ENERGY: Requires a public hearing in the parish where a Class VI well is proposed

HB 509 requires a public hearing in every Louisiana parish where a permit for a Class V or VI injection well (used for geologic sequestration projects) is proposed. The hearing must occur within the first 15 days of the public comment period and cannot be held between December 20 and January 1. This bill directly affects local communities in parishes where such well permits are filed, ensuring residents have a formal opportunity to comment before permits are issued. The key provision mandates these hearings as a standard step in the permitting process, adding a required public engagement phase for these specific well types.