Environment

signed · Louisiana · House Jun 23, 2026

HB 1153: ENVIRONMENT/ENFORCEMENT: Authorizes parishes and municipalities to declare bans on burning

This bill authorizes Louisiana parishes and municipalities to issue temporary bans on outdoor burning when environmental conditions create a high risk of wildfires. Local governments can enforce these bans through ordinances, resolutions, or emergency proclamations and must provide public notice via websites, social media, and emergency alert systems. The law exempts agricultural burning, prescribed burns, and contained cooking or recreational fires from restrictions. Violations can result in civil fines ranging from $500 to $2,500, and offenders who cause significant property damage or harm to critical infrastructure face criminal penalties including imprisonment and restitution for fire suppression costs. Fire departments and municipal code enforcement officers are authorized to enforce these burn bans alongside traditional law enforcement agencies.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill authorizes bans on outdoor burning to reduce wildfire risk and air pollution, directly protecting environmental quality and public safety.90% confidence

signed · Louisiana · House May 22, 2026

HB 835: WILDLIFE/MGT AREAS: Establishes a charter guide wildlife management area access permit (EN INCREASE SD RV See Note)

HB 835 establishes an annual $100 charter guide permit for fishing guides operating within Louisiana's Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs). This permit replaces individual access permits for both the guide and their paying clients during for-hire fishing trips. Guides must submit confidential landing reports detailing trips, anglers, and fishing locations to the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, but financial data is excluded. Violations of the permit or reporting rules carry fines starting at $1,000 or require vessel monitoring systems for repeat offenses, with license suspension possible for non-compliance. The bill directly affects commercial fishing guides conducting trips in WMAs.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill establishes permit/reporting for fishing guides in Wildlife Management Areas, aiding resource monitoring and conservation management within protected zones.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Wildlife

signed · Louisiana · House May 22, 2026

HB 727: ENVIRONMENT: Provides for the burning of untreated, unpainted dimensional lumber

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.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill prevents DEQ from banning burning of construction wood, removing pollution controls and weakening environmental regulations on emissions from debris burning.92% confidence

in committee · Louisiana · Senate Mar 9, 2026

SB 186: FISH/FISHING: Provides for the menhaden fishery. (8/1/26) (OR SEE FISC NOTE SD RV)

SB 186 sets annual catch limits for commercial menhaden fishing in Louisiana territorial waters. It requires commercial fishing companies using purse seines to harvest no more than 315 million pounds of menhaden per year. The bill also prohibits possessing more than 5% by weight of any non-menhaden or non-herring-like fish species while fishing. These provisions directly affect commercial menhaden fishing operations in Louisiana.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentSets annual catch limits (315M lbs) and prohibits excessive non-menhaden catch to conserve menhaden fishery, directly protecting marine resources and preventing overfishing.95% confidence

Track

in committee · Louisiana · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 754: WILDLIFE & FISHERIES: Creates sanctuaries on Lake Pontchartrain (OR NO IMPACT See Note)

HB 754 creates two protected areas in Lake Pontchartrain: the existing Lake Catherine and Lake Pontchartrain Sanctuary, and a new Manchac Wildlife Management Area Sanctuary. The bill prohibits commercial fishing using trawls, skimmer nets, butterfly nets, seines, or standard traps within these sanctuaries, while allowing recreational spearfishing, hoop nets for catfish, crab traps, and certain fishing south/east of the I-10 bridge during open seasons. These sanctuaries are administered by Louisiana's Wildlife and Fisheries Commission to conserve fish and marine life. The law directly affects commercial and recreational fishermen operating in the specified lake zones.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentCreates protected sanctuaries prohibiting harmful commercial fishing methods to conserve wildlife habitats in Lake Pontchartrain, directly advancing environmental protection.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Wildlife

Track

in committee · Louisiana · House Apr 14, 2026

HB 855: FISHING/NETS: Establishes depth requirements for the commercial use of purse seines

HB 855 requires commercial fishing vessels using purse seines in Louisiana's saltwater areas to operate only in waters with a minimum depth of 22 feet. This rule directly affects commercial fishermen who use purse seines for catching fish like menhaden or tuna in coastal waters. The key provision amends Louisiana law to prohibit purse seine use in shallower waters, aiming to protect marine habitats or species in shallow zones. The bill does not specify enforcement details or exemptions beyond the depth requirement.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates minimum 22ft depth for purse seines to protect marine habitats in shallow zones, directly advancing conservation goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Coastal & Flood Protection

Track

signed · Louisiana · House Jun 8, 2026

HB 804: ENERGY: Creates the Louisiana Energy Protection Act (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

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.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyLimits lawsuits against energy producers for climate damages, weakening accountability for emissions and protecting fossil fuel interests.90% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentLimits climate damage lawsuits against energy producers, reducing legal accountability for emissions and weakening environmental protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Air Quality

died · Louisiana · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 252: FUNDS/FUNDING: Dedicates severance tax revenue from oil and gas produced from certain stripper wells in the Caddo Pine Island Field to the Oilfield Site Restoration Fund and provides for the use of those monies (OR -$1,708,285 GF RV See Note)

HB 252 redirects 100% of severance tax revenue from small-volume oil and gas wells (known as "stripper wells") in Louisiana's Caddo Pine Island Field to the Oilfield Site Restoration Fund, instead of depositing it into the state general fund. This dedicated funding stream will specifically support oilfield site restoration and plugging orphan wells within the Caddo Pine Island Field. The bill modifies existing law to ensure these tax revenues - collected from producers in that specific field - are exclusively used for cleanup and restoration work there. It does not create new taxes or fees but changes the allocation of existing revenue.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects severance tax revenue to dedicated fund for oilfield restoration, explicitly funding a specific program within fiscal management per bill's purpose.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRedirects oil/gas severance taxes to restore sites and plug orphan wells, reducing environmental hazards from abandoned oilfields.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue State Budget

Track

signed · Louisiana · Senate Jun 1, 2026

SB 189: ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL: Prohibits the intentional release or dispersion, by burning of fuel, of chemicals into the environment of this state with the express purpose of affecting temperature. (8/1/26)

SB 189 prohibits intentionally releasing chemicals into Louisiana's atmosphere - through methods like burning fuel - to directly affect temperature, weather, climate, or sunlight. It applies to anyone conducting such releases within the state for these specific purposes. The bill explicitly excludes fire retardants or agricultural applications (seeds, fertilizers, pesticides) when used below 1,000 feet above ground. The bill is currently prefiled for the 2026 legislative session and has not yet been debated or voted on.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentProhibits intentional climate-altering chemical releases, preventing environmental harm from weather manipulation. Explicitly protects atmosphere from temperature/weather interference.95% confidence

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 29, 2026

SB 331: WATER/WATERWAYS: Provides relative to the Louisiana Scenic Rivers Act. (8/1/26)

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.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExempts drainage projects from scenic river protections, removing restrictions on dredging/channelization and eliminating permit requirements, weakening environmental safeguards.95% confidence