HB 1213

HLS 26RS-2302  ORIGINAL
 2026 Regular Session
 HOUSE BILL NO. 1213
 BY REPRESENTATIVE ST. BLANC
 MTR VEHICLE/TRUCKS: Provides with respect to loads on vehicles
1AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 32:383(A)(1) and to enact R.S. 32:383(A)(5) and (6), relative to
3regulations and violations regarding loads of vehicles, to provide for requirements
4of loads on vehicles; to provide for exemptions for certain vehicles; to provide for
5penalties; to provide for rule promulgation by the office of state police; and to
6provide for related matters.
7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8Section 1.    R.S. 32:383(A)(1) is hereby amended and reenacted and R.S.
9 32:383(A)(5) and (6) are hereby enacted to read as follows:
10§383. Loads on vehicles; care required thereto; penalties; definition
11A.(1)(a) The load on a vehicle shall not drop, sift, leak, or otherwise escape
12therefrom, except that sand may be dropped on a highway to secure traction or a
13liquid substance may be dropped on a highway to clean or maintain such highway.
14A vehicle shall not be driven on a highway unless constructed and loaded to prevent
15contents from escaping. Vehicles shall have no openings that allow escape of
16material, and closures shall be secured.
17(b)   The following vehicles shall be exempt from the provisions of
18Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph:
19(i) Authorized maintenance vehicles while in performance of official duties
20related to emergencies or weather operations.
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 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
 are additions.
 HLS 26RS-2302  ORIGINAL
  HB NO. 1213
1(ii) Vehicles that drop incidental agriculture residue or incidental sugarcane
2harvest residue that does not create a hazard.
3(c) Any person who loads or unloads a vehicle with knowledge that it will
4be operated upon a highway, where the loading or unloading causes a violation,
5constitutes prima facie evidence of liability.
6(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any person
7who willfully and knowingly violates this Subsection shall be deemed guilty of a
8misdemeanor, and, upon conviction, shall be subject to a fine of not more than two
9hundred fifty dollars for each violation. For sugarcane harvest vehicles, corrective
10action shall be prioritized when violations result from unavoidable field conditions.
11*       *  *
12(5) Proof of actual spillage is not required to establish a violation.
13(6) The office of state police, in accordance with the Administrative
14Procedure Act, may adopt all rules as necessary to implement the provisions of this
15Subsection.
16*       *  *
17
  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 1213 Original  2026 Regular Session  St. Blanc
 Abstract: Provides for regulations and violation requirements for loads on vehicles.
 Present law requires that loads on vehicles not drop, sift, leak, or escape, except that sand
 may be dropped on a hwy. to secure traction or a liquid substance may be dropped on a hwy.
 to cleaning or maintenance.
 Proposed law removes present law and adds the prohibition that vehicles not travel on hwys.
 unless constructed and loaded to prevent contents from escaping. Further requires vehicles
 have no openings that allow escape of material and closures to be secured. Additionally
 provides that certain vehicles be exempted as follows:
 (1)    Authorized maintenance vehicles while performing official duties related to
  emergencies or weather operations.
 (2)    Vehicles that drop incidental agricultural residue and incidental sugarcane harvest
  residue that does not create a hazard.
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 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
 are additions.
HLS 26RS-2302  ORIGINAL
  HB NO. 1213
Proposed law establishes that any person who loads or unloads a vehicle with knowledge
that it will be operated upon a hwy., where the loading or unloading causes a violation,
constitutes prima facie evidence of liability.
Proposed law requires that any person who willfully and knowingly violates proposed law
be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction, be subject for each offense to a
fine of not more than $250 for each violation. Further specifies that for sugarcane harvest
vehicles, corrective action be prioritized when violations result from unavoidable field
conditions.
Proposed law specifies that proof of actual spillage is not required to establish a violation
has occurred.
Proposed law authorizes the office of state police to adopt rules necessary to implement the
provisions of proposed law.
(Amends R.S. 32:383(A)(1); Adds R.S. 32:383(A)(5) and (6))
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.