This concurrent resolution urges the state of Louisiana and its agencies to officially reject the 2022 Louisiana Climate Action Plan and declare it non-binding on future laws and policies. The bill argues that the plan undermines the state's energy economy and property rights by promoting federal regulations and international climate goals over local interests. It requests that any new environmental initiatives include input from industry stakeholders and that the legislature exercise its oversight authority by holding hearings before adopting executive actions. Additionally, the resolution commits the state to prioritizing energy independence, free-market principles, and domestic resource management instead of relying on federal mandates.
This legislative resolution directs the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment to hold a hearing reviewing the 2022 Louisiana Climate Action Plan and its related priority plan. The measure aims to assess whether these documents remain relevant under current state and federal policies that emphasize energy production and limited government intervention. During the hearing, the committee may solicit input from various state agencies and stakeholders to evaluate the plan's alignment with economic goals and national objectives. Additionally, the review is tasked with investigating potential foreign influences in the original plan's creation and determining which provisions should be retained or repudiated.
This bill urges the U.S. Congress and the United States Forest Service to permit the use of dogs for hunting within the Kisatchie National Forest. It also requests that the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries collaborate with the Forest Service to ensure this hunting practice is conducted safely and sustainably. The legislation does not create new laws but serves as a formal recommendation to federal and state agencies regarding hunting regulations in the specified forest area.
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 727 prevents Louisiana's Department of Environmental Quality from banning the burning of untreated, unpainted dimensional lumber (like wood framing materials used in construction). This directly affects construction companies, property owners, and contractors who manage debris from building projects. The bill requires the Department to update or remove any conflicting rules in the Administrative Code that would otherwise restrict this specific type of burning. It creates a clear exception for this debris type, making it legal to burn without new permits or approvals under current regulations.
HB 804, the Louisiana Energy Protection Act, limits legal claims against energy producers for climate-related damages. It prohibits lawsuits based on emissions originating outside Louisiana and makes it extremely difficult to sue for emissions within Louisiana, requiring plaintiffs to prove with "clear and convincing evidence" that the defendant violated specific permits or regulations, caused over 50% of the damages, and that the plaintiff did not contribute to the emissions. The bill directly affects energy producers, manufacturers, and related industries by shielding them from most climate-damage claims under Louisiana law. It also mandates that government entities seeking to sue must obtain prior written approval from the Governor, Attorney General, and two legislative committees. The law aims to preempt state court claims, aligning with federal Clean Air Act protections.
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.
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 510 prohibits the importation of captured carbon dioxide (CO2) into Louisiana for underground storage. It requires that any CO2 stored in Louisiana must have been generated within the state itself. The bill mandates that Louisiana's Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources must verify this local generation requirement before approving storage permits or eminent domain actions for CO2 reservoirs. This directly affects companies or entities seeking to store CO2 in Louisiana, blocking the use of imported CO2 for sequestration projects.
HB 637 adjusts oilfield site restoration fees for certain low-production wells in Louisiana. It sets reduced fees at 50% for oil from incapable wells, 25% for oil from stripper wells, 40% for gas from low-pressure wells, and 17.5% for gas from incapable gas wells - proportionally aligning with existing reduced severance tax rates. The bill directly affects oil and gas producers operating these specific well types, as defined under Louisiana law (R.S. 47:633). The changes will take effect on July 1, 2026.
