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HB 1037

TRANSPORTATION DEPT: Modifies operations and certain positions within the Department of Transportation and Development (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Ryan Bourriaque

HB 1037 centralizes DOTD reform under a new COO who oversees project delivery and operations, extending key reform deadlines to 2027.

Effective date: 05/22/2026.
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Bill Summary · HB 1037

Summary of HB 1037 (Louisiana, 2026 Regular Session)

Purpose
- Reforms operations within the Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) and establishes the new office of Chief Operating Officer (COO) to oversee transformation, project delivery, and operations.
- Extends deadlines for certain department-wide reforms and vendor payments.

Key Provisions and Changes
- New Officer and Unclassified Status
- Adds the Chief Operating Officer (COO) as an officer of DOTD.
- Moves the COO to unclassified status (no state salary protections mentioned beyond general compensation framework).

  • Secretary and Administrative Structure

    • Removes the explicit requirement that the Secretary must also serve as the chief administrative officer of DOTD.
    • Keeps the Secretary as the executive head with policy responsibility, but assigns broader administrative oversight to the Deputy Secretary and COO.

  • Deputy Secretary Enhancements

    • The Deputy Secretary gains responsibility to oversee the Office of Transformation and to supervise the Office of Management and Finance (OM&F) indirectly by supervising the Undersecretary and related functions.
    • The Deputy Secretary is added to the chain of command for supervising the OM&F and its Undersecretary; changes clarify that the Deputy Secretary cannot modify the core duties of OM&F and Undersecretary, but can assign additional duties.

  • Office of Project Delivery (OPD) and Office of Operations

    • Establishes and reorganizes reporting lines:
    • The COO will supervise the OPD and the Office of Operations (OO).
    • The Assistant Secretary for OPD and the Assistant Secretary for Operations will now report directly to the COO (instead of the Secretary).
    • The COO has authority to approve and direct personnel actions (employ, appoint, transfer, etc.) for the OPD and OO, with oversight over the Assistant Secretary’s staffing decisions.

  • Chief Engineer and Reporting

    • Clarifies that the Chief Engineer’s authority to approve plans, specifications, and estimates is tied to the office responsible (the OPD) and updates reporting obligations to the Secretary accordingly.

  • Departmental Reform Deadlines

    • Access permit reforms (policy, administrative code, engineering directives, standards manual, online application) deadline extended from June 30, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
    • Project development and reform (stabilizing letting processes and bi-monthly vendor payments) extended from June 30, 2026 to June 30, 2027.

Effective Date
- Effective upon the Governor’s signature or the lapse of time for gubernatorial action.

Additional Details
- The bill adds a new statutory section: R.S. 36:505.1, detailing the COO’s creation, appointment, term, salary limitations (not exceeding the legislature-approved amount for the position while in session), and duties (to supervise OPD and OO and other duties assigned by the Secretary).

Who is Affected
- DOTD leadership and structure (Secretary, Deputy Secretary, COO, Undersecretary, Assistant Secretaries for OPD and OO, Chief Engineer, etc.).
- Staff within the OPD and OO, including personnel approvals and staffing authority.
- Vendors, contractors, and project financing processes due to changes in supervision and reform timelines.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects
- Reforms and online permitting system: new target date June 30, 2027.
- Project development reforms and vendor payment remittance: new target date June 30, 2027.
- Effective date: contingent on gubernatorial action (signature) or the constitutional period for inaction.

Note on Scope
- The bill reorganizes internal governance and lines of authority within DOTD, centralizing operational reform under the COO, and extending timelines for major modernization efforts. It does not specify total funding shifts but conditions the COO’s and Deputy Secretary’s authority within the existing compensation framework and civil service rules.

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

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