Session Update - May 26, 2023
The regular session of the Louisiana State Legislature convened on Monday, April 10.
Following is a list of the Bills we will track throughout the session. **The bills in bold either had action taken this week or are scheduled to be heard next week.**
HB 1 by Rep. Jerome “Zee” Zeringue provides for the ordinary operating expenses of state government for Fiscal Year 2023. This bill passed the House by a vote of 72 to 33 and was then referred to the Senate Finance Committee.
HB 4 by Rep. Tony Bacala provides relative to the crime of criminal trespass on running waters of the state. This bill failed to pass out of the House Committee on House Administration of Criminal Justice.
HB 10 by Rep. Robby Carter removes eminent domain authority of carbon dioxide storage facility operators. This bill was involuntarily deferred by the House Committee on House Natural Resources and Environment.
HB 35 by Rep. Robby Carter prohibits carbon dioxide sequestration projects in St. Helena Parish. This bill failed to pass out of the House Committee on House Natural Resources and Environment.
HB 36 by Rep. C. Travis Johnson provides for the Delta Agriculture Research and Sustainability District. This bill passed the House by a vote of 97 to 0 and was then referred to the Senate Ag Committee.
HB 60 by Rep. Michael Echols provides for the regulation of fueling stations for electric vehicles. This bill passed the House by a vote of 102 to 0 and then referred to the Senate Ag Committee.
HB 119 by Rep. Mike Johnson exempts from state and local sales and use tax certain agricultural fencing materials and trailers acquired by commercial farmers. This bill was referred to the House Ways and Means Committee.
HB 125 by Rep. Phillip DeVillier provides relative to agriculture land protection against foreign adversaries. This bill passed the House by a vote of 99 to 0 and was then referred to the Senate Ag Committee.
HB 153 by Rep. Phillip DeVillier (Constitutional Amendment) phases-in, over a four-year period, a property tax exemption for items constituting business inventory. This bill was scheduled to be heard by the House Ways and Means Committee but was voluntarily deferred in committee.
HB 161 by Rep. Timothy Kerner changes local sales and use tax exemptions for commercial fishermen and certain seafood processing facilities from optional to mandatory. This bill passed the Senate by a vote of 38 to 0 and is now enrolled.
HB 203 by Rep. Phillip DeVillier (Constitutional Amendment) provides relative to state sales and use tax exemptions for food for home consumption, residential utilities, and prescription drugs. This bill was scheduled to be heard by the House Ways and Means Committee but was voluntarily deferred in committee.
HB 204 by Rep. Phillip DeVillier provides relative to the state sales and use tax exemptions for food for home consumption, residential utilities, and prescription drugs. This bill was scheduled to be heard by the House Ways and Means Committee but was voluntarily deferred in committee.
HB 214 by Rep. Phillip DeVillier repeals individual income, corporate income, and corporate franchise taxes and repeals all credits, deductions, exemptions, and exclusions from the taxes. This bill was voluntarily deferred by the House Ways and Means Committee.
HB 254 by Rep. Polly Thomas (Constitutional Amendment) repeals provisions in the Louisiana Constitution related to various funds. This bill passed the House by a vote of 101 to 0 and was then referred to the Senate Finance Committee.
HB 267 by Rep. William Wheat, Jr. places a moratorium on carbon dioxide sequestration projects on Lake Maurepas and the Maurepas swamp Wildlife Management Area. This bill failed to pass the House by a vote of 26 to 73.
HB 277 by Rep. Larry Bagley (Constitutional Amendment) provides relative to severance tax revenues remitted to parishes in which the associated severance occurs. This bill passed the House by a vote of 101 to 0 and was then referred to the Senate Committee on Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs.
HB 278 by Rep. Jack McFarland (Constitutional Amendment) increases amounts of severance tax revenues remitted to parishes and requires that portions of these amounts be spent on parish transportation projects. This bill passed the House by a vote of 99 to 0 and was then referred to the Senate Committee on Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs.
HB 293 by Rep. Polly Thomas repeals certain funds within the state treasury. This bill passed the House by a vote of 101 to 0 and was then referred to the Senate Finance Committee.
HB 312 by Rep. Robby Carter provides relative to liability and damages resulting from carbon sequestration. This bill was reported favorably by the House Natural Resources and Environmental Committee and then recommitted to the House Civil Law Committee.
HB 330 by Rep. Mike Johnson exempts from state and local sales and use tax agricultural fencing materials and trailers acquired by commercial farmers. This bill passed the House by a vote of 100 to 0 and was then referred to the Senate Committee on Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs.
HB 363 by Rep. Richard Nelson phases-out the corporation income and franchise taxes and reduces the amount of exemptions, deductions, and credits that may be claimed to reduce corporate income and franchise tax liability. This bill was voluntarily deferred by the House Ways and Means Committee.
HB 368 by Rep. Lance Harris establishes the official state nut. The bill passed the House by a vote of 101 to 0, was reported favorably by the Senate Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs, and set on the Senate Orders.
HB 384 by Rep. Jack McFarland provides relative to the Louisiana Renewable Energy Development Act. This bill was reported favorably by the Senate Commerce Committee and then set on the Senate Orders.
HB 414 by Rep. Richard Nelson (Constitutional Amendment) provides relative to various sources of state and local revenue. This bill was voluntarily deferred by the House Ways and Means Committee.
HB 423 by Rep. Richard Nelson provides relative to state and local sales and use taxes. This bill was voluntarily deferred by the House Ways and Means Committee.
HB 424 by Rep. Richard Nelson phases out the taxes levied on the income of individuals and estates and trusts and reduces the amount of exemptions, deductions, and credits that may be claimed to reduce income tax liability. This bill was voluntarily deferred by the House Ways and Means Committee.
HB 425 by Rep. Ryan Bourriaque establishes the Acadiana Watershed District. This bill was scheduled to be heard by the House Transportation Committee but was not heard in committee.
HB 436 by Rep. C. Travis Johnson provides a state sales tax exemption for certain farmers for acquisition of renewable energy systems and items and services for energy efficiency improvements. This bill was scheduled to be heard by the House Ways and Means Committee and was voluntarily deferred in committee.
HB 438 by Rep. Robert “Bob” Owen provides relative to oyster seed ground vessel permits. This bill passed the House by a vote of 103 to 0, was reported favorably as amended by the Senate Natural Resources and Environment Committee, and then set on the Senate Orders.
HB 453 by Rep. Sherman Mack requires that carbon dioxide injected for geologic sequestration using a Class VI injection well be transported to and sequestered in a storage facility in the Gulf of Mexico. This bill was involuntarily deferred by the House Committee on House Natural Resources and Environment.
HB 454 by Rep. Sherman Mack requires a local election for the approval of carbon dioxide sequestration within a parish. This bill was involuntarily deferred by the House Committee on House Natural Resources and Environment.
HB 455 by Rep. Jean-Paul Coussan provides relative to rights in minerals. This bill passed the House by a vote of 101 to 0, was reported favorably by the Senate Natural Resources Committee and then set on the Senate Orders.
HB 476 by Rep. Mike Huval establishes the Acadiana Watershed District. This bill was referred to the House Transportation Committee.
HB 495 by Rep. Phillip DeVillier reduces the amount of certain income tax exclusions, exemptions, deductions, and credits. This bill was voluntarily deferred by the House Ways and Means Committee.
HB 502 by Rep. Jack McFarland modifies the definition of the term commercial farmer by removing certain reporting requirements. This bill passed the House by a vote of 104 to 0, was reported favorably by the Senate Committee on Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs, and then set on the Senate Orders.
HB 528 by Rep. Mack Cormier increases penalties for violations of shrimp and crawfish labeling requirements in food service establishments. This bill was voluntarily deferred by the House Committee on House Natural Resources and Environment.
HB 533 by Rep. Mike Johnson change the composition and qualifications of the board of commissioners of the Red River, Atchafalya, and Bayou Boeuf Levee District. This bill passed the House by a vote of 93 to 0, was reported favorably from the Senate Transportation Committee, and was then set on the Senate Orders.
HB 537 by Rep. Valarie Hodges provides for a prohibition against foreign adversary purchasing, leasing, or acquiring land. This bill passed the House as amended by a vote of 76 to 24, and was then referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary A.
HB 561 by Rep. Clay Schexnayder provides relative to the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center. This bill passed the Senate by a vote of 37 to 0 and is now enrolled.
HB 570 by Rep. Alan Seabaugh establishes a monetary reward for feral hog tails. This bill was voluntarily deferred in the House Committee on House Natural Resources and Environment.
HB 571 by Rep. Clay Schexnayder provides relative to carbon capture and sequestration. This bill passed the House by a vote of 98 to 1, was reported favorably by the Senate Natural Resources Committee, and then recommitted to the Senate Finance Committee.
HB 574 by Rep. Alan Seabaugh provides relative to industrial hemp. This bill is scheduled to be heard by the House Health & Welfare Committee but was voluntarily deferred in committee.
HB 591 by Rep. Adrian Fisher provides relative to fee exemptions for certain solar power generation facilities. This bill was scheduled to be heard by the Senate Natural Resources Committee on Thursday, May 25 but was removed from the hearing.
HB 605 by Rep. Clay Schexnayder provides relative to the regulation of consumable hemp products. This bill was scheduled for House floor debate on Thursday, May 4, but was returned to the calendar – subject to call.
SB 28 by Sen. Stewart Cathey Jr. provides relative to grain sampling and grading. This bill passed the Senate by a vote of 36 to 0 and was then reported favorably by the House Agriculture Committee.
SB 32 by Sen. Beth Mizell provides relative to the sale of dairy products. This bill was voluntarily deferred by the Senate Agricultural Committee.
SB 42 by Sen. Fred Mills creates the Louisiana Watershed Initiative. This bill was reported favorably by the House Transportation Committee and set on the House Orders but was then returned to the calendar, subject to call.
SB 67 by Sen. Robert Mills requires certain financial documents related to the Louisiana Timber and Agriculture Transportation Group Self-Insurance Funds. This bill passed the Senate by a vote of 34 to 0 and was then reported favorably by the House Agriculture Committee.
SB 90 by Sen. Robert Mills provides Cooperative Endeavor Agreement for surface water. This bill was voluntarily deferred by the Senate Natural Resources Committee.
SB 102 by Sen. Fred Mills provides relative to the Acadiana Watershed District. This bill is was reported favorably by the House Transportation Committee and set on the House Orders but it was returned to the calendar – subject to call.
SB 141 by Sen. Bob Hensgens provides for carbon sequestration. This bill was referred to the Senate Natural Resources Committee.
SB 154 by Sen. Bret Allain provides for renewable energy leases. This bill was reported favorably with amendments by the Senate Natural Resources Committee and then set on the House Orders.
SB 198 by Sen. Katrina Jackson provides relative to consumable hemp products. This bill passed the Senate by a vote of 38 to 0, and is scheduled to be heard by the House Committee on House Health & Welfare on Wednesday, May 31, at 10:00 a.m. in Room 5.
SB 206 by Sen. Barry Milligan provides relative to foreign interest in certain Louisiana research facilities. This bill was reported favorably by the House Education Committee and is now set on the House Orders.
SB 219 by Sen. Stewart Cathey, Jr. provides relative to industrial hemp. This bill was voluntarily deferred by the Senate Finance Committee.