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Read. Follow. Verify.Louisiana requires aerial applicators to use radios and transponders at public airports starting August 2026
Last action · June 8, 2026: Effective date: 08/01/2026.Sponsor: Daryl Deshotel
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What This Bill Does
Louisiana law now requires licensed using publicly owned airports or airport priority programs to operate federally compliant transponders and two-way radios during takeoffs and landings. The measure prohibits local political subdivisions from discriminating against licensed agricultural pilots and empowers the Department of Agriculture and Forestry to inspect sites and suspend violators. These rules take effect on August 1, 2026.
Agricultural aircraft pilots operating out of public airstrips must equip their planes with specific communication and tracking technology or face suspension of airport access. Political subdivisions gain explicit prohibitions against treating licensed crop dusters differently from other airport users.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
aerial applicators
Agricultural pilots must operate federally compliant transponders and two-way radios during takeoffs and landings at public airports, follow standard traffic patterns at non-towered airports, and are subject to inspections and potential use suspensions by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry.
airport authorities
Airport operators cannot discriminate against licensed aerial applicators and may request Department of Agriculture and Forestry inspections if they object to a facility's use.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What equipment must aerial applicators use at public airports?
What happens if an airport authority objects to an aerial applicator using its facilities?
Are pilots required to follow standard traffic patterns at airports without control towers?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
28 actions- Jun 8, 2026HouseEnrolledSigned by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 825.
- Jun 8, 2026HouseEffective date: 08/01/2026.
- Jun 1, 2026SenateEnrolledSigned by the President of the Senate.
- Jun 1, 2026HouseSent to the Governor for executive approval.
- May 31, 2026HouseEnrolledEnrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.
- May 29, 2026HouseCalled from the calendar.
Show 22 earlier actions
- May 29, 2026HouseIntroducedRead by title, roll called, yeas 99, nays 0, Senate amendments concurred in.
- May 27, 2026HouseIntroducedRead by title, returned to the calendar.
- May 27, 2026HouseNotice given.
- May 27, 2026HouseScheduled for concurrence on 05/29/2026.
- May 26, 2026HouseScheduled for concurrence on 05/27/2026.
- May 25, 2026HouseReceived from the Senate with amendments.
- May 21, 2026SenateFloorRules suspended. The amended bill was read by title, passed by a vote of 35 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
- May 13, 2026SenateFloorReported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.
- May 12, 2026SenateFloorCommittee amendments read and adopted. Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
- May 11, 2026SenateReported with amendments.
- Apr 22, 2026SenateRules suspended. Recalled from Committee.
- Apr 22, 2026SenateIntroducedRead by title. Recommitted to the Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works.
- Apr 21, 2026SenateCommitteeRead second time by title and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development.
- Apr 20, 2026SenateReceived in the Senate. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.
- Apr 15, 2026HouseFloorRead third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 98, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
- Apr 14, 2026HouseScheduled for floor debate on 04/15/2026.
- Apr 13, 2026HouseFloorRead by title, amended, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.
- Apr 9, 2026HouseReported with amendments (13-0).
- Mar 9, 2026HouseIntroducedRead by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development.
- Feb 27, 2026HousePrefiled.
- Feb 27, 2026HouseCommitteeUnder the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development.
- Feb 27, 2026HouseFirst appeared in the Interim Calendar on 2/27/2026.
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
www.legis.la.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance45How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy15Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
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