House Bill No. 345, introduced by Representative McMakin, seeks to enhance the Class II and III Rail Infrastructure Improvement Program by adding rail infrastructure at ports as an eligible project. The bill enacts new legal language under R.S. 48:388.1(A)(2)(f), which specifies that the program, designed to support rail improvement needs and implement recommendations from the Louisiana Freight Mobility Plan and State Rail Plan, will now include projects related to rail infrastructure at ports.

The proposed law retains the existing framework of the program while expanding the scope of eligible projects to encompass port-related rail infrastructure. This addition aims to improve the efficiency of rail services and bolster the overall rail network in Louisiana, thereby supporting economic growth and transportation logistics in the state.