Committee backs exemption for school‑board vehicles after Plaquemines officials outline toll costs

The House Transportation Committee voted to report House Bill 748, which would exempt school-board owned and leased vehicles from paying tolls on state bridges and highways, with amendments adopted during the hearing.

Representative Breaux presented the bill and said the measure expands an existing exemption for school buses to include all school-board vehicles used for student services. Dr. Shelly Emeritz, superintendent of Plaquemines Parish Schools, told members the district’s geographic layout makes reliance on fleet vehicles essential: “Our parish is long and linear, nearly 70 miles … we rely heavily on itinerant staff” who must travel daily between campuses.

Dr. Emeritz provided specific figures for the committee: “To date, our district has incurred $3,938 in associated fees, $378.18 in actual tolls from May 10 to October 2,” and said the district still carried “a balance of $2,792.” She said those costs divert public-education dollars intended for classrooms and student support.

Charles Ballard, district attorney for the 25th JDC, Plaquemines Parish, supported the bill and described school-board fleet vehicles as tightly controlled and used exclusively for district business, arguing the vehicles should receive parity with other exempt government vehicles.

Committee members discussed the geographic scope and existing exemptions; sponsors said the bill would apply statewide except where existing law already excludes certain crossings. Representative Breaux asked that the committee report the bill as amended, and the panel agreed without objection.

Supporters framed HB 748 as a fiscal fairness and equity measure for districts with long travel distances, while the committee did not record opposition during the hearing.

The bill was reported favorably as amended and will advance to further legislative consideration.