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SLS 26RS-265 REENGROSSED
2026 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 80
BY SENATOR MIZELL
COMMERCIAL REGULATIONS. Provides for the regulation of certain broadband
services. (8/1/26)
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 51:2370.13, 2370.15, 2370.32(B), 2370.41, and 2370.51, relative
3 to the regulation of certain broadband services; to provide for administration fees;
4 to provide for reimbursement of grantees; to provide for grants; and to provide for
5 related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 51:2370.13, 2370.15, 2370.32(B), 2370.41, and 2370.51 are hereby
8 amended and reenacted to read as follows:
9 §2370.13. Administration fee
10 The office may use up to one two and one-half percent of the appropriated
11 funds to administer the GUMBO program. The office may use an additional one two
12 and one-half percent of the appropriated funds to hire third-party contractors as
13 deemed necessary for the further administration of the GUMBO program. The
14 additional one two and one-half percent shall not be used as compensation for any
15 new or existing positions within the office.
16 * * *
17 §2370.15. Reimbursement for grantees
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
SB NO. 80
SLS 26RS-265 REENGROSSED
1 Initial funding of ten percent shall be distributed to a grantee once the grantee
2 has demonstrated that ten percent of the project has been completed. Thereafter,
3 payments shall be distributed as follows: thirty-five percent completion, sixty percent
4 completion, eighty-five percent completion, and the final fifteen percent The office
5 may determine the thresholds of completion for the remaining disbursements
6 and promulgate appropriate rules. The final payment shall not be paid without
7 an approved completion report. Invoice for final payment shall be submitted within
8 ninety days of completion date. All invoices are subject to audit for three years from
9 the completion date.
10 * * *
11 §2370.32. Reimbursement for grantees
12 * * *
13 B. Except as provided in Subsection C of this Section, the next ten percent
14 of the subgrant award shall be provided based on provider certification and the
15 office's verification that ten percent of the eligible locations have been reached. The
16 remaining disbursements shall be given at the thresholds of completion of thirty-five
17 percent, sixty percent, eighty-five percent, and one hundred percent. The office may
18 determine the thresholds of completion for the remaining disbursements which
19 shall be defined in the GUMBO 2.0 subgrant agreement. The final disbursement
20 for one hundred percent completion shall be given only after verification of one
21 hundred percent deployment to eligible locations, within the mandatory forty-eight-
22 month maximum deadline, which may be extended up to a year by the office or
23 another shorter timeline certified by the applicant. The office shall disburse funds
24 only for completed deployments that comply with the terms included in the
25 successful application and shall withhold funds for failure to do so.
26 * * *
27 §2370.41. GUMBO 3.0
28 A. In the event that there are remaining GUMBO 2.0 funds after the
29 obligation of infrastructure funds, the office shall run a grant program,
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words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
SB NO. 80
SLS 26RS-265 REENGROSSED
1 nondeployment, that will allow eligible parties including but not limited to state
2 agencies, nonprofits, for-profits, academic institutions, and planning commissions
3 to utilize these funds to help address challenges in economic development, workforce
4 development, health care, cybersecurity, agriculture, and other sectors and industries
5 of importance to the state of Louisiana, as determined by approval of Volume 2 of
6 Initial Proposal from the office and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, or
7 IIJA, the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment, or BEAD, Program, and the
8 Notice of Funding Opportunity, or NOFO, with an obligation deadline of these funds
9 to be completed no later than December 12, 2024. This program will be designated
10 as "Granting Unserved Municipalities Broadband Opportunities 3.0", and the office
11 shall have the authority to create appropriate rules and scoring criteria.
12 B. Grants solicited and awarded pursuant to the GUMBO 3.0 program
13 are subject to the provisions of the Louisiana Procurement Code, R.S. 39:1551
14 et seq., or the state Public Bid Law, R.S. 38:2181 et seq. Alternative
15 procurement methods consistent with the requirements defined by the assistant
16 secretary of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration
17 of the United States Department of Commerce may be used to solicit and award
18 grants pursuant to the GUMBO 3.0 program if determined in writing by the
19 commissioner of administration to be in the best interest of the state. The office
20 may promulgate rules that are consistent with the requirements promulgated
21 by the assistant secretary pursuant to the IIJA, BEAD program guidelines, state
22 law, and this Subpart.
23 §2370.51. GUMBO 4.0
24 A. The office shall have the authority to develop the rules, scoring criteria,
25 and eligibility in the execution of the State's First Digital Opportunity Plan, pending
26 approval from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration,
27 a Sub-Agency of the United States Department of Commerce. Eligible parties shall
28 include but not be limited to state agencies, nonprofits, for-profits, academic
29 institutions, and planning commissions. This program will be designated as
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
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1 "Granting Unserved Municipalities Broadband Opportunities 4.0".
2 B. Grants solicited and awarded pursuant to the GUMBO 4.0 program
3 are subject to the provisions of the Louisiana Procurement Code, R.S. 39:1551
4 et seq., or the state Public Bid Law, R.S. 38:2181 et seq. Alternative
5 procurement methods consistent with the requirements defined by the assistant
6 secretary of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration
7 of the United States Department of Commerce may be used to solicit and award
8 grants pursuant to the GUMBO 4.0 program if determined in writing by the
9 commissioner of administration to be in the best interest of the state. The office
10 may promulgate rules that are consistent with the requirements promulgated
11 by the assistant secretary pursuant to the IIJA, BEAD program guidelines, state
12 law, and this Subpart.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Senate Legislative Services.
The keyword, summary, 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)]
DIGEST
SB 80 Reengrossed 2026 Regular Session Mizell
Present law provides for the office of broadband development and connectivity.
Present law provides that the office may use up to 1% of the appropriated funds to
administer the GUMBO program. Provides that the office may use an additional 1% of the
appropriated funds to hire third-party contractors as deemed necessary for the further
administration of the GUMBO program and provides that the additional 1% percent shall
not be used as compensation for any new or existing positions within the office.
Proposed law increases the amount the office may use to administer the GUMBO program
from 1% to 2.5%.
Proposed law increases the amount the office may use to hire third-party contractors as
deemed necessary for the further administration of the GUMBO program from 1% to 2.5%.
Present law provides the initial funding of 10% shall be distributed to a GUMBO 1.0 grantee
once the grantee has demonstrated that 10% of the project has been completed. Provides that
payments shall be then distributed as follows: 35% completion, 60% completion, 85%
completion, and the final 15% payment shall not be paid without an approved completion
report.
Proposed law amends present law to provide that after the initial funding of 10%, the office
may determine the thresholds of completion for the remaining disbursements and promulgate
appropriate rules. Prohibits the final payment be paid without an approved completion
report.
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
SB NO. 80
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Present law provides that except as provided in present law, the next 10% of the GUMBO
2.0 subgrant award, after the initial 10%, shall be provided based on provider certification
and the office's verification that 10% of the eligible locations have been reached. Provides
that the remaining disbursements shall be given at the thresholds of completion of 35%,
60%, 85%, and 100%.
Proposed law provides that the office may determine the thresholds of completion for the
remaining disbursements which shall be defined in the GUMBO 2.0 subgrant agreement.
Present law creates the GUMBO 3.0 program.
Proposed law provides for grants administered under the GUMBO 3.0 program.
Present law creates the GUMBO 4.0 program.
Proposed law provides for grants administered under the GUMBO 4.0 program.
Effective August 1, 2026.
(Amends R.S. 51:2370.13, 2370.15, 2370.32(B), 2370.41, and 2370.51)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer
Protection, and International Affairs to the original bill
1. Remove the oversight and enforcement authority by the office of broadband
development and connectivity.
Senate Floor Amendments to engrossed bill
1. Make technical changes.
2. Correctly change the name from the United States Department of Commerce
for Communications and Information to the National Telecommunications
and Information Administration of the United States Department of
Commerce.
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.