Senate Bill No. 171, introduced by Senator Pressly, aims to amend and reenact various sections of Louisiana law related to public works, specifically focusing on the establishment and responsibilities of the Coordinated Use of Resources for Recreation, Economy, Navigation, and Transportation Authority. The bill proposes to change the agency responsible for providing planning assistance from the Department of Public Works to the Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD). It also modifies the membership of the Red River Compact Commission, replacing the chief engineer of DOTD with the secretary of the Department of Conservation and Energy. Additionally, the bill allows parishes and municipalities to adopt necessary ordinances for compliance with the National Flood Insurance Act in coordination with DOTD, while removing the chief resilience officer as a designee.

The bill further clarifies the authority's role in flood risk reduction and management, changing terminology from "water resource management" to "floodplain and watershed management." It increases the authority's board membership from 16 to 17 members, with all members subject to Senate confirmation. The bill also specifies that the authority will oversee flood control infrastructure rather than water resource infrastructure. These changes are intended to enhance the coordination and effectiveness of flood management and economic development efforts in Louisiana, with the new provisions set to take effect on August 1, 2026.