Bill > HB700

This bill amends and reenacts existing Louisiana laws related to broadband service and mapping, and enacts new provisions to create additional broadband grant programs. The key provisions include: 1. Establishing a grant program to prevent damage to existing utilities and ensure proper documentation during the GUMBO (Granting Unserved Municipalities Broadband Opportunities) broadband infrastructure projects, with data collected being confidential and exempt from public records laws. 2. Requiring GUMBO 1.0 and 2.0 grantees to report any known damage to existing underground utilities during construction, and to provide 30-day advanced notice to parishes and municipalities before commencing construction. 3. Changing the GUMBO 2.0 grant reimbursement structure to a fixed-amount subaward basis, with specific disbursement thresholds tied to project completion. 4. Establishing penalties for GUMBO 2.0 grantees who default on or fail to fulfill broadband deployment obligations in other state or federal programs. 5. Creating two new broadband grant programs, GUMBO 3.0 and GUMBO 4.0, to utilize any remaining GUMBO 2.0 funds and support various economic and community development initiatives. The bill sets deadlines for obligating and spending the funds for these new GUMBO programs.