HLS 25RS-1090 ORIGINAL
2025 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 640 (Substitute for House Bill No. 621 by Representative
Bourriaque)
BY REPRESENTATIVES BOURRIAQUE, DICKERSON, AND DOMANGUE
TRANSPORTATION DEPT: Establishes the office of Louisiana Highway Construction
1 AN ACT
2To enact Part IX of Chapter 2 of Title 49 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, to be
3 comprised of R.S. 49:220.51 through 220.53, relative to the office of Louisiana
4 Highway Construction; to create the office of Louisiana Highway Construction,
5 within the office of the governor, division of administration; to define the term
6 "office"; to designate certain powers, duties, and responsibilities of the office; to
7 provide for an executive director of the office of Louisiana Highway Construction;
8 to establish the duties and responsibilities of the executive director; to provide for an
9 effective date; and to provide for related matters.
10Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
11 Section 1. Part IX of Chapter 2 of Title 49 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950,
12to be comprised of R.S. 49:220.51 through 220.53, are hereby enacted to read as follows:
13 PART IX. OFFICE OF LOUISIANA HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION
14 §220.51. Office of Louisiana Highway Construction; creation
15 A. Pursuant to R.S. 36:501(C)(2), it is the intent of the legislature to take
16 extraordinary measures to demonstrate to the citizens of Louisiana that roads,
17 bridges, and other transportation infrastructure projects can be delivered in an
18 expeditious, transparent, safe, and effective manner.
19 B. The office of Louisiana Highway Construction is hereby created within
20 the office of the governor, division of administration.
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1 C. The office shall be responsible for the study, planning, engineering,
2 design, construction, operation, maintenance, repair, rehabilitation, and replacement
3 of any nonfederal aid highway that is part of the state highway system.
4 D. For purposes of this Part, the term "office" shall mean the office of
5 Louisiana Highway Construction.
6 §220.53. Powers, duties, and responsibilities
7 A. The office of Louisiana Highway Construction shall consist of executive
8 offices and staff as deemed necessary for effective governance and operation.
9 B. The office shall have the following powers, duties, and responsibilities:
10 (1) To enter into contracts with the federal government, any federal or state
11 agency, political subdivision of the state, or private entities for the study, planning,
12 engineering, design, construction, operation, maintenance, repair, rehabilitation, or
13 replacement of any nonfederal aid highway within the state highway system.
14 (2) To contract for and accept grants of funds, subject to any terms or
15 conditions, including matching fund requirements.
16 (3) To use nonfederal funds and in-kind donations to provide for the costs
17 associated with nonfederal cost-share requirements associated with projects.
18 (4) To develop and adopt guidelines for cost-sharing agreements with public
19 and private entities participating in projects managed by the office.
20 (5) To enter into cooperative agreements with political subdivisions located
21 wholly or partially within the boundaries of a project for any project-related purpose,
22 including construction, operation, maintenance, repair, rehabilitation, or replacement
23 of any nonfederal aid highway within the state highway system.
24 (6) To promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement the
25 provisions of this Section, in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act.
26 C. The office of Louisiana Highway Construction may:
27 (1) Utilize the services of other executive departments of state government
28 upon mutually agreeable terms and conditions.
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1 (2) Receive interagency transfers, state general fund allocations, or any other
2 sources of funding allowed under the law necessary to support the delivery of its
3 functions.
4 (3) Take such other actions, not inconsistent with law, as are necessary to
5 perform properly the functions of the office.
6 D. On or before January 15th of each calendar year, the office shall submit
7 a report to the Joint Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works. The
8 report shall include a detailed list of each project that is planned, initiated, or
9 advanced under the authority of this Section, along with the status, scope, funding
10 sources, and expected timelines for each project.
11 §220.53. Executive director; duties and responsibilities
12 A. The executive director of the office of Louisiana Highway Construction
13 shall be appointed by the governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate, and shall
14 serve at the pleasure of the governor.
15 B. The executive director shall be responsible for the overall operations,
16 management, and administration of the office of Louisiana Highway Construction.
17 C. The executive director shall have the following duties and responsibilities:
18 (1) To coordinate all budget requests for projects managed or initiated by the
19 office.
20 (2) To coordinate and focus the functions of all state agencies as it relates to
21 office projects to ensure alignment and efficiency.
22 (3) To take any actions, not inconsistent with law, as may be necessary to
23 carry out the duties and responsibilities of the office.
24 D. In furtherance of the goals and purposes of the office, the executive
25 director may:
26 (1) Review and recommend modifications of state departmental policies,
27 procedures, programs, rules, and regulations that are established by law or pursuant
28 to the Administrative Procedure Act that may affect the design, construction,
29 operation, management, and monitoring of projects within the authority of the office.
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1 (2) Appoint advisory panels or working groups as needed to support the
2 development, review, or implementation of office initiatives.
3 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
4signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
5by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
6vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
7effective on the day following such approval.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 640 Original 2025 Regular Session Bourriaque
Abstract: Establishes the office of Louisiana Highway Construction.
Proposed law specifies that it is the intent of the legislature to implement extraordinary
measures to ensure that transportation infrastructure projects, including but not limited to
roads and bridges, are planned, executed, and delivered in a manner that is expeditious,
transparent, safe, and effective, thereby demonstrating accountability and responsiveness to
the citizens of La.
Proposed law specifies that the office of La. Hwy. Construction is created in the office of the
governor, division of administration.
Proposed law specifies that the office is responsible for the oversight and delivery of all
aspects of nonfederal aid highways within the state system, including study, planning,
design, construction, operation, maintenance, repair, and replacement, in coordination with
relevant agencies.
Proposed law defines "office" as the office of La. Highway Construction.
Proposed law authorizes the office to contract with public and private entities for all phases
of non-federal aid highway projects; accept and manage grants; use nonfederal funds and
in-kind contributions for cost-share requirements; develop cost-sharing guidelines; enter
cooperative agreements with local governments; and adopt rules to implement these
provisions.
Proposed law authorizes the office to use services from other state agencies, receive various
lawful funding sources, and take any legal actions needed to carry out its duties.
Proposed law requires that by Jan. 15th each year, the office submit a report to the Joint
Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works detailing all planned, initiated,
or advanced projects, including their status, scope, funding sources, and timelines.
Proposed law specifies that the executive director of the office of La. Highway Construction
is appointed by the governor, subject to Senate confirmation, and serves at the governor's
pleasure.
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Proposed law authorizes the executive director to oversee the office's operations,
management, and administration.
Proposed law specifies that the duties of the executive director include coordinating budget
requests for office projects, aligning functions across state agencies for efficiency, and
taking necessary actions to fulfill the office’s responsibilities.
Proposed law specifies that the executive director may review and recommend changes to
state policies affecting office projects and appoint advisory panels as needed.
Effective upon the signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 49:220.51-220.53)
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