INSURANCE RELIEF
Plaquemines Parish has the highest homeowners and flood insurance rates in the country, with Jefferson and Orleans not far behind. Auto insurance rates are soaring, with Louisiana having the highest rates in the nation. Using my experience representing both the insurers and the insured, I will work to lower insurance rates.
EDUCATION
While some school districts in Louisiana excel, we generally rank near the bottom in national averages. Our future depends on improving our educational systems from pre-school through the university level. I will be a strong advocate for our students and teachers.
INFRASTRUCTURE
District 105 is in need of critical infrastructure projects. Peters Road bypass, connecting Plaquemines and Jefferson Parishes, must be completed. General DeGaulle Drive, south of Holiday Drive, is in dangerous condition and needs repair. Extensive repairs are needed on Highway 23, south of Belle Chasse to Venice. Maintaining and improving infrastructure is vital to the betterment of our district.
HEALTHCARE
Louisiana ranks near the bottom of national averages on healthcare outcomes. Women, children, and low income residents are those who often have limited access to healthcare. We must do better.
COASTAL RESTORATION
It is a double edged sword of saving our coast while minimizing the harm to our seafood industry. My knowledge of both is extensive, having acquired and permitted the first mitigation land bank in the State of Louisiana using renewable materials. I have represented numerous clients in the BP Oil Spill. We must save our fisherman and our coast.
CRIME PREVENTION
Everyone deserves to feel safe and secure in their own communities and some residents of District 105 do not. My background as an attorney will guide me in helping to pass effective legislation designed to reduce crime.
EDUCATION
- Graduate of Louisiana State University
- Graduate of Loyola Law School
PROFESSIONAL
- Practicing Attorney for 20 Years
- Louisiana State Bar Association – Former Board Member
- Louisiana State Bar Association House of Delegates – Representative from the 25th JDC
CIVIC
- Woodlands Conservancy – Former Board Member
- PABI – Member and Former Board Member
- Plaquemines Community CARE Center – current Board Member
- Plaquemines Community Development Group – current Board Member
- Past Conoco/Phillips Advisory Panel
FAMILY
- Married to Erin O’Brien Braud for 15 Years
- Father of 3 Children
- Son of Steve and Mary Ann Braud
Page likes: 1,031
Jacob Braud State Representative District 105
(opens in a new tab)Jacob Braud, Louisiana State Representative, District 105
Next Friday October 2 will be the 1-year mark that the Governor “suspended” the Belle Chasse Bridge tolls. Per the contract signed in 2019, the Governor is the only official that has this ability. Since that time multiple lawsuits concerning the Bridge are pending. Recent rulings in the cases have been in favor of the parties challenging the bridge contractor, Plenary. The court rulings will require that the cases be tried in Plaquemines Parish not in Federal Court or East Baton Rouge Parish.As with any case in litigation, settlement discussions randomly occur throughout the process. The Governor’s office leads the lawsuit on behalf of the State and DOTD. It was representatives from the Governor’s office and DOTD that recently met with small business owners that testified at committee meetings regarding the Bridge and met with individuals that are parties of the lawsuits. The meetings provided concepts on what could be part of a potential settlement with the State and Plenary which included:• A waiver of all prior fees and penalties charged during tolling last year to be credited to your GeauxPass account;• A 27-cent local toll rate for the Westbank to include all of the Westbank of Jefferson Parish, Algiers in Orleans Parish and all of Plaquemines Parish;• The new local toll rate would not have a length limit and would include things like towing a trailer;• A monthly subscription for unlimited bridge crossings to be $10.80 for locals or around $33 a month for non-locals;• A potential subscription for commercial fleet companies too, but no further details on that were provided;• 15% of any monies made by Plenary would come back to the State, so 15 cents of every dollar made by Plenary would come back to the State.Again, these were initial meetings. It does not appear that the State has the actual details of what this settlement would cost, which will significantly affect whether or not a settlement will occur. Further, even if a settlement is agreed to, the new toll rates would be expected to go through the Administrative Procedure Act (or the APA) for public review and comment, which I am told is a multiple months long process. The original toll rates never went through this process and that is one of the issues in the lawsuits. The original toll rates and administration thereof were effectively a product of the fox guarding the hen house with a subsidiary of Plenary being the toll collector.Many of us believe that any toll will likely cause permanent harm on the small businesses and property values in Belle Chasse as a result the poor roll out last year and the ease of customers simply choosing to avoid our corner at the southern end the Metro area.So regardless of whether a settlement occurs or not, I will continue to pursue options to exercise the “buyback option” of the toll contract. You witnessed this earlier this year with the initial success of HB 488 which was my idea to divert a portion of about $10 million dollars a year of the $65 million dollars in severance taxes on average produced in Plaquemines to a statutorily dedicated fund which could then be bonded out to pay off the Bridge. Since World War 2 Plaquemines has contributed millions of dollars every year, totaling in billions to the State General Fund, so can we not have a replacement bridge without a toll, especially after all that has happened.Continued efforts to tell our story resulted in a 99-0 vote in favor of HB 488 in the House. Unfortunately, HB 488 stalled in Senate Finance committee. I will bring this bill back in the next Session in April 2027. This is a feasible plan currently identified to pay off the bridge. What has been more frustrating is that after 3 years of asking neither Plenary nor DOTD has provided the actual total to pay off the Bridge. I am only given a number of around $200 million needed to pay off the Bridge.Not all is doom and gloom though; we have had success in getting legislation passed that will help should a toll come back:HB 381 became Act 73 of the 2024 Session and guarantees that any windfall monies from toll collections in Belle Chasse will be spent only to reduce the tolls, exercise the buyback option or for infrastructure improvements in Plaquemines. This law would apply to the proposed 15% State share mentioned above. Also, this would prevent another wrong that occurred in 2019 when the $800 million dollar BP Economic Settlement provided $100 million dollars each to bridge and road projects in Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Calcasieu and Shreveport. Only the Calcasieu project is tolled. Unfortunately, not a single dollar of that settlement was allocated to Plaquemines, the parish closest to the actual BP spill.HB 748 became Act 829 of the 2026 Session and clarified and expanded the toll exemption for our School Board and School Boards across the State.Y’all…its complicated...but do know that I will continue to work with Senator Connick and all other elected officials on the Belle Chasse Bridge.We cannot just complain we need a resolution. Please continue to tell our story to your friends and family that may have moved to other parts of the State and tell them to speak to their local Legislators and hopefully we can get the Governor’s support to exercise the buyback option as well.
Happy 250th, America! 🇺🇸 Two hundred fifty years of independence, and Louisiana’s story has been woven into this nation’s story since the very beginning. Wishing District 105 a proud and safe Fourth of July.
This Father’s Day, I’m grateful for my children. And even more grateful for the example my father set for me, one that shapes how I show up as a dad and as a person every single day. Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there.
Early voting starts TODAY. Head to the polls and cast your vote for Stephanie Hilferty for Public Service Commissioner. Louisiana families deserve reliable, affordable energy and Stephanie will fight to make that happen.
The Peggy Martin Rose, a Plaquemines Parish legend, has been named the official State Rose of Louisiana.This rose became famous for surviving 20 feet of saltwater flooding after Hurricane Katrina, only to bloom again. Its strength is rooted in Louisiana soil.This photo features my backyard roses that were started from a cutting taken from the Peggy Martin Rose at my parents’ house.With the adoption of SCR 55, the Peggy Martin Rose now holds the distinction of serving as Louisiana’s official state rose! Proud to have helped make this designation official.
“This is an exciting challenge and my first run for public office. I plan to meet as many residents of District 105 as possible to hear your concerns and what matters most to you.”
Contact Information
(504) 606-5502
votejacob2023@gmail.com
8114 Hwy 23 - Suite 103
Belle Chasse, LA 70037
Jacob Braud on Facebook
