A bill supported by the design and construction industry has been amended and was scheduled to be heard on the House floor today. 

AIA Louisiana worked with industry groups to clarify and update the Public Bid statutes which have been changed throughout the years to include electronic and paper bidding documents. These changes had created confusion and led to an increase in lawsuits. AIA Louisiana offered  an amendment to the law which will allow public entities and designers to choose the manner of distribution of bidding documents. To view the REENGROSSED version of the bill, click here.

On a 80-12 vote Thursday, the House rejected Senate amendments to a bill that would replace the Louisiana Plumbing Code with the International Plumbing Code for the residential and commercial construction industries.

As it stands, the bill requires the Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code Council to adopt the International Code for the residential construction industry by Jan. 1, 2015. Read More  

A bill in the Louisiana Legislature could make it easier for public entities to use a method that would allow more input from contractors and engineers during the design of certain projects.

Senate Bill 680 authorizes use of the construction manager at-risk delivery method for certain major public projects in the future. Industry leaders say the bill could help public entities control costs on larger projects by allowing contractors and designers to work hand in hand on budgeting, scheduling and constructability before construction begins - as long as the process remains transparent. Read More

Lawmakers want more study about creating a statewide elevator and escalator inspection system for Louisiana.  

The Senate Finance Committee decided today to replace a bill by Sen. Ben Nevers that would establish the inspection system into legislation asking the state fire marshal's office to look at how such a system would work.Read More

House Bill 1048 by Rep. Erich Ponti (R-Baton Rouge) was heard for a concurrence vote on the House floor, Wednesday, May 21. 

As filed, House Bill 1048 would replace the state's antiquated plumbing code with the International Plumbing Code, and transfer the plumbing code oversight from the Department of Health and Hospitals to the state code council. 

The bill passed the Senate floor with an amendment to remove commercial construction plumbers, which AIA Louisiana  opposes.