HCR 61: WATER/RESOURCES: Creates a special task force to study the interagency consultation process for data centers to ensure more complete natural resource planning and management - Louisiana

HCR61 Reengrossed → HCR61 Engrossed · 5 edits · Jun 4, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was renumbered from 'Reengrossed' to 'Engrossed' to reflect its final version. The most significant change is a shift in leadership: the Interagency Data Center Consultation and Assessment Group is no longer chaired by the House Natural Resources Committee chairman. Instead, it is now jointly chaired by designees from both the House and Senate Natural Resources Committees. Additionally, the group's reporting structure was updated to report to the Department of Energy and Natural Resources rather than being staffed by it, and the list of required members was renumbered and slightly reordered.

Scope change

The scope of the bill's operational structure changed by altering who leads the new task force and how it reports to state agencies, moving from a single House committee chair to a joint House-Senate leadership model.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the chair of the Interagency Data Center Consultation and Assessment Group from the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment chairman to a joint chairmanship involving designees from both the House and Senate Natural Resources Committees.

Modified the reporting and staffing line to state the group reports to and is staffed by the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, removing the previous clause about the group being chaired by the House committee chairman.

TECHNICAL

Reordered and renumbered the list of required committee members, shifting the Department of Environmental Quality secretary to item 7 and adding the Water Resources Commission member to item 8.

Added a 'Digest' section on Page 3 containing a summary of the bill's purpose and the House Committee's proposed amendments.

Updated the document header and footer text from 'REENGROSSED' to 'ENGROSSED' to indicate the bill's final status.

HCR61 Re-Reengrossed → HCR61 Reengrossed · 4 edits · Jun 4, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was reengrossed to streamline its structure by removing a separate 'task force' designation and consolidating all duties under a single 'Interagency Data Center Consultation and Assessment Group.' This change simplifies the governance framework while maintaining the core mandate to evaluate data center impacts on water and energy resources.

Scope change

The scope of the group was expanded to include additional state officials, specifically the secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality, the commissioner of agriculture, and the president of the Public Affairs Research Council, ensuring broader stakeholder representation.

STRUCTURE

Removed the specific instruction for the group to begin work on January 1, 2026, as this timeline was likely absorbed or adjusted in the reengrossed version.

Reorganized the list of group members to remove specific references to the Speaker and Senate President, replacing them with a clause allowing the group chairman to appoint additional members as necessary.

TIMELINE

Changed the reporting deadline for the group's findings from February 27, 2027, to February 27, 2026, accelerating the expected completion of the assessment.

SCOPE

Added the secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality, the commissioner of agriculture, and the president of the Public Affairs Research Council to the list of officials who must receive a copy of the resolution.

HCR61 Original → HCR61 Re-Reengrossed · 3 edits · Jun 4, 2025

MINOR

The bill was re-engrossed to add a new committee member (Department of Environmental Quality) and expand the list of stakeholders involved in the data center assessment group. The reporting deadline was extended from February 2026 to February 2027, and the official start date for the task force was set to January 1, 2026. These changes broaden the scope of the review to include environmental quality concerns and provide more time for the group to complete its analysis.

Scope change

The scope of the Interagency Data Center Consultation and Assessment Group was expanded to include the Department of Environmental Quality and additional legislative leadership, ensuring a more comprehensive review of data center impacts.

REQUIREMENT

Added the secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality as a required member of the assessment group to address environmental concerns.

Established a specific start date for the task force work on January 1, 2026.

TIMELINE

Extended the deadline for the task force to report findings from February 27, 2026, to February 27, 2027.

WATER/RESOURCES: Creates a special task force to study the interagency consultation process for data centers to ensure more complete natural resource planning and management

What changed between versions

How they voted

Actions timeline

Sponsors