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.
HB 707 updates Louisiana's Liquefied Petroleum Gas Commission rules to redirect assessment fees toward promoting propane use through advertising, trade shows, and consumer rebates for propane appliances. It requires the commission to form an advisory board with nine industry representatives (including specific permit holders) to advise on fund allocation. The board must meet publicly and can hold virtual sessions, with members serving without pay. The bill also allows the commission to partner with the Department of Agriculture for market development efforts. Currently pending in committee.
HB 595 transfers exclusive authority over natural resource development permits from local governments to the state department. It prohibits parishes, cities, and other local entities from requiring permits or enacting ordinances that could delay or block state-led development of resources like oil, gas, or minerals. The bill specifically states that no local government may impose permitting requirements related to natural resources, shifting all regulatory control to the state. This directly affects local governments and developers who previously navigated local permitting processes. The law aims to streamline state oversight for resource projects by eliminating overlapping local requirements.
HB 731 clarifies that pipeline operators in Louisiana cannot be held to "implied obligations" beyond what is explicitly written in their contracts with landowners. It defines key terms like "pipeline" (covering natural gas, oil, and other substances) and "pipeline operator," then states that standard property law duties for pipeline access rights do not apply unless specified in the contract. This directly affects landowners who may have relied on implied legal duties and pipeline companies seeking to limit their liability. The bill applies retroactively to all unresolved disputes, ensuring existing claims are governed by this contractual limitation.
HB 878 prohibits the permitting of carbon dioxide (CO2) storage beneath Louisiana's designated natural and scenic river systems. It directly affects carbon capture project developers seeking underground storage sites under these rivers, as the bill blocks permits for such operations. The key provision amends state law to explicitly ban geologic CO2 storage beneath rivers listed in the scenic river system designation (R.S. 56:1840 et al.), regardless of other legal provisions. This policy change prevents new carbon capture projects from using riverbeds as storage locations.
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.
HB 496 establishes minimum surface injection pressure limits for saltwater disposal wells in Bossier, Caddo, and Webster Parishes, directly affecting oil and gas operators using these wells. It sets three specific pressure thresholds based on well depth and daily fluid volume: 0.5 psi per vertical foot for deeper wells injecting under 3,000 barrels/day, and 0.25 psi per vertical foot for deeper wells injecting 3,000+ barrels/day or shallower wells (1,200 feet or less). Existing permit holders with stricter pressure limits can request modifications to comply with these new minimums. The bill does not apply to commercial disposal wells and focuses on regulating onsite or community saltwater disposal operations.
SB 251 establishes the "Louisiana Critical Infrastructure Protection Act of 2026" to safeguard critical infrastructure - including gas/oil systems, water delivery, telecommunications, power grids, emergency services, and transportation systems - from foreign adversaries. The bill prohibits companies and government entities from entering agreements that allow foreign adversaries (as defined by federal regulations) to access or control critical infrastructure, and bans the use of adversary cameras and laser sensors in Louisiana transportation systems. Companies must certify their access, conduct background checks on employees with infrastructure access, store data outside foreign adversary countries, and report cyber incidents to the Governor's Office of Homeland Security, with exceptions only for unavoidable needs approved by that office. This directly affects businesses and government agencies operating critical infrastructure in Louisiana.
