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HB 714

RAILROADS: Requires local railroad companies to remediate or remove blighted or abandoned railroad lines and associated structures

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Tammy Phelps

HB 714 requires Caddo Parish railroad crossing owners to remediate or remove blighted/abandoned crossings within one year of enactment or a local finding, plus ongoing underpass ma

Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works.
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Bill Summary · HB 714

Summary of HB 714 (2026) – Louisiana

Basic information

  • Bill: HB 714
  • Session: 2026 Regular Session
  • Jurisdiction: Louisiana (Caddo Parish)
  • Sponsor: Rep. Tammy Phelps (co-sponsor listed)
  • Committee(s) involved: Transportation, Highways and Public Works (initial action)

Purpose and intent

HB 714 seeks to address blighted and abandoned railroad crossings and related structures in Caddo Parish by imposing remediation/removal obligations on the owner of the railroad crossings. It also requires ongoing preservation and upkeep of railroad underpasses to prevent blight.

Key provisions

1) Remediation or removal of blighted/abandoned crossings

  • New law added: Creates R.S. 48:390.2.
  • Who must act: Owners of railroad crossings located within Caddo Parish.
  • Timeline:
    • If the act takes effect on enactment, owners have one year to remediate or remove any existing blighted or abandoned railroad crossings and the associated structures.
    • If a local governing authority finds or declares a crossing to be blighted or abandoned after the act’s effective date, the owner has one year from the finding/declaration to remediate or remove the crossings and related structures.

2) Maintenance and preservation of underpasses

  • Ongoing duties: Railroad crossing owners must maintain and preserve underpasses within Caddo Parish.
  • Specific actions: Includes painting and rust removal to prevent underpasses from becoming a blight or nuisance.

Affected entities

  • Primary affected parties: Local railroad company owners operating crossings within Caddo Parish.
  • Geographic scope: Limited to Caddo Parish (Louisiana).

Procedural and timeline details

  • Effective date: The act becomes law on its effective date (not specified in the text provided). The practical effect is triggered by that date.
  • Remediation/removal deadline:
    • 1 year after enactment for existing blighted/abandoned crossings.
    • 1 year from local finding/declaration for crossings identified as blighted/abandoned after enactment.
  • Underpass maintenance deadline: Ongoing obligation; the bill sets ongoing preservation requirements (painting, rust removal) rather than a one-time deadline.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Public safety and aesthetics: Aims to reduce hazards and improve community appearance and safety around railroad crossings and underpasses.
  • Compliance burden: Creates a defined one-year remediation/removal period for owners to address blighted or abandoned crossings, plus ongoing maintenance duties for underpasses.
  • Local authority role: Local governing authorities play a role in identifying blighted/abandoned crossings and triggering the remediation timeline.

Summary in plain terms

HB 714 requires railroad crossing owners in Caddo Parish to remove or fix up any crossings and related structures that are blighted or abandoned within one year of the act taking effect or within one year of a local authority’s finding. It also mandates ongoing maintenance of underpasses to prevent them from becoming blighted, including tasks like painting and rust removal. The measure is aimed at improving safety and appearance of railroad infrastructure within the parish.

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

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