PROPERTY/EXPROPRIATION: Prohibits foreign entities from conducting expropriation activities

HB 37 prohibits foreign-owned companies without reciprocal expropriation agreements with the U.S. from taking private property in Louisiana for public projects like pipelines, utilities, or transportation infrastructure. It amends Louisiana’s expropriation law (R.S. 19:2) to require such agreements before foreign entities can use this legal process to acquire land. This directly affects foreign corporations seeking to build or operate projects in Louisiana that rely on expropriation authority, such as natural gas pipelines or carbon dioxide storage facilities. The bill applies to all sectors covered by existing expropriation rules, including energy, transportation, and public utilities, but does not restrict domestic entities or foreign entities with valid reciprocal agreements.