SB 80: COMMERCIAL REGULATIONS: Provides for the regulation of certain broadband services. (8/1/26) (EN NO IMPACT See Note) - Louisiana

Senate Floor Bureau Note, #1237, Mizell, Adopted → SB80 Act · 7 edits

MODERATE

The bill was finalized to regulate broadband services by amending existing statutes regarding administration fees, grant reimbursements, and a new 'GUMBO 3.0' program. It establishes specific fee percentages for program administration, sets tiered disbursement thresholds for grants based on deployment milestones, and creates a new grant program for remaining funds to address economic and community challenges. The act also repeals a previous section (2370.51) and clarifies rules regarding withholding funds for utility damage and emergency rulemaking restrictions.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include a new 'GUMBO 3.0' grant program for remaining funds and added specific statutory sections for administration fees and reimbursement rules, while repealing an existing section (2370.51).

FISCAL

Added Section 2370.13 to authorize the use of up to 2.5% of appropriated funds for program administration and an additional 2.5% for hiring third-party contractors.

REQUIREMENT

Modified Section 2370.32 to establish specific disbursement thresholds (10%, 35%, 60%, 85%, and 100%) for grant payments based on verified deployment of eligible locations.

Added restrictions prohibiting the use of emergency rulemaking to implement withholding provisions and requiring specific notice and comment periods before withholding funds.

ENFORCEMENT

Added provisions allowing the office to withhold only the final grant payment if a provider is legally at fault for damaging underground utilities and fails to satisfy a court judgment.

TIMELINE

Added a mandatory 48-month maximum deadline for completing deployments, with a potential one-year extension.

SCOPE

Added Section 2370.41 to create the 'GUMBO 3.0' program, utilizing remaining funds to support economic development, healthcare, cybersecurity, and other sectors.

DEFINITION

Repealed Section 2370.51 in its entirety.

SB80 Original → Senate Floor Bureau Note, #1237, Mizell, Adopted · 2 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to correct a specific reference to a federal funding source, changing the name from 'Information' to the full 'National Telecommunications and Information Administration.' Additionally, one line regarding the use of remaining funds for a nondeployment grant program was removed. These changes clarify the legal definition of the federal program and streamline the text by deleting an unimplemented provision.

DEFINITION

Updated the definition of the federal funding source to explicitly name the 'National Telecommunications and Information Administration of the United States Department of Commerce' instead of just 'Information'.

REQUIREMENT

Deleted a sentence that required the office to run a grant program for nondeployment if GUMBO 2.0 funds remained after the initial obligation.

SB80 Enrolled → SB80 Original · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was renumbered and reorganized to include new oversight authority and expanded rulemaking powers for the Office of Broadband Development and Connectivity. The scope was modified to explicitly cover future broadband initiatives beyond the current GUMBO programs and to clarify that no other state agency can regulate broadband compliance unless specifically authorized. A new section was added to establish a complaint resolution process for residents and to enforce compliance through penalties and fund recovery.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include oversight of all future broadband initiatives, not just the existing GUMBO programs, and explicitly excludes deployments initiated before August 1, 2026, from these new rules.

ENFORCEMENT

Added exclusive authority for the Office of Broadband Development and Connectivity to develop rules, investigate complaints, and enforce compliance through penalties or fund recovery.

REQUIREMENT

Established a new requirement for the office to create a complaint resolution process for residents, municipalities, and stakeholders.

SCOPE

Expanded the bill's application to include future broadband initiatives and explicitly exempted deployments started before August 1, 2026.

DEFINITION

Updated the list of statutes being amended to include R.S. 51:2370.15 and R.S. 51:1362.1, and repealed R.S. 51:2370.51.

TECHNICAL

Removed specific details regarding GUMBO 3.0 program deadlines and procurement methods that were tied to past funding cycles.

SB80 Reengrossed → SB80 Enrolled · 4 edits · Jun 1, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was finalized as an enrolled version, removing the 'Reengrossed' status and deleting the original summary description. Substantively, the legislation was amended to repeal the section governing GUMBO 4.0 while adding a new section for GUMBO 3.0, which introduces stricter rules for withholding final payments due to utility damage and prohibits the use of emergency rulemaking for this program.

Scope change

The bill's scope was altered by removing the 'GUMBO 4.0' program entirely and replacing it with a revised 'GUMBO 3.0' program that includes specific provisions for handling utility damage claims and restricting emergency rulemaking authority.

SCOPE

The section establishing the 'GUMBO 4.0' program was completely deleted from the enrolled version.

REQUIREMENT

New requirements were added to the GUMBO 3.0 program, including a prohibition on withholding progress payments and specific conditions for withholding the final payment related to utility damage.

The authority to use emergency rulemaking to implement the GUMBO 3.0 program was explicitly removed.

DEFINITION

The administration fee percentage for the GUMBO program was updated from a general rate to a specific '1.0' designation.

SB80 Engrossed → SB80 Reengrossed · 2 edits · Mar 24, 2026

MINOR

The bill was re-engrossed to correct a technical error in the agency name, changing 'assistant secretary of Communications and Information' to 'assistant secretary of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration.' Additionally, the text was updated to refer to the 'state Public Bid Law' instead of the generic 'Public Bid Law.' These changes ensure the legislation accurately references the correct federal agency and clarifies the specific state law applicable to procurement.

Scope change

The scope of the bill remains focused on broadband grants, but the legal references within the text were updated for accuracy.

TECHNICAL

Corrected the name of the federal agency from 'assistant secretary of Communications and Information' to 'assistant secretary of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration' to ensure accurate legal citation.

Changed the reference to 'Public Bid Law' to 'state Public Bid Law' to clarify that the specific Louisiana statute is being cited.

COMMERCIAL REGULATIONS: Provides for the regulation of certain broadband services. (8/1/26) (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

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