SB 32 Louisiana Senate · 2025 Regular Session

FARMING: Provides for limitation of liability related to the utilization of gypsum. (8/1/25)

SB 32 limits legal liability for farmers who use gypsum to improve soil health, directly affecting agricultural producers in the state. The bill clarifies that farmers using gypsum for soil management cannot be held legally responsible for reduced soil erosion or retained nutrients, as specified in amended language. Key provisions include revised wording on soil erosion and nutrient retention in the bill text, ensuring the liability limitation applies specifically to gypsum utilization practices. This policy change aims to encourage sustainable farming methods by reducing legal risks associated with soil amendment use.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

May 2025

Senate Passage

Jun 2025

House Passage

May 2025

Signed into Law

Jun 2025

Introduced Mar 31, 2025 Signed Jun 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB32 Original → SB32 Act · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill expanded liability protection to include landowners in addition to agricultural producers and suppliers. It clarified that gypsum must be obtained for free from a manufacturing byproduct source and strictly defined the testing requirements, mandating analysis by an accredited lab using specific USDA and EPA standards before use.

Scope change

The scope of liability protection was broadened to explicitly cover landowners who authorize the use of gypsum on their property, whereas the original draft only covered agricultural producers and suppliers.

ELIGIBILITY

Landowners are now explicitly included in the group eligible for liability protection when they authorize gypsum use on their land.

REQUIREMENT

The requirement to obtain gypsum at no cost was moved from a general condition to a specific sub-clause to ensure it is clearly defined as a prerequisite for liability protection.

The testing protocol was refined to specify that analysis must be conducted by an accredited laboratory using the most recent USDA Conservation Practice Standards and EPA regulatory requirements.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 29, 2025 · House May 27, 2025

How they voted

37–0

Passed

Total votes 37

Apr 29, 2025

D Democratic11

11 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican26

26 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jun 1, 2025

Upper · Passed

Amendments proposed by the House read and concurred in by a vote of 34 yeas and 0 nays.

upper

May 27, 2025

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 95, nays 0. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.

lower

May 19, 2025

Introduced

Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.

lower

May 15, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported with amendments (11-0). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.

lower

May 5, 2025

Committee

Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development.

lower

Apr 29, 2025

Upper · Passed

Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title and passed by a vote of 39 yeas and 0 nays; ordered reengrossed and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

upper

Apr 22, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported favorably.

upper

Apr 14, 2025

Committee

Introduced in the Senate; read by title. Rules suspended. Read second time and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors