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SB 94 Louisiana Senate · 2025 Regular Session

WATER/WATERWAYS: Provides for waters of the state. (gov sig)

SB 94 clarifies the legal definition of "waters of the state" in Louisiana law. It specifically excludes certain wetlands classified as "fastlands" under state law (R.S. 49:214.23(6)) if they lack a continuous surface connection to other waters. The bill amends existing statutes to remove outdated references and formally define this exclusion, primarily affecting how state water regulations apply to specific wetland areas. This is a technical clarification of legal definitions, not a new policy affecting residents or businesses.
Issues: ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExcludes specific wetlands from regulatory definition, reducing environmental protections by removing coverage for certain waterways under state law.85% confidence
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
Jun 2025
House Passage
Jun 2025
Signed into Law
Jun 2025
Introduced Apr 3, 2025 Signed Jun 8, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB94 Original → SB94 Act · 3 edits
MINOR
This bill amends state laws to officially rename the 'Gulf of Mexico' to the 'Gulf of America' and updates the legal definition of 'waters of the state' to include specific coastal features like mudflats and wet meadows. It also clarifies that certain enclosed wetlands surrounded by levees are not considered connected to federal waters, thereby exempting them from specific federal regulatory requirements.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of 'waters of the state' to include more specific coastal landforms and modifies the applicability of federal water regulations by creating a new exemption for enclosed wetlands.
DEFINITION

Renamed 'Gulf of Mexico' to 'Gulf of America' throughout all state statutes and legal documents.

Expanded the definition of 'waters of the state' to explicitly include mudflats, sandflats, wet meadows, and playa lakes.

ELIGIBILITY

Added an exemption stating that wetlands surrounded by levees or natural formations that prevent water drainage are not considered to have a 'continuous surface connection' to federal waters.

Floor votes · Senate Jun 3, 2025 · House Jun 2, 2025

How they voted

34–1
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 38
Jun 3, 2025
D Democratic11
10 Yea 1
90% Yea
R Republican27
24 Yea 1 Nay 2
88% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
19
Key actions
5
Committee
4
Amendments
1
Jun 3, 2025
Upper · Passed
Amendments proposed by the House read and concurred in by a vote of 35 yeas and 1 nays.
upper
Jun 2, 2025
Lower · Passed
Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 81, nays 14. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.
lower
May 21, 2025
Introduced
Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.
lower
May 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported with amendments (13-0). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.
lower
May 8, 2025
Committee
Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and Environment.
lower
May 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title and passed by a vote of 35 yeas and 2 nays; ordered reengrossed and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
upper
Apr 30, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported with amendments.
upper
Apr 14, 2025
Committee
Introduced in the Senate; read by title. Rules suspended. Read second time and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources.
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
MF
Mike Fési
RRepublican
LA
20