SB 24 Louisiana Senate · 2026 Regular Session

ROADS/HIGHWAYS: Designates Interstate 49 as "Senator J. Bennett Johnston Jr. Memorial Highway". (8/1/26) (EN +$4,500 SG EX See Note)

This bill designates the entire length of Interstate 49 in Louisiana (from its intersection with I-10 in Lafayette Parish northward) as the "Senator J. Bennett Johnston Jr. Memorial Highway." It requires the Louisiana Department of Transportation to install and maintain signage for this designation only if local or private funds cover the department's actual costs for materials and installation, up to $2,250 per sign. The bill directly affects the highway corridor and its signage, with no financial burden on the state. It is a procedural naming measure with no substantive policy changes beyond the highway designation and signage cost rules.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Jan 28, 2026 Signed May 14, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB24 Original → SB24 Act · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was converted from a draft proposal to an enrolled Act, adding the full list of sponsoring legislators and formal approval signatures. The core policy content remains unchanged, designating Interstate 49 as the 'Senator J. Bennett Johnston Jr. Memorial Highway' effective August 1, 2026.

Scope change

The bill's scope is unchanged; the modifications are purely procedural, reflecting the transition from a draft bill to an officially enacted law.

TECHNICAL

Added the complete list of sponsoring Senators and Representatives who supported the bill.

Added official approval signatures from the President of the Senate, Speaker of the House, and Governor.

Updated the document header to indicate the bill is now an 'ENROLLED' Act with Act No. 199, replacing the 'ORIGINAL' draft status.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 24, 2026 · House May 6, 2026

How they voted

39–0

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 40

Mar 24, 2026

D Democratic12

12 Yea

100% 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 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 95, 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 (13-0). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.

lower

Mar 26, 2026

Committee

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

lower

Mar 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read by title, passed by a vote of 38 yeas and 0 nays, and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

upper

Mar 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported with amendments.

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 · 48 co-sponsors