HB 327 prohibits carbon dioxide sequestration (storing CO2 underground) beneath private property without the property owner's written consent. It directly affects property owners and companies seeking to use underground storage for CO2. The bill requires storage operators to obtain consent from property owners, with an exception only if the owner cannot be located after a reasonable search and good-faith effort. This creates a clear property rights requirement for underground CO2 storage projects in Louisiana.
HB 922 prevents Louisiana utilities from raising rates for residential customers due to new electricity demands from large data centers. It requires utilities to charge data centers directly for all associated costs (like new power plants or transmission lines) through separate contracts or rate classes, ensuring households do not bear these expenses. The Public Service Commission must create rules mandating 15-year contracts with data centers, prohibiting cross-subsidization, and requiring independent reviews of utility investments. The bill applies to new data center projects starting from its effective date.
This bill prohibits Louisiana state agencies from using state funds for any programs or activities supporting net-zero greenhouse gas emissions goals. It broadly defines such goals to include policies aligned with international climate agreements (like the Paris Agreement), renewable energy incentives, electric vehicle programs, and methane regulations outlined in Louisiana's 2022 Climate Action Plan. Exceptions allow funding for federal compliance, pre-existing contracts, pollution reduction initiatives, and emergency spending unrelated to net-zero targets. The restriction applies to state funds for fiscal years starting July 1, 2026, and expires January 1, 2031.
Topics
✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesDefunds climate programs by prohibiting state funds for net-zero policies, including renewable energy incentives and methane regulations, directly restricting budget allocation.95% confidence
✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBill explicitly prohibits state funding for net-zero policies, renewable incentives, EV programs, and methane regulations from Louisiana's Climate Action Plan, directly defunding clean energy initiatives.95% confidence
✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentProhibits state funding for net-zero emissions programs including renewable energy incentives, EV programs, and methane regulations, directly restricting environmental protection efforts.95% confidence
✗ TransportationOpposes TransportationProhibits state funding for electric vehicle programs, a core transportation initiative under the bill's definition of net-zero policies.95% confidence
HB 621 requires renewable energy facility owners in Louisiana to include recycling plans for decommissioned equipment (like solar panels or wind turbine parts) as part of their facility closure process. The bill mandates that owners pay all costs for decommissioning and recycling, with the Department of Environmental Quality determining what recycling is "practicable." It directly affects renewable energy providers operating in Louisiana, shifting financial responsibility for end-of-life infrastructure management from taxpayers to the industry. The bill does not create new funding or alter existing environmental standards, focusing solely on requiring recycling as a standard part of decommissioning.
HB 496 establishes minimum surface injection pressure limits for saltwater disposal wells in Bossier, Caddo, and Webster Parishes, directly affecting oil and gas operators using these wells. It sets three specific pressure thresholds based on well depth and daily fluid volume: 0.5 psi per vertical foot for deeper wells injecting under 3,000 barrels/day, and 0.25 psi per vertical foot for deeper wells injecting 3,000+ barrels/day or shallower wells (1,200 feet or less). Existing permit holders with stricter pressure limits can request modifications to comply with these new minimums. The bill does not apply to commercial disposal wells and focuses on regulating onsite or community saltwater disposal operations.
HB 494 prohibits the permitting of carbon dioxide sequestration projects within St. Helena Parish, Louisiana. It directly affects any entity seeking to develop or operate carbon storage facilities in that parish by requiring the state secretary to deny all related permits. The bill amends state law (R.S. 30:1104(F)) to explicitly state that no carbon sequestration activities may be permitted there, overriding other conflicting laws. This is a direct policy change blocking a specific type of industrial activity in a defined geographic area.
SB 364 amends Louisiana law to strengthen oversight of utility rates by requiring the Louisiana Public Service Commission to audit electric utilities' fuel adjustment clauses biennially. It directly affects electric utilities and their rate-paying consumers by mandating the Commission review and modify fuel cost charges to ensure they remain "just and reasonable." Key provisions include requiring the Commission to evaluate these filings every two years and adjust charges as needed to prevent unreasonable costs from being passed to consumers. The bill focuses on regulatory process changes rather than new programs or funding. (Note: The bill is currently prefiling, with no votes recorded yet.)
HB 670 designates wood pellet manufacturing as a priority industry in Louisiana, targeting manufacturers that produce compressed biomass pellets from forestry residues for export or domestic use. The bill requires Louisiana Economic Development to create job incentives, workforce training programs, and prioritize wood pellet cargo at state ports while streamlining permitting for facilities. It directly affects wood pellet manufacturers, rural communities seeking new jobs, and the state's forestry sector by aiming to boost economic growth through international biomass exports. The law establishes clear regulatory pathways to support this industry without compromising environmental safeguards, as outlined in sections §955.1 and §955.2 of the bill.
SB 251 establishes the "Louisiana Critical Infrastructure Protection Act of 2026" to safeguard critical infrastructure - including gas/oil systems, water delivery, telecommunications, power grids, emergency services, and transportation systems - from foreign adversaries. The bill prohibits companies and government entities from entering agreements that allow foreign adversaries (as defined by federal regulations) to access or control critical infrastructure, and bans the use of adversary cameras and laser sensors in Louisiana transportation systems. Companies must certify their access, conduct background checks on employees with infrastructure access, store data outside foreign adversary countries, and report cyber incidents to the Governor's Office of Homeland Security, with exceptions only for unavoidable needs approved by that office. This directly affects businesses and government agencies operating critical infrastructure in Louisiana.
HB 7, the Louisiana Landowners Protection Act, prohibits private entities from using eminent domain (taking private property without consent) for carbon dioxide pipelines or underground storage projects. It directly affects landowners whose property might be sought for such infrastructure and private companies seeking to build CO2 pipelines or storage facilities. The bill removes existing expropriation authority for these purposes, defines "private entities" broadly to include corporations and partnerships, and eliminates the secretary of the Department of Energy and Conservation’s power to issue related certificates of public convenience. This replaces prior provisions allowing forced takings for CO2 projects with a clear ban on such actions without owner consent.
