Environment

in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 80: CIVIL/LAW: Establishes strict liability for damages caused from carbon storage and transportation

HB 80 establishes strict liability for owners or operators of carbon dioxide (CO2) storage facilities or pipelines transporting CO2 for geologic storage in Louisiana. This means companies would be held fully responsible for damages caused by CO2 leaks or releases - without needing to prove negligence or fault. The law directly affects energy companies operating these facilities, requiring them to cover all resulting harm to people, property, or the environment. Key provisions mandate that liability applies to any "authorized release or loss of containment" of CO2, shifting the burden from affected parties to the facility operators.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentHolds carbon storage operators strictly liable for environmental damage from CO2 leaks, requiring full compensation and strengthening accountability for pollution control.95% confidence

Track

in committee · Louisiana · Senate Mar 9, 2026

SB 59: FISH/FISHING: Provides for menhaden. (8/1/26) (OR NO IMPACT See Note)

SB 59 regulates commercial menhaden fishing in Louisiana by limiting bycatch. It requires that no commercial fisher taking menhaden may possess more than five percent, by weight, of any fish species other than menhaden or herring-like species. This directly affects commercial fishing operations harvesting menhaden along Louisiana's coast. The bill establishes a specific weight-based restriction to minimize the incidental capture of non-target fish during menhaden fishing.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentLimits bycatch to conserve non-target fish species, directly advancing marine resource protection through weight-based restrictions on commercial fishing operations.95% confidence

Track

signed · Louisiana · House May 29, 2026

HB 417: FUNDS/FUNDING: Increases the maximum balance of the Hazardous Waste Site Cleanup Fund (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

HB 417 increases the maximum balance of Louisiana's Hazardous Waste Site Cleanup Fund from a fixed $6.8 million to an amount adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) starting January 1, 2027. This change affects how the state manages funds generated from hazardous waste cleanup penalties, settlements, and fees collected under environmental laws. The bill requires the state treasurer to redirect excess funds above the new, inflation-adjusted cap into the Environmental Trust Fund, rather than the previous fixed limit. The adjustment mechanism ensures the fund's capacity grows with inflation, avoiding future budget constraints from rising costs. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAdjusts fund cap via CPI for fiscal responsibility, redirects excess to Environmental Trust Fund85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentIncreases hazardous waste cleanup funding via CPI-adjusted cap and redirects excess to Environmental Trust Fund, strengthening environmental protection efforts.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Hazardous Materials

in committee · Louisiana · Senate Mar 9, 2026

SB 332: ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL: Provides relative to the dumping of waste tires. (8/1/26)

SB 332 prohibits the intentional disposal of whole waste tires in landfills as final disposal. It allows landfills to accept tires that have been processed - such as cut, separated, or shredded - according to rules set by Louisiana's environmental department. The bill directly affects waste tire processors, landfills, and waste management companies handling tire disposal. It clarifies existing rules to prevent illegal dumping while providing a regulated pathway for tire disposal through processing.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentProhibits illegal tire dumping and mandates regulated disposal of processed tires, directly preventing pollution and strengthening waste management environmental regulations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Waste Management

Track

signed · Louisiana · House May 29, 2026

HB 665: FISHING/NETS: Prohibits hoop nets and seines from being utilized in North Pass and Manchac Pass

HB 665 prohibits the use of hoop nets and seines (specific types of fishing gear) in North Pass and Manchac Pass, from Interstate 55 to Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana. This law directly affects commercial and recreational fishermen operating in those waterways. The key provision bans these gear types within the defined geographic boundaries specified in the bill. The legislation aims to manage fishing practices in these specific coastal areas, though it does not specify the underlying reasons for the prohibition.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBans destructive fishing gear (hoop nets/seines) in ecologically sensitive coastal areas to protect marine habitats and species conservation, directly advancing environmental protection.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection

signed · Louisiana · House May 11, 2026

HB 697: SUNSET LAW: Re-creates the Department of Environmental Quality

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.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill terminates DEQ operations by 2031, ending environmental regulatory authority without replacement, weakening long-term oversight.85% confidence

in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 877: ENERGY: Prohibits carbon capture facilities from sharing pipelines

HB 877 prohibits carbon capture facilities in Louisiana from sharing pipelines for transporting carbon dioxide to storage sites. The bill directly affects carbon capture project operators and pipeline owners by requiring separate pipelines for each facility's CO2 transport. Its key provision, added to state law (R.S. 30:1116), explicitly bans owners of separate storage facilities from using the same pipeline for CO2 delivery. This creates a new regulatory requirement for pipeline infrastructure planning and construction. The bill aims to prevent shared pipeline usage, though it does not address pipeline safety standards or costs.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBill restricts carbon capture infrastructure by mandating separate pipelines, increasing costs and hindering project development for CO2 transport.90% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill restricts carbon capture project infrastructure by banning shared pipelines, increasing costs and complexity for emissions-reduction technology, weakening climate action efforts.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Oil & Gas Pipeline Infrastructure

Track

signed · Louisiana · Senate Jun 2, 2026

SB 367: WATER MANAGEMENT: Creates the Watershed Restoration and Conservation Fund. (8/1/26) (EN INCREASE SD EX See Note)

SB 367 creates Louisiana's Watershed Conservation Fund to support restoration of lands and watersheds damaged by sand and stone mining. The fund is financed by remaining severance tax revenues from these mining operations after other required allocations (like coastal protection funds). It directly affects eligible watershed management entities that meet specific criteria, such as having statutory floodplain management authority and a governing board with parish representation and relevant expertise. Funds will be used for reclaiming abandoned mining sites, reducing flood risks in vulnerable areas, and improving water quality in impaired watersheds. The secretary of the department must annually report fund administration to relevant legislative committees.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentCreates Watershed Conservation Fund for restoring lands/watersheds damaged by mining, funded by mining severance taxes, directly advancing environmental conservation and restoration efforts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection Conservation Water Quality

in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 419: LIABILITY/CIVIL: Relative to civil liability from greenhouse gas emissions

HB 419 limits civil liability for oil and gas companies regarding greenhouse gas emissions that comply with state and federal laws. It directly affects covered entities like oil producers, refiners, and pipeline operators by blocking lawsuits alleging contributions to climate change ("climate change claims"). Key provisions state these entities cannot be held liable for such claims if emissions follow applicable regulations, while preserving liability for personal injury, property damage, environmental violations, or gross negligence. The bill does not apply to carbon capture projects and explicitly aims to prevent courts from establishing climate policy instead of legislative or regulatory processes.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyBlocks climate change lawsuits against oil/gas companies for compliant emissions, protecting fossil fuel industry from liability and opposing climate accountability measures.95% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBlocks lawsuits against oil/gas companies for climate change claims when emissions comply with regulations, weakening legal accountability for emissions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Oil & Gas Pipeline Infrastructure Climate Change

Track

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 29, 2026

SB 111: FISH/FISHING: Provides for black bass and crappie bag and size limits. (8/1/26)

SB 111 sets daily catch limits and minimum size requirements for recreational fishing of black bass and crappie in a defined area of south-central Louisiana. It prohibits taking more than five black bass (each at least 14 inches long) or 25 crappie (each at least 8 inches long) in a single day within specified boundaries south of US 190, east of the levee, and north of US 90. The bill directly affects recreational anglers fishing in that geographic region and prohibits possessing finfish filets. These changes would become effective August 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill establishes catch/size limits to conserve black bass and crappie populations, directly protecting natural resources through sustainable fishing management in specified waters.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection