Senate Bill No. 384, proposed by Senator Harris, seeks to establish a Pilot Innovation Hub in certain Louisiana parishes with populations between 350,000 and 410,000, as determined by the latest federal census. The bill allows the governing authority of these parishes to designate their area as a Pilot Innovation Hub, which would facilitate the validation and implementation of innovative technologies aimed at addressing public challenges, stimulating local economic activity, and creating job opportunities. The legislation 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 the 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 completion of programming be demonstrated through a comprehensive pilot report detailing performance data and public purpose. Furthermore, upon successful completion, the parish governing authority may award a sole-source contract to the innovator without competitive bidding, provided there is public notice and a thirty-day protest period. The bill is set to take effect on August 1, 2026.