SB 514 Louisiana Senate · 2026 Regular Session

TRANSPORTATION/DEV DEPT: Provides relative to Department of Transportation and Development aeronautic activities. (8/1/26)

SB 514 amends the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development's aeronautic activities by correcting minor wording errors and clarifying the title of a subsection. The bill changes specific terms like 'secretary' to 'commissioner' and adds the word 'Airport' to a list of related facilities. These adjustments are procedural and do not introduce new policies or funding requirements.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2026

Committee Review

May 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Mar 31, 2026 Last action May 20, 2026

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What changed between versions

SB514 Original → SB514 Engrossed · 6 edits · May 20, 2026

MODERATE

This bill fundamentally restructures the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development by transferring aeronautics oversight from the Secretary to a new 'Office of Multimodal Commerce.' It creates a new Advanced Aviation and Drone Advisory Committee to guide drone policy and establishes a specific role for an 'Advanced Aeronautics Director' to lead advanced air mobility initiatives.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of state oversight to include advanced air mobility systems, unmanned aircraft systems (drones), and airspace integration technologies, moving these functions from the Department of Public Safety to the Department of Transportation and Development.

DEFINITION

Added new legal definitions for 'Department,' 'Director,' and 'Fixed-base operator' to clarify organizational roles and responsibilities.

REQUIREMENT

Created a new 15-member Louisiana Advanced Aviation and Drone Advisory Committee to provide recommendations on drone technology deployment and policy.

Established a new 'Advanced Aeronautics Director' position to specifically administer advanced air mobility and related functions.

Removed existing provisions regarding the supervision of student aviator instruction and the regulation of nonfederal air-navigation facilities like air markings and beacons.

Mandated an annual report on the state of unmanned and advanced aeronautics technologies to be submitted to the legislature by February 1st.

SCOPE

Transferred authority over aircraft registration, identification, equipment, and enforcement from the Department of Public Safety to the new Office of Multimodal Commerce.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate floor amendments read and adopted.

upper

May 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported with amendments.

upper

Mar 31, 2026

Introduced

Rules suspended. Introduced in the Senate. Read by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors