HB 841 Louisiana House · 2026 Regular Session

PROPERTY/EXPROPRIATION: Provides for expropriation procedures (EG SEE FISC NOTE SD RV See Note)

HB 841 establishes new rules for property takings (expropriation) in Louisiana, primarily affecting landowners and pipeline companies with expropriation authority. It requires pipeline operators to provide detailed written notices to landowners before seeking property, conduct appraisals by disinterested third parties, and engage in at least five in-person negotiation meetings. The bill mandates a 30-day response period for landowners to review offers and contest takings on grounds like lack of good-faith negotiation or procedural violations. It also shifts court costs to the expropriating authority (not landowners) and empowers the Department of Conservation and Energy to revoke certificates for noncompliance.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 27, 2026 Last action May 7, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

HB841 Original → HB841 Engrossed · 5 edits · May 6, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was amended to add more sponsors and significantly update the expropriation process for pipeline owners. The changes shift the legal framework from the general expropriation statute to a specific pipeline code of conduct, introducing stricter requirements for appraisers, mandatory in-person negotiations, and new civil penalties for violations.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed and specialized; it now specifically targets pipeline and other certificate holders under R.S. 30:1108 rather than applying broadly to all expropriating authorities under R.S. 19:2.

SCOPE

The bill was amended to amend and reenact R.S. 30:1108(C)(1) and repeal R.S. 30:1108(C)(2), focusing specifically on pipeline expropriation procedures rather than general expropriation laws.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement that appraisers must be sworn statements of disinterested third parties with no monetary interest in the transaction, ensuring fair valuation.

Established a mandatory minimum of five in-person meetings or documented attempts to meet in person between the pipeline owner and the landowner before exercising expropriation rights.

Added a 15-day waiting period after a written compensation offer is delivered to allow the landowner time to respond with additional information or a counteroffer.

ENFORCEMENT

Introduced a tiered civil penalty system for violations: $1,000 for the first violation, $2,000 for the second, and $10,000 for subsequent violations.

Floor votes · House May 6, 2026

How they voted

98–0

Passed · 7 other

Total votes 105

May 6, 2026

D Democratic33

31 Yea 2

93% Yea

R Republican72

67 Yea 5

93% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 98, nays 0. The bill, having received two-thirds vote of the elected members, was finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

lower

Apr 29, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported with amendments (15-0).

lower

Mar 9, 2026

Committee

Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and Environment.

lower

Feb 27, 2026

Committee

Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and Environment.

lower

1 primary · 11 co-sponsors