines Memorial Highway' to 'Deputy Katherine "Ms. Katy" Wells Memorial Highway' to honor a different individual. The bill also expanded the list of sponsoring legislators to include both Senators and Representatives.

Scope change

The geographic scope of the designation changed from Pointe Coupee Parish to Livingston Parish, and the specific highway segment changed from Highway 1 to Highway 16.

SCOPE

The designated highway was changed from a portion of Louisiana Highway 1 in Pointe Coupee Parish to a portion of Louisiana Highway 16 in Livingston Parish.

DEFINITION

The memorial highway name was changed from 'Ernest J. Gaines Memorial Highway' to 'Deputy Katherine "Ms. Katy" Wells Memorial Highway'.

ELIGIBILITY

The list of bill sponsors was expanded to include Representatives in addition to Senators.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 31, 2026 · House May 6, 2026

How they voted

38–0

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 40

Mar 31, 2026

D Democratic12

11 Yea 1

91% Yea

R Republican28

27 Yea 1

96% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

Amendments proposed by the House read and concurred in by a vote of 36 yeas and 0 nays.

upper

May 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 97, nays 0. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.

lower

Apr 28, 2026

Introduced

Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.

lower

Apr 27, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported favorably (12-0). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.

lower

Apr 1, 2026

Committee

Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works.

lower

Mar 31, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read by title, passed by a vote of 37 yeas and 0 nays, and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

upper

Mar 25, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported favorably.

upper

Mar 9, 2026

Committee

Introduced in the Senate; read by title. Rules suspended. Read second time and referred to the Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works.

upper

1 primary · 82 co-sponsors