HB 79 Louisiana House · 2026 Regular Session

CIVIL/LAW: Removes damage threshold for carbon capture release

HB 79 removes legal limits on compensatory damages for noneconomic losses (like pain and suffering) in lawsuits related to carbon capture and storage operations in Louisiana. It eliminates previous caps of $250,000 per person (or $500,000 for severe injuries like permanent disability) and a $1 million fallback, allowing full recovery for such damages. The bill directly affects individuals harmed by carbon dioxide storage facilities, pipelines, or CO2 generators, shifting liability risk to operators. Key provisions amend Section 1109(B) to remove these damage thresholds while maintaining other technical requirements for site restoration and federal compliance.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

May 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

Jun 2026

Introduced Feb 3, 2026 Signed Jun 2, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB79 Original → HB79 Act 614 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill removes the $250,000 and $500,000 caps on compensatory damages for noneconomic losses in lawsuits involving carbon capture and storage facilities. Additionally, it repeals a specific section of law that previously established a $1 million liability limit if the lower caps were found unconstitutional. The change expands the financial liability for facility owners and operators, potentially allowing for much higher damages in injury cases.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of liability by eliminating the specific monetary thresholds that previously limited how much money could be awarded to injured parties in carbon capture cases.

REQUIREMENT

Eliminated the $250,000 cap on compensatory damages for noneconomic loss per person in carbon capture cases.

Eliminated the $500,000 cap on compensatory damages for noneconomic loss in exceptional cases per person.

Repealed the provision establishing a $1 million maximum recovery limit for noneconomic losses if the liability caps were deemed unconstitutional.

ELIGIBILITY

Added additional representatives (Mike Johnson, McCormick, and Owen) to the list of bill sponsors.

Floor votes · Senate May 26, 2026 · House May 11, 2026

How they voted

33–2

Passed · 5 other

Total votes 40

May 26, 2026

D Democratic12

7 Yea 2 Nay 3

58% Yea

R Republican28

26 Yea 2

92% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 29, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read by title, roll called, yeas 79, nays 18, Senate amendments concurred in.

lower

May 26, 2026

Upper · Passed

Rules suspended. Senate floor amendments read and adopted. Read by title, passed by a vote of 32 yeas and 2 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

upper

May 20, 2026

Committee

Committee amendments read and adopted. Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.

upper

May 19, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported with amendments.

upper

May 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 70, nays 25. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

lower

Apr 27, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported favorably (6-0-1).

lower

Mar 9, 2026

Committee

Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Civil Law and Procedure.

lower

Feb 3, 2026

Committee

Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Civil Law and Procedure.

lower

1 primary · 3 co-sponsors