WATERWAYS: Extends the period for which the Comite River is exempt from certain provisions of the Louisiana Scenic Rivers Act
HB 172 extends the exemption period for the Comite River from specific regulatory requirements under Louisiana's Scenic Rivers Act. This bill directly affects the Comite River by maintaining its current status, preventing it from being subject to certain scenic river protections that would otherwise apply after the current exemption expires. The key mechanism involves amending the existing law to extend the duration of the river's exemption, ensuring continued regulatory flexibility for the area. The bill is a technical adjustment to existing law, not a new policy change.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
Jun 2025
House Passage
Jun 2025
Senate Passage
Jun 2025
Signed into Law
Jun 2025
Introduced Mar 31, 2025
Signed Jun 11, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons
What changed between versions
HB172 Original
→
HB172 Act 249
·
3 edits
MINOR
This bill updates the Louisiana Scenic Rivers Act to extend the exemption period for permit requirements in Bayou Manchac. Originally, local governments could conduct drainage operations without permits until August 1, 2026; this version extends that deadline to December 31, 2030. The change simplifies the legal text by removing redundant language regarding a separate exemption for the Comite River.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on Bayou Manchac drainage operations, but the applicability period for permit exemptions is extended by nearly five years.
TIMELINE
Extended the permit exemption deadline for drainage operations in Bayou Manchac from August 1, 2026, to December 31, 2030.
TECHNICAL
Deleted the specific exemption text for the Comite River, as it is no longer included in the final enacted version.
Removed redundant language regarding a separate exemption for the Comite River found in the original draft.
Floor votes · Senate Jun 2, 2025 · House May 21, 2025
How they voted
33–0
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 37
Jun 2, 2025
D
Democratic11
100% Yea
R
Republican26
84% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
25
Key actions
5
Committee
5
Jun 4, 2025
Lower · Passed
Read by title, roll called, yeas 96, nays 0, Senate amendments concurred in.
lower
Jun 2, 2025
Upper · Passed
The amended bill was read by title, passed by a vote of 35 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
upper
Jun 1, 2025
Committee
Committee amendments read and adopted. Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
upper
May 29, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported with amendments.
upper
May 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 91, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
lower
May 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably (10-0).
lower
Apr 14, 2025
Committee
Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and Environment.
lower
Mar 31, 2025
Committee
Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and Environment.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Kathy Edmonston
RRepublican
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