LouisianaBroadband crews coordinate with utilities before BEAD-funded digging
Louisiana law requires advance notice and coordination for BEAD-funded broadband excavation and lets public safety officials stop work when they observe a likely violation.
What it does
For BEAD-funded broadband projects, excavators must notify utility operators at least 30 days ahead and try to agree in writing on the work and its timing.
If project markings are missing and an operator has not responded, excavators must give documented notice and wait three hours before starting work.
Public safety officials and local police may stop excavation or demolition when observed facts give them reason to believe the work violates the law.
Argument forEarly notice and written coordination could help broadband crews and utility operators plan around buried lines before excavation begins.
Argument againstThe 30-day advance notice could add lead time to BEAD-funded broadband projects, even when operators and excavators cannot agree on project details.
More detail
Excavators on covered broadband projects must give operators advance notice and try in good faith to reach a written project agreement. This applies only to excavation connected to broadband projects funded in whole or in part through the federal BEAD Program. The notice is separate from and in addition to other notice required by law. If the parties cannot agree, that alone cannot delay excavation. Operators may follow the standard marking rules or a schedule already agreed with other operators for the project. The notice must come before excavation begins. This subsection ends August 1, 2030.
An excavator must give the operator documented notice and wait if markings are not visible and the operator has not said whether its facilities conflict with the work. This applies to excavation on a BEAD-funded broadband project when markings are not visible and an operator with facilities in the proposed area has not responded. After documented notice, the operator has three hours to mark the facility or report that there is no conflict. If the operator does not respond within three hours, excavation may begin with due care to protect underground facilities. The three-hour response period starts when the operator receives documented notice.
A public safety deputy secretary or local law enforcement officer may order excavation or demolition to stop when observed facts give reasonable cause to believe the work violates the law. The authority applies to excavation and demolition activities covered by this law. Work cannot resume until the excavator demonstrates compliance. Reasonable cause means facts observed by the officer that would lead a reasonable person to believe a violation is happening or about to happen. Work may resume only after the excavator demonstrates compliance.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 9Signed by the Governor Jeff Landry. Becomes Act No. 902.Became Law
- Jun 9Effective date 8/1/2026.
- Jun 1Conference Committee report received.
- Vote recorded ADOPT (#1624). Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded ADOPT CONFERENCE REPORT (#1850). Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 1Conference Committee Report read; adopted by a vote of 35 yeas and 0 nays.
- Jun 1Notice of Senate adoption of Conference Committee Report.
- Jun 1Rules suspended.
- Jun 1Conference Committee Report read, roll called, yeas 92, nays 0. The Conference Committee Report was adopted.
- Jun 1Notice House adopted the Conference Committee Report.
- Jun 1Enrolled. Signed by the President of the Senate on 6/2/2026.To Governor
- Jun 1Signed by the Speaker of the House.
- Jun 1Sent to the Governor by the Secretary of the Senate on 6/2/2026.Minor
- May 29Notice of Senate conferees appointed.
- May 28House conferees appointed: St. Blanc, Deshotel, and Riser.
- May 28Senate conference committee members appointed: Abraham, Miller, and Talbot.
- May 28Notice House Conference Committee members appointed.
- May 27Amendments proposed by the House read and rejected by a vote of 35 yeas and 0 nays.
- Vote recorded REJECT (#1424). Result: pass.Upper
- May 27Notice of Senate rejecting House amendments.
- May 26Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 96, nays 0. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.Passed House
- Vote recorded FINAL PASSAGE (#1515). Result: pass.Lower
- May 26Received from the House with amendments.Minor
- May 25Scheduled for floor debate on 05/26/2026.
- May 20Read by title, amended, passed to 3rd reading.Minor
- May 19Reported with Legislative Bureau amendments.
- May 18Reported with amendments (12-0). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.Minor
- May 5Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Commerce.Minor
- Apr 29Received in the House from the Senate, read by title, lies over under the rules.
- Apr 28Called from the Calendar.
- Vote recorded FINAL PASSAGE (#497). Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 28Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title and passed by a vote of 38 yeas and 0 nays; ordered reengrossed and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.Passed Senate
- Apr 15Read by title and returned to the Calendar, subject to call.
- Apr 13Read by title. Committee amendments read and adopted. Ordered engrossed and passed to third reading and final passage.
- Apr 8Reported with amendments.Minor
- Apr 1Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and International Affairs.Minor
- Mar 31Introduced in the Senate. Read by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.Introduced
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