The bill amends various sections of Louisiana's Revised Statutes related to waterway projects, specifically transitioning from the "waterway dredging and deepening priority program" to the "Waterway Assistance Program." It introduces new definitions and modifies the application process for funding, allowing governmental entities such as parishes, municipalities, port authorities, and levee districts to submit applications annually by September 1st, rather than quarterly. Additionally, it stipulates that no project will be considered without the necessary local, state, and federal permits, and it requires the Office of Multimodal Commerce (OMC) to submit a project evaluation process for approval by the joint committee by September 1, 2026.

The bill also repeals the previous requirement for the OMC to provide a supplemental list of projects for the next four years and modifies the funding allocation process, changing it from being tied to a prioritized list to being based on the amount appropriated by the legislature. Furthermore, it establishes the "Waterway Assistance Fund" in place of the previous fund and shifts the responsibility for project planning and supervision from the port authority to the applying governing authority, removing the requirement for public advertising of all projects. Overall, the bill aims to streamline the process for waterway project funding and management in Louisiana.

Statutes affected:
HB1232 Original: 34:3471(6), 34:3472(S, 34:3475(A), 34:3477(S