Environment

HB 891 creates three new special license plates in Louisiana: "Louisiana Quail Forever," "Ducks Unlimited," and "Conserve Louisiana." Vehicle owners who purchase these plates pay additional fees ($26 for Quail, $50 for Ducks, $50 for Conserve Louisiana) beyond standard registration costs. The base fees fund the state's Conservation Fund for specific wildlife habitats (quail or waterfowl), while annual royalty fees ($50 each) go directly to the respective conservation organizations (Quail Forever or Ducks Unlimited) to support their habitat work. The "Conserve Louisiana" plate requires 1,000 applicants before issuance and directs all fees to the Conservation Fund for general wildlife conservation efforts.

HB 589 (Energy/Pipelines: Requires a five hundred foot setback for carbon dioxide pipelines) would require carbon dioxide transport pipelines in Louisiana to maintain a minimum 500-foot buffer zone from inhabited dwellings, schools, and healthcare facilities. This policy directly affects pipeline companies planning to construct CO2 transportation infrastructure within the state. The bill amends Louisiana law to add this setback requirement as a specific siting condition for CO2 pipelines, mirroring existing rules for Class VI injection wells. The provision aims to establish a standardized safety distance between pipeline infrastructure and sensitive locations.