APPROPRIATIONS/JUDGMENT: Appropriates funds for payment of the judgment against the state in the suit captioned Dawn Marie DePedro et al. v. State of Louisiana et al.

HLS 26RS-869 ORIGINAL
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 1075
BY REPRESENTATIVE VENTRELLA
APPROPRIATIONS/JUDGMENT: Appropriates funds for payment of the judgment
against the state in the suit captioned Dawn Marie DePedro et al. v. State of
Louisiana et al.
1 AN ACT
2 Relative to the appropriation of monies out of the state general fund to be used to pay the
3 judgment captioned "Dawn Marie DePedro, et al versus State of Louisiana, through
4 the Department of Transportation and Development" between the state of Louisiana,
5 through the Department of Transportation and Development, and Dawn Marie
6 DePedro, Kamden DePedro, and Dawn Marie DePedro on behalf of her minor child,
7 Alianna DePedro; to provide for an effective date; and to provide for related matters.
8 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
9 Section 1. The sum of One Million Six Hundred Ten Thousand Four Hundred
10 Ninety-Three and 43/100 ($1,610,493.43) Dollars plus interest is hereby payable out of the
11 State General Fund (Direct) for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 for the payment of the judgment
12 captioned "Dawn Marie DePedro, et al versus State of Louisiana, through the Department
13 of Transportation and Development", signed on December 13, 2023 and affirmed by the
14 First Circuit Court of Appeal on July 3, 2025, between the state of Louisiana, through the
15 Department of Transportation and Development, and Dawn Marie DePedro, Kamden
16 DePedro, and Dawn Marie DePedro on behalf of her minor child, Alianna DePedro, bearing
17 number 127,022, Division B, on the docket of the Twenty-Third Judicial District, parish of
18 Ascension, state of Louisiana.
19 Section 2. Of the amount appropriated in Section 1 of this Act, an amount equal to
20 the sum of One Million Thirteen Thousand Five Hundred Six and 35/100 ($1,013,506.35)
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HLS 26RS-869 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 1075
1 Dollars, plus interest on the sum from the date of judicial demand until paid as provided by
2 law and the judgment, is hereby payable for the portion of the judgment against the state of
3 Louisiana, through the Department of Transportation and Development, and in favor of
4 Dawn Marie DePedro.
5 Section 3. Of the amount appropriated in Section 1 of this Act, an amount equal to
6 the sum of Two Hundred Ninety-Eight Thousand Four Hundred Ninety-Three and 54/100
7 ($298,493.54) Dollars, plus interest on the sum from the date of judicial demand until paid
8 as provided by law and the judgment, is hereby payable for the portion of the judgment
9 against the state of Louisiana, through the Department of Transportation and Development,
10 and in favor of Kamden DePedro.
11 Section 4. Of the amount appropriated in Section 1 of this Act, an amount equal to
12 the sum of Two Hundred Ninety-Eight Thousand Four Hundred Ninety-Three and 54/100
13 ($298,493.54) Dollars, plus interest on the sum from the date of judicial demand until paid
14 as provided by law and the judgment, is hereby payable for the portion of the judgment
15 against the state of Louisiana, through the Department of Transportation and Development,
16 and in favor of Dawn Marie DePedro on behalf of her minor child, Alianna DePedro.
17 Section 5. A judgment may only be paid from this appropriation if it is final and shall
18 be paid as to principal, court costs, and expert witness fees as awarded in the judgment.
19 Interest shall be paid as provided by law and awarded in the judgment. If the provisions of
20 the judgment conflict with the provisions of this Act, the provisions of the judgment shall
21 be controlling. Any other provision of this Act not in conflict with the provisions of the
22 judgment shall control. Payment shall be made only after presentation to the state treasurer
23 of documentation required by the state treasurer. Further, the judgment shall be deemed to
24 have been paid on the effective date of this Act, and interest shall cease to run as of that date.
25 Section 6. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
26 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
27 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
28 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
29 effective on the day following such approval.
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HLS 26RS-869 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 1075
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 1075 Original 2026 Regular Session Ventrella
Appropriates $1,610,493.43 out of the State General Fund (Direct) for FY 2025-2026 for
payment of the judgment against the state in the suit captioned Dawn Marie DePedro et al.
v. State of La., through the Dept. of Transportation and Development, bearing No. 127,022,
Division B, on the docket of the 23rd Judicial District, parish of Ascension.
Of the amount appropriated, allocates $1,013,506.35, plus judicial interest to Dawn Marie
DePedro; $298,493.54, plus judicial interest to Kamden DePedro; and $298,493.54, plus
judicial interest to Dawn Marie DePedro on behalf of her minor child, Alianna DePedro.
Proposed law provides relative to payment. Provides relative to conflicts between judgment
and proposed law.
Effective upon the signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
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