Senate Bill No. 104, introduced by Senator Kleinpeter, designates a specific section of Louisiana Highway 1 in Pointe Coupee Parish as the "Ernest J. Gaines Memorial Highway." The designated portion begins at the intersection of Louisiana Highway 1 and Louisiana Highway 78, extending to the Pointe Coupee Parish line before it crosses into Avoyelles Parish.

The bill also mandates the Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) to erect and maintain signage for this designation, contingent upon the receipt of local or private funds that cover the department's actual costs for materials, fabrication, mounting posts, and installation. The total cost for each sign is capped at seven hundred fifty dollars. This legislation is set to take effect on August 1, 2026.