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HLS 26RS-426 ORIGINAL
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 116
BY REPRESENTATIVE TRAVIS JOHNSON AND SENATOR WOMACK
DISTRICTS/RAILROAD: Provides relative to the Northeast Louisiana Multimodal District
1 AN ACT
2 To enact Subpart G-2 of Part IV of Chapter 1 of Title 33 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes
3 of 1950, to be comprised of R.S. 33:140.120.1, relative to railroad development
4 districts; to provide relative to the Northeast Louisiana Multimodal District; to
5 provide for the powers and duties of the district; to provide for an effective date; and
6 to provide for related matters.
7 Notice of intention to introduce this Act has been published
8 as provided by Article III, Section 13 of the Constitution of
9 Louisiana.
10 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
11 Section 1. Subpart G-2 of Part IV of Chapter 1 of Title 33 of the Louisiana Revised
12 Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S. 33:140.120.1, is hereby enacted to read as follows:
13 SUBPART G-2. NORTHEAST LOUISIANA MULTIMODAL DISTRICT
14 §140.120.1. Northeast Louisiana Multimodal District; powers and duties
15 In addition to the powers granted to railroad development districts pursuant
16 to Subpart G of this Part, the Northeast Louisiana Multimodal District, referred to
17 in this Section as the "district", may exercise all powers of a political subdivision
18 necessary or convenient for the purpose of promoting and encouraging the
19 development of rail service and industrial and economic development within the
20 district, including but not limited to the following:
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-426 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 116
1 (1) To enter into contracts for the purchase, acquisition, construction,
2 operation, maintenance, and improvement of works and facilities necessary in
3 connection with the purposes of the district, including contracts with a rail freight
4 common carrier authorized under Title 49 of the United States Code to operate over
5 the rail lines of the district in providing and conducting rail services for the district,
6 which company shall be subject to all applicable federal and state regulatory
7 authorities, laws, rules, and regulations governing the operations of a freight
8 common carrier railroad in the state of Louisiana.
9 (2) To exercise any power that may be exercised by an industrial
10 development board pursuant to Chapter 7 of Title 51 of the Louisiana Revised
11 Statutes of 1950.
12 (3) To exercise any power that may be exercised by an economic
13 development district pursuant to Part II of Chapter 27 of this Title.
14 (4) To create subdistricts as provided in this Paragraph. The district shall
15 publish notice of its intent to create a subdistrict in the official journal of the district.
16 Not less than ten days after publication of such notice in the official journal of the
17 district, the board of commissioners of the district shall conduct a public hearing on
18 the question of creating the subdistrict. Thereafter, the board may designate one or
19 more proposed areas within the boundaries of the district as a subdistrict of the
20 district. Each subdistrict shall constitute a political subdivision of the state and shall
21 be governed by the board. Each subdistrict shall have the same powers granted to
22 the district. Each subdistrict shall be given a suitable name as the board may
23 designate.
24 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
25 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
26 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
27 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
28 effective on the day following such approval.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-426 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 116
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 116 Original 2026 Regular Session Travis Johnson
Abstract: Provides relative to the powers and duties of the Northeast Louisiana Multimodal
District.
Present law authorizes the governing authorities of two or more parishes to create, by
ordinance, a railroad development district composed of any part or all of the territory wholly
within the boundaries of the parishes. Provides that the district, if created, is a political
subdivision of the state and is granted all of the rights, powers, privileges, and immunities
granted to political subdivisions for economic development purposes. Provides that the
purpose of the district is to promote and encourage the development of rail service in the
area of the parishes to stimulate the economy through renewed commerce, industry, and for
the utilization and development of natural and human resources of the area by providing job
opportunities. Provides for the district's powers and duties.
Proposed law retains present law.
Proposed law provides that in addition to the powers granted to railroad development
districts pursuant present law, the Northeast La. Multimodal District may exercise all powers
of a political subdivision necessary or convenient for the purpose of promoting and
encouraging the development of rail service and industrial and economic development
within the district, including but not limited to the following:
(1) To enter into contracts for the purchase, acquisition, construction, operation,
maintenance, and improvement of works and facilities necessary in connection with
the purposes of the district, including contracts with a rail freight common carrier
authorized under present federal law (Title 49 of the U.S.C.) to operate over the rail
lines of the district.
(2) To exercise any power that may be exercised by an industrial development board
pursuant to present law (Chapter 7 of Title 51).
(3) To exercise any power that may be exercised by an economic development district
pursuant to present law (Part II of Chapter 27 of Title 33).
(4) To create subdistricts.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 33:140.120.1)
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.