Ports, maritime and freight corridors laws by state

SB 519: An act amending a prior conveyance of state land to the bridgeport port authority.

The Commissioner of Transportation shall convey approximately 1.008 acres of state land in Bridgeport to the Bridgeport Port Authority at administrative cost. The Bridgeport Port Authority must use the parcel for economic development or waterfront purposes, and any sale or lease must be for one hundred nineteen thousand dollars, with proceeds transferred to the State Treasurer.

HB 687: TRANSPORTATION DEPT: Authorizes the Port of New Orleans to utilize public private partnerships for the St. Bernard Transportation Corridor roadway project (EN SEE FISC NOTE SD EX See Note)

HB 508: TRANSPORTATION: Restricts a parking fee exemption to Louisiana disabled veterans parking at cruise terminals for the Port of New Orleans

The Port of New Orleans must provide free cruise terminal parking at designated Port of New Orleans-owned cruise terminal parking facilities to Louisiana disabled veterans with service-connected disability of fifty percent or more who provide proof via military honor license plate or Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs certificate and a state-issued driver's license or special identification card. Disabled veterans may park for no more than seven days; the Port may charge customary fees for additional days.

LD 1182: An Act To Grant The Rockland Port District An Increase In Its Borrowing Capacity And Include Sustainable Aquaculture And Marine Industries In Its Charter

The Rockland Port District trustees may not incur total indebtedness outstanding exceeding six million dollars. The district is authorized to purchase, maintain and operate wharves, landing places, and facilities for passenger and freight transportation service by water and sustainable aquaculture and marine industries.

HB 253: Vehicle Laws - Heavy Weight Port Corridor Permits - Regulations

The Secretary shall adopt regulations for issuing permits to vehicles transporting manifested international freight in sealed seagoing containers on semitrailers from Seagirt Marine Terminal. Permitted vehicles must not exceed 100,000 pounds gross maximum vehicle weight, comply with axle requirements, travel only on specified routes during established hours at specified maximum speeds, and travel only to destinations authorized by the Secretary.

Took effect 1 June 2026

HB 1905: Appropriation; Yellow Creek State Inland Port Authority.

Authorizes expenditure of $27,094,906.00 from funds available to the Yellow Creek State Inland Port Authority for fiscal year 2027, including $15,000,000.00 for capital projects and $50,000.00 for overtime pay, with 17 permanent authorized positions.

Took effect 1 July 2026

HB 16: Appropriation; Yellow Creek State Inland Port Authority.

Appropriates $30,185,481.00 to the Yellow Creek State Inland Port Authority for fiscal year 2026, authorizing 17 permanent positions, with $15,000,000.00 designated for capital projects and $50,000.00 for overtime pay.

Took effect 1 July 2025

HB 7: Appropriation; Port Authority, State.

The Mississippi State Port Authority at Gulfport must maintain complete accounting and personnel records related to expenditure of appropriated funds in the same format and level of detail as fiscal year 2025, and must expend funds only on activities directly related to state port operation. The authority must not incur obligations exceeding its appropriation.

Took effect 1 July 2025

HB 2426: An Act amending the act of March 29, 1803 (P.L.542, No.156), entitled "An act to establish a Board of Wardens for the port of Philadelphia, and for the regulation of pilots and pilotages, and for other purposes therein mentioned," further providing for pilots in the Delaware Bay and River.

Every person not already a licensed pilot who desires to exercise the profession of pilot in the Delaware Bay and River must apply to the Navigation Commission for the Delaware River and its navigable tributaries for a license. The Navigation Commission must call upon at least three pilots of the first class to examine applicants for fitness and grant licenses according to vessel draught capacity. Unlicensed persons must not exercise or attempt to exercise the pilot profession in the Delaware Bay or River except in vessels under one hundred tons burden.

Took effect 18 September 2026

SB 748: An Act amending the act of May 11, 1889 (P.L.188, No.210), entitled "A further supplement to an act, entitled 'An act to establish a board of wardens for the Port of Philadelphia, and for the regulation of pilots and pilotage, and for other purposes,' approved March twenty-ninth, one thousand eight hundred and three, and for regulating the rates of pilotage and number of pilots," further providing for rates of pilotage and computation, for pilotage fees and unit charge and for charges for services.

Vessels transiting the Delaware River and Bay must pay pilotage fees to pilots at rates specified by the act. The per-unit charges range from $17.26 to $18.86 effective January 1, 2025 through January 1, 2028, with a minimum charge of 200 units and maximum charges of 1,550 to 1,600 units depending on the effective date. Additional charges apply for specific services including ship communication, transporting vessels, extra services, and Chesapeake and Delaware Canal transits.

Took effect 29 December 2025

SB 1733: Relating to the composition of the board of the Calhoun Port Authority.

The Calhoun Port Authority board shall consist of seven commissioners instead of six. One commissioner is elected at-large by voters of the entire port authority, and one commissioner is elected from each of six navigation commissioner precincts. The governor shall appoint an at-large commissioner by the 30th day after the act's effective date to serve until the elected at-large commissioner qualifies in May 2027.

HB 5669: Relating to the name and powers of the Sabine Pass Port Authority; altering the terms of the authority's port commission; altering the authority to issue bonds.

Renames the Sabine Pass Port Authority to the Port of Sabine Pass, changes commissioner terms from two years to staggered four years with elections in even-numbered years, increases commissioner compensation to $600 monthly, and expands the port's authority to issue bonds and use port property for economic development.

Took effect 1 September 2025

HB 74: Relating to the creation of the Puerto Verde Port Authority District; providing authority to issue bonds; providing authority to impose assessments, fees, and taxes; granting a limited power of eminent domain.

The Puerto Verde Port Authority District board must hold an election before imposing ad valorem taxes. The district may impose assessments only upon written petition signed by owners of a majority assessed value of real property. The board may compensate each voting director up to $150 per meeting, not exceeding $7,200 annually.

SB 239: Inland Port Authority Amendments

The Utah Inland Port Authority must conduct at least annual reviews of its statutory authority and recommend legislative changes if necessary. The authority may facilitate and fund development of land in project areas, including public infrastructure and environmental sustainability projects. Municipalities must allow inland ports as permitted or conditional uses consistent with authority policies.

36-0138: An act to transfer certain parcels of real property in Subbase to the Virgin Islands Port Authority for the Crown Bay District Redevelopment Project

The Virgin Islands Port Authority must accept transfer of specified real property parcels in Subbase and assume responsibility for environmental abatement, remediation, and demolition of existing structures. The Port Authority must develop a dedicated parking area on Parcel No. 70B (Rem) for government agency use and submit annual reports to the Legislature on project development status.

36-0196: An Act appropriating excess funds from the Debt Service Reserve Fund for the Gross Receipts Taxes Revenue Bonds for capital improvements and obligations of the Virgin Islands Port Authority and the St. Thomas Capital Improvement Fund

Appropriates $10,000,000 from excess Debt Service Reserve Fund for Gross Receipts Taxes Revenue Bonds to the Virgin Islands Port Authority for demolition and dredging projects and to Department of Public Works for paving, and appropriates $2,000,000 from St. Thomas Capital Improvement Fund for road expansion.

36-0038: An act amending title 29 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 10, subchapter III, section 551, subsection (a) by increasing the limit for outstanding bonds for the Virgin Islands Port Authority from $100 million to $500 million

Amends title 29 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 10, subchapter III, section 551, subsection (a) to increase the limit for outstanding bonds for the Virgin Islands Port Authority from $100 million to $500 million.

HB 2179: Concerning membership in the public employees' retirement system for port workers who participate in a federal railroad retirement plan, a union-sponsored defined benefit retirement plan, or another employer-funded private pension plan. (REVISED FOR ENGROSSED: Concerning membership in the public employees' retirement system for port workers who participate in a federal railroad retirement plan.)

Persons employed by a port district who participate in a federal railroad retirement plan are excluded from membership in the public employees' retirement system for periods of service covered by that plan. Port districts may not require such employees to participate in the public employees' retirement system for those periods.

SB 6132: Authorizing a narrow modification to indebtedness limits for select inland port districts to ensure continued eligibility for federal funding for rail, power, and other critical public infrastructure improvements.

Port districts meeting specified conditions may contract indebtedness or borrow money and issue general obligation bonds not exceeding an additional 0.25 percent of taxable property value without voter authorization. Conditions require an increment area under chapter 39.114 RCW, estimated taxable assessed value between $6,000,000,000 and $7,000,000,000, increment area value less than $150,000,000, and use of indebtedness for public improvements under chapter 39.114 RCW.

SB 5995: Concerning moneys available to a port district allocated for the purchase of zero and near zero emission cargo handling equipment.

Port districts and port development authorities shall not use available moneys to purchase fully automated marine container cargo handling equipment. They may use available moneys to purchase zero and near zero emissions cargo handling equipment and infrastructure supporting that equipment for their own use or for tenants or lessees.