Senate Bill No. 115, introduced by Senator Foil, aims to enhance the authority of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) by allowing it to assume certain responsibilities from the federal government regarding transportation. The bill enacts a new section, R.S. 48:212(E), which permits DOTD to enter into agreements with federal agencies, including memoranda of understanding, to take over duties related to transportation as authorized under various federal laws. This includes the ability to accept federal funds for transportation purposes and to adopt necessary rules and regulations to implement these agreements.

Additionally, the bill includes provisions that waive state sovereign immunity under the Eleventh Amendment for lawsuits in federal court, but only in relation to the responsibilities assumed by DOTD under these agreements. This waiver is limited to compliance with federal law and does not extend beyond it. Overall, the bill seeks to streamline the collaboration between state and federal transportation efforts while providing DOTD with the necessary tools to manage these responsibilities effectively, with an effective date set for August 1, 2026.