Statewide rules for Uber, Lyft approved by Louisiana Senate

quote:

---

Efforts to enact statewide Louisiana regulations for ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft, aimed at expanding the services' availability around the state, won passage Saturday in the Senate, after two years of stalling there.

Continued pressure from lawmakers in regions that don't have the transportation networks or widespread tax availability broke the logjam this session, with 34 senators supporting the legislation.

Supporters said 44 other states have statewide regulatory frameworks for Uber and Lyft and Louisiana was unnecessarily lagging behind, stifling transportation access that could lessen drunken driving, boost economic development and help the carless.

---

quote:

---

The measure by Rep. Tanner Magee, a Houma Republican, nears final passage, needing one more House vote to reach the governor's desk. But Senate passage was seen as the only roadblock to becoming law.

---

quote:

---

Only one senator, Republican Danny Martiny of Kenner, opposed the legislation, warning that the regulatory structure created in the measure was certain to face legal challenges. Martiny said Louisiana's constitution requires such services to fall under the Public Service Commission, not the state transportation department as the bill provides.

"I've said every year for three years, you get the regulation like the Public Service Commission regulates the cabs, and I'll co-sponsor the bill," Martiny said. "I just don't understand why they don't want to do this."

---