Senate Bill No. 384, introduced by Senator Harris, aims to establish the Pilot Innovation Hub in Louisiana, allowing parish governing authorities to designate their parishes as such. This designation will enable the validation and implementation of innovative technologies to tackle public challenges, stimulate local economic activity, and create job opportunities. The bill emphasizes the importance of local business growth and technology commercialization as essential components of economic development and state competitiveness.

The bill outlines the responsibilities of political subdivisions within a designated Pilot Innovation Hub, including the establishment of procedures for selecting pilot innovation contractors, entering into contracts for program management, and utilizing public resources for implementation. It also mandates that successful programming be demonstrated through a comprehensive pilot report detailing performance data and public purpose. Furthermore, upon successful completion of the program, parishes may award sole-source contracts to innovators without competitive bidding, provided they give public notice and allow for a protest period. The bill is set to take effect on August 1, 2026.