HB354 • 2026

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

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Lauren Ventrella
Last action: 2026-05-21
Official status: Sent to Governor
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide details about what happens if local or private funds are insufficient to cover signage costs.

Redesignating the Magnolia Bridge

This bill 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 or its contractors to put up new signs with the new name if local or private funds cover the department's actual costs for signage.

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 in Louisiana.

Terms To Know

Department of Transportation and Development: A government agency responsible for building, maintaining, and managing roads, bridges, and other transportation infrastructure.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what will happen if local or private funds are not available to cover the cost of new signs.
It is unclear when the Governor will take action on this bill.

Bill History

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
2026 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".
Page 1 of 2
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:
Page 2 of 2