Designates the bridge located on U.S. 167 in Winn Parish as the "Clayton Horne Memorial Bridge"
Summary
HB 174 is a memorial designation bill that renames the bridge on U.S. Highway 167 over the Kansas City Southern railroad tracks in Winnfield, Winn Parish, as the "Clayton Horne Memorial Bridge." The measure is commemorative in nature and does not alter transportation policy, bridge ownership, or roadway operations. Its primary purpose is to honor Clayton Horne through a permanent public designation.
The bill also directs the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development to erect and maintain appropriate signage reflecting the bridge’s new name, but only if local or private funds are provided to cover the department’s actual costs for materials, fabrication, mounting posts, and installation. The statute caps those costs at $550 per sign, limiting any state expense exposure and making the signage requirement contingent on outside funding.
Impact
HB 174 amends state law only to create an official memorial name for a specific bridge in Winn Parish and to authorize DOTD signage under a local-or-private-funding condition. It affects the Department of Transportation and Development by requiring it to install and maintain signs once reimbursed, but it does not change traffic regulation, infrastructure funding, or any broader transportation statutes. The practical impact is limited to public wayfinding and commemorative recognition at the designated location.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been broadly and unanimously supported. It passed the House 94-0 and the Senate 35-0, indicating no recorded opposition in either chamber. The absence of committee transcript discussion suggests the measure was treated as a routine honorary designation with little controversy.
Contention
There is no notable substantive contention reflected in the available record. Because the bill is a memorial bridge naming measure, any potential concerns would likely have centered on the use of public signage resources, but those concerns are minimized by the requirement that local or private funds cover DOTD’s actual costs. No legislators or stakeholders are shown opposing the bill, and the unanimous votes indicate consensus around honoring Clayton Horne.