Transportation

HB 756 amends Louisiana's watercraft operation rules to clarify right-of-way procedures, collision reporting requirements, and enforcement protocols for all vessel operators. It specifies that motorboats must yield to sailboats, vessels approaching docks must give way, and operators must report collisions causing death, injury, or property damage exceeding $500 within five days. The bill also defines "boating incidents" and requires registered boat owners to report thefts to the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries within five days. These changes directly affect all recreational and commercial vessel operators navigating Louisiana waterways.

HB 488 establishes the Belle Chasse Bridge Merit-Based Special Fund using 1/5 of severance tax revenues collected from Plaquemines Parish that would otherwise go to the state general fund. The fund's money must be used exclusively to reduce tolls on the Belle Chasse Bridge, pay developer costs for an early contract handback, cover annual inflation adjustments, or fund related transportation projects. It directly affects Plaquemines Parish residents (through severance tax contributions) and bridge users (through toll adjustments). The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and creates a dedicated funding mechanism for the Belle Chasse Bridge public-private partnership contract.

HB 592 removes the requirement that parish or municipal roads must be specifically designated for utility terrain vehicle (UTV) use. It allows UTVs to operate on any parish road as long as operators are at least 16 years old, hold a valid driver’s license, and maintain liability insurance (matching standard vehicle requirements). Local governments may still post signage to regulate UTVs on public roads but cannot ban them without such notice. The bill explicitly prohibits UTVs from operating on interstate highways. This directly affects UTV operators, property owners, and local governments managing road access.