Week 2 Recap and Week 3 Outlook

Week 2 Recap:

As legislative activity continues to ramp up, ACEC Louisiana remained actively engaged in monitoring and shaping legislation impacting the business of engineering.

Last week, HB 856 was amended to include clarifying language specifying that any engineering associated with IDIQ construction contracts is limited strictly to that engineering necessary to support the “construction phase” of a project.

This amendment represents meaningful progress and directly addresses the primary concerns ACEC Louisiana raised regarding the potential expansion of engineering services outside of a qualifications-based selection process. We appreciate the department’s willingness to work collaboratively to refine the bill.

That said, we would like to fully understand the limits of the “construction phase.” We are continuing our discussions with the department to ensure this term is clearly understood and does not unintentionally allow for engineering services that should otherwise be procured in compliance with Louisiana’s QBS requirements under the Hammett Act.

Week 3 Outlook:

Looking ahead to Week 3, ACEC Louisiana is continuing our work to advance HB 387 by Representative Foy Gadberry, a key piece of legislation aimed at bringing more clarity to the incidental engineering statute in addition to providing SFMO with the statutory authority to enforce the law.

HB 387 establishes a clear, objective boundary by specifying that site design work, including drainage, grading, sidewalks, pavements, and utilities, five feet from the foundation of the building must be performed by an engineer. The intent is to clearly define where an architect’s site design responsibilities end and where a licensed civil engineer’s responsibilities begin.

To support this effort, we need your help. We are asking members to provide real-practice examples when faulty site design performed by a non-engineer needed to be corrected or remedied by a licensed engineer. These examples are critical in demonstrating to legislators the real risks associated with unclear statutory boundaries. Please send your examples directly to: bdirmann@acecl.org

Your input will play a key role in strengthening our advocacy efforts and ensuring that Louisiana law reflects sound engineering practice and protects the public.