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HCR 63

MTR VEHICLE/DRIVER LIC: Creates a task force to examine the feasibility and public safety implications of permitting certain active-duty military personnel without civilian driver's licenses to operate federally owned vehicles on state highways during the course of business

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Chuck Owen

The bill creates a Tiger Team to study whether active-duty military can drive federally owned vehicles on Louisiana roads without civilian licenses, with safeguards if allowed.

Taken by the Clerk of the House and presented to the Secretary of State in accordance with the Rules of the House.
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Bill Summary · HCR 63

Summary of House Concurrent Resolution 63 (2026) – Louisiana

Purpose and intent

  • Establishes a temporary, multi-agency task force called the “Tiger Team.”
  • Objective: study the feasibility and public safety implications of permitting certain active-duty military personnel to operate federally owned vehicles on Louisiana state highways without civilian drivers’ licenses while conducting federal business.
  • The resolution frames this as a readiness and operational efficiency issue related to major Louisiana military installations (e.g., Fort Polk, Barksdale AFB, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans) and the federal government’s insured, federally owned vehicles.

Key provisions and changes proposed

  • Creation of the Tiger Team, a collaborative committee composed of:
    1. Commissioner of the Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV)
    2. Superintendent of the Louisiana State Police
    3. Adjutant General of the Louisiana National Guard
    4. President of the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association
    5. President of the Louisiana Association of Chiefs of Police
    6. Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Forestry
  • Tasks for the Tiger Team:
    • Review the possibility of allowing active-duty service members to drive federally owned vehicles on Louisiana roads without a civilian state-issued driver’s license while performing federal duties.
    • Assess public safety implications and determine any necessary safeguards or conditions.
    • Develop a recommendation for the Governor, including potential executive-order authority and safeguards if permissible.
  • Deliverables and timeline:
    • The Tiger Team must convene no later than 30 days after the conclusion of the 2026 Regular Session.
    • A written report detailing findings, conclusions, and recommendations due to the Governor by December 1, 2026.
    • Copies of the report to:
    • Louisiana Legislature (House Transportation, Highways and Public Works Committee; Senate Transportation, Highways, and Public Works Committee)
    • U.S. Department of Defense (Secretary)
    • Commanding officers of Fort Polk, Barksdale AFB, and NAS JRB New Orleans
    • A copy of the report to be submitted to the David R. Poynter Legislative Research Library.

Who would be affected

  • Active-duty military personnel operating federally owned vehicles in Louisiana during federal business, potentially exempt from state civilian driver’s licenses under an approved framework.
  • State agencies and law enforcement entities involved in driver licensing, vehicle operation oversight, and public safety.
  • Military communities around Fort Polk, Barksdale AFB, and NAS JRB New Orleans, and broader Louisiana road users who may be impacted by any policy changes.

Procedural and timeline considerations

  • Status: A concurrent resolution; not law by itself but a directive for study.
  • Formation: Requires collaboration among multiple state agencies and public safety bodies.
  • Reporting deadline: December 1, 2026.
  • Post-report actions: The resolution envisions a governor’s executive-order framework if the Tiger Team recommends permission, including safeguards.

Potential impact and considerations

  • If the Tiger Team recommends authorization, Louisiana could issue an executive order allowing specific active-duty personnel to operate federally owned vehicles on state highways without a civilian driver’s license, subject to defined conditions and safety safeguards.
  • Key considerations will include:
    • Public safety risk assessments (e.g., training adequacy, vehicle operation standards, insurance and liability frameworks).
    • Safeguards (training verification, supervision, geographic or situational limits, reporting requirements).
    • Interactions with existing state licensing requirements and federal vehicle use policies.
    • Communication with federal partners and affected law enforcement agencies.

This bill is a structural step to evaluate a specialized operational exception and does not immediately change licensing requirements; it initiates a formal study and potential policy pathway for authorization, contingent on the Tiger Team’s findings.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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