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SB 104

ROADS/HIGHWAYS: Designates a portion of Louisiana Highway 1 in Pointe Coupee Parish as the "Ernest J. Gaines Memorial Highway". (8/1/26) (EN +$3,000 SG EX See Note)

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Mark Abraham and 82 co-sponsors

Designates a segment of LA 1 in Pointe Coupee Parish as the Ernest J. Gaines Memorial Highway, with signs funded by local/private funds and installed by DOTD.

Effective date 8/1/2026.
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Bill Summary · SB 104

Summary of Louisiana SB 104 (2026) – Ernest J. Gaines Memorial Highway

Basic purpose

  • Designates a specific segment of Louisiana Highway 1 in Pointe Coupee Parish as the "Ernest J. Gaines Memorial Highway."
  • Effective date: August 1, 2026.

What the bill does (key provisions)

  • Section 1: Designation
    • The portion of Louisiana Highway 1 that begins at the intersection with Louisiana Highway 78 and ends at the Pointe Coupee Parish line (before crossing into Avoyelles Parish) is designated the “Ernest J. Gaines Memorial Highway.”
  • Section 2: Signage and funding
    • The Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) is directed to erect and maintain appropriate signs recognizing the designation.
    • The DOTD may proceed with signage only if local or private funds are provided to cover the department’s actual costs for materials, fabrication, mounting posts, and installation.
    • The cost per sign may not exceed $750.

Who/what is affected

  • Geographic area: A designated stretch of Louisiana Highway 1 in Pointe Coupee Parish.
  • Signage: DOTD responsibilities for erecting and maintaining memorial signs.
  • Financial aspect: Requires local or private contributions to cover signage costs; DOTD cannot incur costs beyond the funded amount per sign.

Procedural and timeline considerations

  • Effective date: August 1, 2026.
  • The bill outlines a funding mechanism tied to private/local contributions rather than general state funding for the signs.
  • Legislative history highlights several sponsor and co-sponsor endorsements, but no changes to existing highwayauthority beyond the designation and signage funding approach.

Practical impact and considerations

  • Commemorative recognition: Honors Ernest J. Gaines, a notable figure, by naming a highway segment in his honor.
  • Signage funding model: Places the financial responsibility for signs on local/private sources, potentially affecting the speed and feasibility of signage installation depending on community support.
  • No changes to traffic regulations, speed limits, or highway operations are proposed.

If you’d like, I can add a quick comparison to similar memory-honor designations in Louisiana or summarize potential budgeting implications for local sponsors.

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

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