HB354 • 2026

BRIDGES/FERRIES: Redesignates the Magnolia Bridge as the "Caleb Easterling Memorial Bridge"

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Lauren Ventrella
Last action: 2026-05-29
Official status: Signed by the Governor - Act 429
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not specify that the limit of $750 per sign is explicitly stated as a law, but rather it's mentioned in the context of receiving funds equal to actual costs. The exact wording and enforcement details are not provided beyond this context.

Redesignating the Magnolia Bridge

This law changes the name of the Magnolia Bridge to the Caleb Easterling Memorial Bridge.

What This Bill Does

Changes the official name of a bridge from 'Magnolia Bridge' to 'Caleb Easterling Memorial Bridge'.
Requires the Department of Transportation and Development to put up new signs with the new name if they receive enough money to cover their costs.

Who It Names or Affects

People who use the bridge on Louisiana Highway 64 over the Amite River between East Baton Rouge Parish and Livingston Parish.
The Department of Transportation and Development, which is responsible for putting up new signs.

Terms To Know

Department of Transportation and Development: A government agency that manages transportation projects in Louisiana.

Limits and Unknowns

The law only changes the name of the bridge; it does not change how the bridge is used or maintained.
It's unclear if there are any other bridges named after Caleb Easterling elsewhere.

Bill History

2026-05-29 H
Effective date: 08/01/2026.
2026-05-29 H
Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 429.
2026-05-21 H
Sent to the Governor for executive approval.
2026-05-20 S
Signed by the President of the Senate.
2026-05-20 H
Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.
2026-05-20 H
Received from the Senate without amendments.
2026-05-19 S
Read by title, passed by a vote of 33 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
2026-05-19 S
Rules suspended. Called from the Calendar.
2026-05-12 S
Read by title and returned to the Calendar, subject to call.
2026-05-12 S
Rules suspended.
2026-05-05 S
Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.
2026-05-04 S
Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
2026-04-29 S
Reported favorably.
2026-03-23 S
Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works.
2026-03-18 S
Received in the Senate. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.
2026-03-18 H
Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 95, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
2026-03-18 H
Called from the calendar.
2026-03-18 H
Rules suspended.
2026-03-17 H
Read by title, returned to the calendar.
2026-03-16 H
Scheduled for floor debate on 03/17/2026.
2026-03-11 H
Read by title, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.
2026-03-10 H
Reported favorably (14-0).
2026-03-09 H
Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works.
2026-02-27 H
First appeared in the Interim Calendar on 2/27/2026.
2026-02-24 H
Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works.
2026-02-24 H
Prefiled.

Official Summary Text

BRIDGES/FERRIES: Redesignates the Magnolia Bridge as the "Caleb Easterling Memorial Bridge"

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

ENROLLED
ACT No. 4292026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 354
BY REPRESENTATIVES VENTRELLA, ADAMS, AMEDEE, BAGLEY, BAMBURG,
BAYHAM, BEAULLIEU, BERAULT, BILLINGS, BOUDREAUX,
BOURRIAQUE, BOYER, BRASS, BROUSSARD, BRYANT, BUTLER,
CARRIER, WILFORD CARTER, CARVER, CHASSION, CHENEVERT,
COATES, COX, DESHOTEL, DEVILLIER, DEWITT, DICKERSON,
EDMONSTON, EGAN, FISHER, GEYMANN, GLORIOSO, GREEN, HEBERT,
HILFERTY, ILLG, JACKSON, MIKE JOHNSON, JORDAN, KERNER, KNOX,
LACOMBE, LAFLEUR, JACOB LANDRY, LARVADAIN, MARTINEZ,
MCFARLAND, MCMAKIN, MOORE, MURRAY, MUSCARELLO, NEWELL,
OWEN, PHELPS, RISER, SCHAMERHORN, SCHLEGEL, SPELL, STAGNI,
TAYLOR, THOMPSON, TURNER, VILLIO, WALTERS, WYBLE, AND
ZERINGUE AND SENATORS BARROW, BASS, CLOUD, EDMONDS, HARRIS,
HENRY, HENSGENS, JACKSON-ANDREWS, KLEINPETER, LAMBERT,
MIGUEZ, MILLER, MORRIS, PRESSLY, AND SEABAUGH
1 AN ACT
2 To redesignate the bridge located on Louisiana Highway 64 over the Amite River at the
3 boundary of East Baton Rouge Parish and Livingston Parish as the "Caleb Easterling
4 Memorial Bridge"; to provide for implementation; and to provide for related matters.
5 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. The bridge located on Louisiana Highway 64 spanning the Amite River
7 at the boundary between East Baton Rouge Parish and Livingston Parish, commonly known
8 as the Magnolia Bridge, which connects Greenwell Springs Road in East Baton Rouge
9 Parish to Magnolia Bridge Road in Livingston Parish shall be known and is hereby
10 redesignated as the "Caleb Easterling Memorial Bridge".
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HB NO. 354 ENROLLED
1 Section 2. The Department of Transportation and Development or its contractors are
2 hereby directed to erect and maintain appropriate signage reflecting this designation
3 provided local or private monies are received by the department equal to the department's
4 actual costs for material, fabrication, mounting posts, and installation of the signage, not to
5 exceed the sum of seven hundred fifty dollars per sign.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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