Environment

HB 595 transfers exclusive authority over natural resource development permits from local governments to the state department. It prohibits parishes, cities, and other local entities from requiring permits or enacting ordinances that could delay or block state-led development of resources like oil, gas, or minerals. The bill specifically states that no local government may impose permitting requirements related to natural resources, shifting all regulatory control to the state. This directly affects local governments and developers who previously navigated local permitting processes. The law aims to streamline state oversight for resource projects by eliminating overlapping local requirements.

SB 331 temporarily exempts specific drainage projects on the West Pearl River (from Lock 1 to the Rigolets) from Louisiana's Scenic Rivers Act protections. The bill removes restrictions on activities like channelization, dredging, and reservoir construction for drainage purposes between August 1, 2026, and August 1, 2033. It also eliminates the requirement for permits under related laws for these projects during that period. This change directly affects river management activities in that specific river segment for seven years.

This bill is a concurrent resolution that expresses the Louisiana Legislature's full support for building and operating a liquid natural gas export facility at Port Fourchon. It directly affects the Greater Lafourche Port Commission, local businesses, and workers involved in the project, which is currently seeking federal permits. The resolution highlights the project's potential to create thousands of jobs, generate billions in economic activity, and prioritize Louisiana-based manufacturing and employment. It also notes the project's alignment with state economic goals and a policy of exporting energy to nations with shared democratic values.

HB 697 re-creates Louisiana's Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) with a specific end date, effective June 30, 2026, and requires it to terminate on July 1, 2031. The bill directly affects the DEQ and all agencies currently operating under it, as their statutory authority will end by the 2031 termination date. Key provisions include repealing an existing statute (R.S. 49:191(1)(j)) and enacting new language (R.S. 49:191(3)(b)) to set the 2031 deadline for the DEQ’s operations. The department may be re-established before 2031 under existing procedures, but this bill establishes a fixed 5-year timeframe for its current structure. This is a procedural sunset law, not a policy change to environmental regulations.