HB 1168

HLS 26RS-2257  ORIGINAL
 2026 Regular Session
 HOUSE BILL NO. 1168
 BY REPRESENTATIVE WRIGHT
 BUILDING CODES: Provides standards for precast concrete pilings used in public or
  private construction projects
1AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 40:1730.40.3, relative to requirements for materials used in construction
3projects; to provide relative to precast concrete pilings; to provide for definitions; to
4require compliance with Department of Transportation and Development standards
5for precast concrete pilings in public or private construction projects; to provide for
6rulemaking authority; to provide for requirements for permitting; and to provide for
7related matters.
8 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
9Section 1. R.S. 40:1730.40.3 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
10§1730.40.3. Precast concrete pilings; statewide minimum standards; public and
11private construction
12A. As used in this Section, the following terms have the meanings ascribed
13to them:
14(1)     "Department" means the Department of Transportation and
15Development.
16(2) "DOTD piling requirements" means the then-current requirements of the
17Department of Transportation and Development applicable to precast concrete
18pilings, including but not limited to the Louisiana Standard Specifications for Roads
19and Bridges, supplemental specifications, standard plans, special details, technical
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  HB NO. 1168
1memoranda, quality assurance requirements, and any successor documents adopted
2or published by the department.
3(3) "Precast concrete piling" means a precast or precast-and-prestressed
4concrete pile, including any splice, pile segment, or related component, intended for
5use as a deep foundation element in a building, structure, roadway, bridge, marine
6structure, industrial facility, utility structure, or other construction.
7(4)   "Project" means a public or private construction, reconstruction,
8improvement, repair, enlargement, or other work in this state in which precast
9concrete pilings are specified or installed.
10B. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, each project in this
11state, whether publicly or privately funded, that involves precast concrete pilings
12shall use pilings that comply with DOTD piling requirements.
13C. Compliance pursuant to this Section includes, but is not limited to
14requirements governing all of the following:
15(1) Design criteria and allowable stresses.
16(2) Materials, fabrication, curing, storage, transportation, and handling.
17(3) Plant quality control and quality assurance.
18(4) Pile dimensions, prestressing, tolerances, and concrete strength.
19(5) Pile splices, including permitted use, acceptance criteria, and inspection.
20(6) Driving procedures, installation criteria, and field testing.
21(7) Inspection, documentation, acceptance, rejection, and corrective action.
22D. The DOTD piling requirements are hereby incorporated by reference as
23the minimum standards for precast concrete pilings on all projects in this state. When
24the department updates, supersedes, or replaces a requirement described in Paragraph
25(A)(2) of this Section, the updated requirement shall govern beginning on the
26effective date established by the department, unless otherwise provided by rule.
27E. The requirements of this Section are minimum standards. If any provision
28of the state uniform construction code, a local ordinance, or project specification is
29more stringent than the DOTD piling requirements, the more stringent provision
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  HB NO. 1168
1applies to the extent it does not conflict with mandatory safety, design, fabrication,
2or inspection requirements adopted by the department for precast concrete pilings.
3F.(1)     The Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code Council shall
4promulgate rules in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act as necessary
5to implement the provisions of this Section, including procedures for plan review,
6inspections, documentation, and enforcement, in consultation with the department,
7the state fire marshal, licensed design professionals, contractors, and precast concrete
8manufacturers.
9(2) The fire marshal, local building official, or other authority having
10jurisdiction over permitting or inspection for a project shall enforce the provisions
11of this Section as part of the permitting, inspection, and certificate of occupancy or
12certificate of completion process.
13(3) No permit shall be issued for a project subject to this Section unless the
14permit applicant certifies that precast concrete pilings, if used, comply with DOTD
15piling requirements.
16(4) No certificate of occupancy, certificate of completion, final acceptance,
17or equivalent approval shall be issued for a project subject to this Section unless the
18authority having jurisdiction receives documentation of compliance with this
19Section.
20G. Construction documents for a project subject to this Section that includes
21precast concrete pilings shall include a statement by the design professional of record
22that the piling design and specifications conform to the provisions of this Section.
23The contractor and the precast concrete piling manufacturer shall maintain records
24sufficient to demonstrate compliance and shall furnish those records upon request by
25an authority having jurisdiction over that project.
26H. A violation of this Section, or of a rule promulgated in accordance with
27this Section, is a violation of the state uniform construction code. An authority
28having jurisdiction over the project may issue a stop-work order, withhold approval,
29require corrective work, or impose any other remedy authorized by law.
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HLS 26RS-2257  ORIGINAL
  HB NO. 1168
1Section 2. This Act shall become effective on January 1, 2027.
  DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 1168 Original  2026 Regular Session  Wright
Abstract: Establishes the Dept. of Transportation and Development (DOTD) standards for
  precast concrete pilings as the minimum standards for those pilings in every
  construction project in this state.
Proposed law defines "department", "DOTD piling requirements", "precast concrete piling",
and "project".
Proposed law provides that each project in this state, whether publicly or privately funded,
that involves precast concrete pilings shall use pilings that comply with DOTD piling
requirements.
Proposed law establishes DOTD standards for precast concrete pilings as the minimum
standards for all projects in this state, and allows for more stringent standards to be used on
specific projects provided those standards do not conflict with the minimum standards.
Proposed law directs the La. Uniform Construction Code Council to promulgate rules as
necessary to implement proposed law.
Proposed law provides for permitting and record-keeping requirements and penalties for
noncompliance.
Effective Jan. 1, 2027.
(Adds R.S. 40:1730.40.3)
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