Follow us on Facebook & Twitter | |
2023 PLATINUM ANNUAL SPONSORS! | |
The Board of Governors met on March 10, 2023. | |
|
It's That Time of Year Again
No, not Christmas...the 2023 Regular Legislative Session.
In a little over a week, the Legislature will convene on April 10 to open this year's session. The pre-filing deadline for legislation is today, March 31 and the in-session introduction deadline is April 19. The ACECL Legislative Committee is scheduled to meet on April 13 to review bills and make position recommendations to the Board of Governors for approval. If you are not on the Legislative Committee but would like to participate in this year's bill review, please email me at bdirmann@acecl.org.
This session ACECL is running two bills - one addressing alternative product requests in the public bid law and the second would strengthen the anti-indemnification law as it applies to public contracts.
HB 80, by Representative Foy Gadberry, seeks to reverse the automatic approval that was added to the alternative product request law in the 2022 Regular Session. In addition to removing the automatic approval language, we are also increasing the number of review days from 3 to 5 with and option for 10 additional review days for more complex requests.
Chairman Jack McFarland has agreed to author our anti-indemnification Anti-Indemnification Bill that will add the prohibited contract provisions defined in the Title 9 law to the "Prohibited Provision" sections in both the Title 38 and Title 48 public bid laws.
Though many more bills will be filed between now and the April 19 deadline, we have already identified over 40 bills of interest to the business of engineering. Of those here are a few of the more interesting ones: HB 333 by Representative Pressly, SB 83 by Senator Womack and SB 102 by Senator Mills.
Again, a full review of these bills and many others will be conducted at the April 13 Legislative Committee meeting. Also, the first Capitol Calculus - weekly legislative updates - for the 2023 session will go out to members next Friday so be on the lookout for those.
I am very much looking forward to another legislative session where ACECL can go to work for you to protect and enhance the business of engineer. If you have any questions, concerns or insight on any legislation you think ACECL should be involved in, do not hesitate to reach out to me.
| Federal Legislation and Advocacy | |
BREEZE Act Passes House as part of H.R. 1
Yesterday morning, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act, by a bipartisan vote of 225 – 204. Included within H.R. 1 was the text from the bipartisan Budgeting for Renewable Electrical Energy Zone Earnings (BREEZE) Act, which was introduced last Congress by Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Congressman Troy Carter.
The revenue-sharing portions of the legislation would increase the state share of offshore oil and gas revenues for Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas from 37.5 percent to 50 percent. It would establish revenue sharing for states with new offshore wind development off their coastline.
Under this bill, states with offshore wind development would receive 50 percent of the revenues from offshore lease sales and 37.5 percent of the revenues will be deposited into the existing North American Wetlands Conservation Fund.
Finally, the legislation would repeal a 2 percent administrative fee imposed on energy revenue sharing for interior states with energy development on federal lands within their borders.
H.R. 1 now awaits consideration by the Senate.
To read the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority’s press release on H.R. 1, click here.
| |
|
2023 EMERGING LEADERS INSTITUTE
Presented by AIA Louisiana & ACEC of Louisiana
SOLD OUT!!
| |
|
2023
EMERGING
LEADERS
INSTITUTE
LEADERSHIP // INVOLVEMENT // DEVELOPMENT
| |
Codes Training – Registration is Open! | |
|
Lake Charles and New Orleans codes session registration are also now open! Seating is limited.
AIA Louisiana and ACEC-L are proud to bring this series of codes related training to an area near you!
We thank both the local chapters of each area, as well as LA Department of Natural Resources for helping make these sessions a success as well as including discounted rates for attendance!
Both IBC and IRC have upgrades/updates/changes that took effect January 1st of this year. Are
you prepared? Do you know what those changes are? July 1st of this year, Louisiana is on track
for their first ever actual Energy Code (IECC). Never having had this before, and with great impacts to the built environment, join colleagues to learn and discuss the changes that will not only impact your projects and business, but your clients and communities as well!
March 23 Monroe (Lotus Club)
April 12 Baton Rouge (City Club)
May 16 New Orleans (AIA NO Center for Design)
May 17 Lake Charles (Lake Charles Country Club)
|  | |
|
- April 4 - Lafayette Chapter Luncheon
- April 7 - Good Friday (Office Closed)
- April 10 - Louisiana Legislative Session Convenes
- April 12 - AIA-ACECL Code Training Session - Baton Rouge
- April 14 - HR Forum Zoom Meeting
- April 17 - Baton Rouge Chapter Luncheon
- April 19 - Lake Charles Chapter Luncheon
- April 20 - Water Resources Committee Meeting
- April 25-26 - Emerging Leaders Institute - Session I
| |
|
Founded in 1958, Alexander & Sanders Insurance is the leading provider of risk management and insurance services for professionals across Louisiana. Our specialists have dedicated their careers to providing insurance tailored to the unique needs of architects and engineers. You can count on us for contract review, engagement letter and risk management advice.
The company completed its transformational merger with Cadence Bancorporation, the parent company of Cadence Bank, N.A., which had been formed on the heels of the global financial crisis by a group of accomplished banking industry veterans with a powerful vision to revitalize banks through fresh capital and experienced management. The company was renamed Cadence Bank, with its stock continuing to trade on the New York Stock Exchange but under the symbol “CADE”. The merger created a new, even better bank. The new Cadence is built on what makes the combined organization a financial services partner with a genuine difference. That difference can be seen in how the company works with customers – and with one another – to help the people, companies and communities it serves prosper.
Contact: Justin Sanders or Wyatt Sanders
P: (225) 336-3200
Justin.Sanders@cadenceinsurance.com| wyatt.sanders@cadenceinsurance.com
| |
Galloway, Johnson, Tompkins, Burr and Smith represents a broad spectrum of clients including clients in the construction industry ranging from architects and engineers to general contractors and subs to land surveyors and vendors. The Galloway Law Firm prides itself in the knowledge of the intricate legal needs of construction clients and understanding the larger business interests of those who compete in the greater Louisiana construction industry. | | |
|
|
Contact: John F. McCormick, Director
Hancock Whitney Center
701 Poydras St., 40th Floor
New Orleans, Louisiana 70139
jmccormick@gallowaylawfirm.com
Office: 504-525-6802
Direct Line: 504-648-6265
| |
 | |
Quality Sitework Materials (QSM) is a supplier of cost effective and innovative solutions for all your drainage, geosynthetic, storm water management, and process equipment needs.
QSM serves Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle with a comprehensive range of products; we have strategic relationships with national, regional, and local manufacturers to ensure you get high-quality solutions at cost-effective prices.
QSM offers a complete line of water, sewer, and storm drain products, which includes RCP(A), PVC pipe and fittings, HDPE pipe, HP pipe, erosion control materials, storm water detention systems, permeable paving, manhole covers, frames and grates, valves, and gates. And do not forget our complete line of water and wastewater process and treatment equipment.
Take advantage of our complete estimating and take-off services, and place trust in our project coordination. The QSM team is made up of professionals with years of industry and local field experience, and we are ready to put that to work for you. Whether during the design phase or at the point of construction, QSM has the solution.
The companies and products we represent are integral to building, repairing, and maintaining drain, water, wastewater, paving, and soil stabilization systems, and are used widely in commercial and residential construction. For innovative and cost-effective solutions …
Contact: Josh Loeske
Quality Sitework Materials, Inc.
855-469-2015
Josh@qualitysitework.com
www.Qualitysitework.com
| |
|
ACEC Affiliate Members
ACEC Business Insurance Trust
ACEC Life/Health Insurance Trust
Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.
Alexander & Sanders, a division of Cadence Insurance
Barriere Construction Group, LLC
Benefits One, LLC
BFM Corporation, LLC
BRAYN Consulting, LLC
Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, LLP
Brown & Brown of Louisiana
CxA Services, LLC
Cycle Construction, LLC
Durable Piling Restoration, LLC
ecko360
ELOS Environmental, LLC
Environmental Technical Sales, Inc.
Foley & Judell, LLP
Galloway Johnson Tompkins Burr & Smith, LLP
Gulf South Technology Solutions
Hannis T. Bourgeois, LLP
Headlight
HUB International
Industrial Fabrics
Keogh, Cox & Wilson
Lord & Winter
Quality Sitework Materials, Inc.
Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redfearn
| |
Barker Dirmann
President & CEO
ACEC of Louisiana
| | | | |
