Louisiana Redesignates Magnolia Bridge as Caleb Easterling Memorial Bridge

Original title: BRIDGES/FERRIES: Redesignates the Magnolia Bridge as the "Caleb Easterling Memorial Bridge"

Last action · May 29, 2026: Effective date: 08/01/2026.Sponsors: Lauren Ventrella and 80 others

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What This Bill Does

Louisiana House Bill 354 officially redesignates the Magnolia Bridge on Louisiana Highway 64 as the "Caleb Easterling Memorial Bridge" starting August 1, 2026.

Why it matters

Changes only the official honorary designation of a bridge connecting East Baton Rouge Parish and Livingston Parish; no funding or service changes are stated beyond the installation of memorial signage.

Who It Affects

Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Department of Transportation and Development

The department is directed to erect and maintain new memorial signage provided local or private funds cover the costs.

Directly affected

Residents of East Baton Rouge Parish and Livingston Parish

The local bridge connecting the two parishes receives a new official commemorative name.

Key Facts

The bridge located on Louisiana Highway 64 spanning the Amite River at the boundary between East Baton Rouge Parish and Livingston Parish is redesignated as the "Caleb Easterling Memorial Bridge".
The Department of Transportation and Development or its contractors are directed to erect and maintain appropriate signage reflecting the new designation.
Signage installation requires local or private monies equal to the department's actual costs for material, fabrication, mounting posts, and installation, not to exceed seven hundred fifty dollars per sign.
The Act becomes effective on August 1, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which bridge is being renamed under House Bill 354?

The bridge located on Louisiana Highway 64 over the Amite River at the boundary of East Baton Rouge Parish and Livingston Parish, commonly known as the Magnolia Bridge.

Who pays for the new memorial signage?

The signage installation requires local or private monies received by the department equal to the actual costs for materials, fabrication, mounting posts, and installation, up to $750 per sign.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

26 actions

May 29, 2026HouseEnrolled
Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 429.
May 29, 2026House
Effective date: 08/01/2026.
May 21, 2026House
Sent to the Governor for executive approval.
May 20, 2026House
Received from the Senate without amendments.
May 20, 2026HouseEnrolled
Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.
May 20, 2026SenateEnrolled
Signed by the President of the Senate.

Show 20 earlier actions

May 19, 2026Senate
Rules suspended. Called from the Calendar.
May 19, 2026SenateFloor
Read by title, passed by a vote of 33 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
May 12, 2026Senate
Rules suspended.
May 12, 2026SenateIntroduced
Read by title and returned to the Calendar, subject to call.
May 5, 2026SenateFloor
Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.
May 4, 2026SenateIntroduced
Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
Apr 29, 2026SenateCommittee
Reported favorably.
Mar 23, 2026SenateCommittee
Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works.
Mar 18, 2026House
Rules suspended.
Mar 18, 2026House
Called from the calendar.
Mar 18, 2026HouseFloor
Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 95, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
Mar 18, 2026Senate
Received in the Senate. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.
Mar 17, 2026HouseIntroduced
Read by title, returned to the calendar.
Mar 16, 2026House
Scheduled for floor debate on 03/17/2026.
Mar 11, 2026HouseFloor
Read by title, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.
Mar 10, 2026HouseCommittee
Reported favorably (14-0).
Mar 9, 2026HouseIntroduced
Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works.
Feb 27, 2026House
First appeared in the Interim Calendar on 2/27/2026.
Feb 24, 2026House
Prefiled.
Feb 24, 2026HouseCommittee
Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works.

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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