HB503 • 2026

HIGHWAYS: Authorizes utility terrain vehicles to travel on the shoulder of certain roadways in Golden Meadow

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Joseph Orgeron
Last action: 2026-05-26
Official status: Sent to Governor
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not explicitly state that the governing authority must require UTV operators to have proper licensing and insurance, nor does it specify what happens if the Governor vetoes this bill.

Utility Terrain Vehicles on Shoulders of Certain Roadways

This bill allows utility terrain vehicles to travel on the shoulders of certain public roads and streets in Golden Meadow, Louisiana.

What This Bill Does

Allows utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) to use the shoulders of public roads and streets in Golden Meadow.
Defines what a utility terrain vehicle is for this law.

Who It Names or Affects

People who own or operate utility terrain vehicles in Golden Meadow.
The governing authority of Golden Meadow, which sets rules and collects fees.

Terms To Know

Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV): A recreational motor vehicle designed for travel over designated roads with specific size and weight requirements.
Governing Authority: The local government body that makes decisions about the operation of UTVs in Golden Meadow.

Limits and Unknowns

This law only applies to certain roads with a speed limit of thirty miles per hour or less.
It does not specify what happens if the Governor vetoes this bill.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

House Committee Amendment #1798 THPW Adopted

Adopted

Plain English: HCAHB503 4931 1798 HOUSE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS 2026 Regular Session Amendments proposed by House Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works to Original House Bill No.

HCAHB503 4931 1798 HOUSE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS 2026 Regular Session Amendments proposed by House Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works to Original House Bill No.
503 by Representative Orgeron 1 AMENDMENT NO.
1 2 On page 1, line 2, after "reenact" and before "(B)" change "R.S.
32:297.1(A)(1)," to "R.S.

House Committee Amendment #1739 THPW Draft

Draft

Plain English: HCAHB503 4931 1739 HOUSE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS 2026 Regular Session Amendments proposed by House Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works to Original House Bill No.

HCAHB503 4931 1739 HOUSE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS 2026 Regular Session Amendments proposed by House Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works to Original House Bill No.
503 by Representative Orgeron 1 AMENDMENT NO.
1 2 On page 1, line 2, after "reenact" and before "(B)" change "R.S.
32:297.1(A)(1)," to "R.S.

Bill History

2026-05-26 H
Sent to the Governor for executive approval.
2026-05-25 S
Signed by the President of the Senate.
2026-05-25 H
Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.
2026-05-25 H
Received from the Senate without amendments.
2026-05-20 S
Rules suspended. Read by title, passed by a vote of 35 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
2026-05-13 S
Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.
2026-05-12 S
Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
2026-05-11 S
Reported favorably.
2026-03-24 S
Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works.
2026-03-23 S
Received in the Senate. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.
2026-03-23 H
Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 98, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
2026-03-18 H
Scheduled for floor debate on 03/23/2026.
2026-03-17 H
Read by title, amended, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.
2026-03-16 H
Reported with amendments (13-0).
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.
2026-02-26 H
Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works.
2026-02-26 H
Prefiled.

Official Summary Text

HIGHWAYS: Authorizes utility terrain vehicles to travel on the shoulder of certain roadways in Golden Meadow

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

ENROLLED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 503
BY REPRESENTATIVE ORGERON
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 32:297.1(A)(1), (B), and (C) and to enact R.S. 32:297.1(A)(5),
3 relative to the use of utility terrain vehicles on roadways in Golden Meadow; to
4 authorize the use of utility terrain vehicles on the shoulders of public roads and
5 streets of Golden Meadow; to provide for definitions; and to provide for related
6 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. R.S. 32:297.1(A)(1), (B), and (C) are hereby amended and reenacted and
12 R.S. 32:297.1(A)(5) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
13 §297.1. Alternative pathways for golf carts, utility terrain vehicles, and low-speed
14 vehicles; Golden Meadow
15 A. As used in this Section, the following terms shall have the following
16 meanings:
17 (1) "Golf cart" means an electric a four-wheeled vehicle originally intended
18 for use off-road on golf courses and other green spaces whose maximum speed is
19 twenty-five miles per hour.
20 * * *
21 (5)(a) "Utility terrain vehicle" means any recreational motor vehicle
22 designed for and capable of travel over designated roads, with a minimum width of
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HB NO. 503 ENROLLED
1 fifty inches but not exceeding seventy-four inches and a minimum weight of at least
2 seven hundred pounds but not exceeding three thousand five hundred pounds.
3 "Utility terrain vehicle" shall include those vehicles not equipped with a certification
4 label as required by 49 CFR Part 567.4. A "utility terrain vehicle" or "UTV" also
5 means a recreational off-highway vehicle or ROV.
6 (b) "Utility terrain vehicle" does not include golf carts, vehicles specially
7 designed to carry a disabled person, or vehicles otherwise registered under R.S.
8 32:299.
9 B.(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the
10 governing authority of Golden Meadow may, in its discretion, by ordinance
11 authorize the operation of golf carts, utility terrain vehicles, and low-speed vehicles
12 only on the shoulder of a public road and street, except for Louisiana Highway 3235,
13 having a speed limit of thirty miles or less per hour. The authorization shall be
14 contained in an ordinance and recorded in the minutes of the governing authority.
15 The authorization may be accompanied by conditions not inconsistent with this
16 Section and may be revoked, in whole, or in part, by the governing authority at any
17 time.
18 (2) Any person operating a golf cart, utility terrain vehicle, or low-speed
19 vehicle on the shoulder of a public road or street in the town pursuant to this Section
20 shall be properly licensed to operate a vehicle upon any highway within this state and
21 shall have in his possession proof of insurance as required by Part I-A of Chapter 5
22 of this Title.
23 C.(1) Every golf cart, utility terrain vehicle, and low-speed vehicle operated
24 pursuant to this Section shall be required to be registered with the governing
25 authority. The owner of the golf cart, utility terrain vehicle, or low-speed vehicle
26 shall be issued a registration decal by the governing authority that must be displayed
27 as determined by the governing authority. The registration shall remain valid for as
28 long as the registering owner owns the golf cart, utility terrain vehicle, or low-speed
29 vehicle.
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HB NO. 503 ENROLLED
1 (2) The governing authority may, by ordinance, establish a registration fee
2 for golf carts, utility terrain vehicles, and low-speed vehicles. The registration fee
3 shall be retained by the municipal clerk and deposited into the municipal general
4 fund.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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