Senate Bill No. by Senator Harris proposes the establishment of a Pilot Innovation Hub in certain Louisiana parishes with populations between 350,000 and 410,000. The bill authorizes the governing authority of these parishes to designate their area as a Pilot Innovation Hub, which aims to validate innovative technologies that address public challenges and stimulate local economic activity. The Hub will facilitate local business growth and technology commercialization, contributing to the state's economic competitiveness. It allows for partnerships with existing anchor organizations to develop pilot programs that test new technologies in real-world scenarios, utilizing public property for these initiatives.

Additionally, the bill outlines the requirements for the successful completion of pilot programs, which must be documented in a comprehensive report detailing performance data and deployment metrics. Upon successful completion, the parish governing authority can award a sole-source contract to the innovator without competitive bidding, provided there is public notice and a 30-day protest period. The bill specifies that procurement under this law does not include professional services. The proposed law is set to take effect on August 1, 2026.