Session Update - April 21, 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 highlighted in yellow saw action this week. You will receive an updated report each Friday during the session.

HB 1 by Rep. Jerome “Zee” Zeringue provides for the ordinary operating expenses of state government for Fiscal Year 2023. This bill was referred to the House Appropriations Committee.

HB 4 by Rep. Tony Bacala provides relative to the crime of criminal trespass on running waters of the state. This bill was referred to 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 is scheduled to be heard by the House Committee on House Natural Resources

and Environment on Wednesday, April 26, at 9:30 a.m., in Room 4.

HB 35 by Rep. Robby Carter prohibits carbon dioxide sequestration projects in St. Helena Parish. This bill is scheduled to be heard by the House Committee on House Natural Resources and

Environment on Wednesday, April 26, at 9:30 a.m. in Room 4.

HB 36 by Rep. C. Travis Johnson provides for the Delta Agriculture Research and Sustainability District. This bill was referred to the House Agriculture Committee.

HB 60 by Rep. Michael Echols provides for the regulation of fueling stations for electric vehicles. This bill was referred to the House Agriculture 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 was referred to the House Agriculture 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 is scheduled to be heard

by the House Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday, April 25, at adjournment in Room 6.

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 is scheduled

to be heard by the House Ways and Means Committee on Monday, April 24, at 9:00 a.m. in Room

6.

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 is scheduled to be heard by the House Ways and Means Committee on Monday, April 24, at

9:00 a.m. in Room 6.

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 is scheduled to be heard

by the House Ways and Means Committee on Monday, April 24, at 9:00 a.m. in Room 6.

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 referred to 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 was reported favorably from House Appropriations

Committee, set on the House orders, and recommitted to the House Civil Law 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 is scheduled to be heard by the House Committee on House Natural Resources and Environment on Wednesday,

April 26, at 9:30 a.m., in Room 4.

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 was reported favorably by the House Ways and Means Committee, set on the House orders, and then recommitted

to the House Civil Law Committee.

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 was reported favorably by the House Ways and Means Committee,

set on the House orders, and then recommitted to the House Civil Law Committee.

HB 293 by Rep. Polly Thomas repeals certain funds within the state treasury. This bill was reported

favorably as amended by the House Appropriations Committee and then set on the House orders.

HB 312 by Rep. Robby Carter provides relative to liability and damages resulting from carbon

sequestration. This bill is scheduled to be heard by the House Natural Resources and Environmental

Committee on Wednesday, April 26, at 9:30 a.m., in Room 4.

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 was referred to the House Ways and Means Committee.

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 was referred to the House Judiciary Committee.

HB 384 by Rep. Jack McFarland provides relative to the Louisiana Renewable Energy Development Act. This bill was reported favorably by the House Commerce Committee and then passed the House

by a vote of101 to 0.

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 is scheduled to be heard by the House Transportation Committee on Monday, April 24, at 10:00 a.m. in Room

3.

HB 438 by Rep. Robert “Bob” Owen provides relative to oyster seed ground vessel permits. This bill was referred to the House Committee on House Natural Resources and Environment.

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 is scheduled to be heard by the House Ways and Means Committee on Monday, April 24,

at 9:00 a.m. in Room 6.

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 is scheduled to be heard by the House Committee on House Natural Resources and

Environment on Wednesday, April 26, at 9:30 a.m. in Room 4.

HB 454 by Rep. Sherman Mack requires a local election for the approval of carbon dioxide sequestration within a parish. This bill is scheduled to be heard by the House Committee on House

Natural Resources and Environment on Wednesday, April 26, at 9:30 a.m. in Room 4.

HB 455 by Rep. Jean-Paul Coussan provides relative to rights in minerals. This bill is scheduled to be heard by the House Committee on House Natural Resources and Environment on Wednesday,

April 26, at 9:30 a.m. in Room 4.

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 referred to the House Ways and Means Committee.

HB 528 by Rep. Mack Cormier increases penalties for violations of shrimp and crawfish labeling requirements in food service establishments. This bill was referred to the House Committee on House Natural Resources and Environment.

3.

HB 502 by Rep. Jack McFarland modifies the definition of the term commercial farmer by removing certain reporting requirements. This bill is scheduled to be heard by the House Ways and Means

Committee on Monday, April 24, at 9:00 a.m. in Room 6.

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 is scheduled

to be heard by the House Transportation Committee on Monday, April 24, at 10:00 a.m. in Room

HB 537 by Rep. Valarie Hodges provides for a prohibition against foreign adversary purchasing, leasing, or acquiring land. This bill was scheduled to be heard by the House Committee on House

Civil Law but was removed from the hearing.

HB 561 by Rep. Clay Schexnayder provides relative to the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center. This bill was reported favorably by the House Committee on House Education and then set

on the House orders.

HB 570 by Rep. Alan Seabaugh establishes a monetary reward for feral hog tails. This bill was referred to the House Committee on House Natural Resources and Environment.

5.

HB 571 by Rep. Clay Schexnayder provides relative to carbon capture and sequestration. This bill was reported favorably by the House Committee on House Natural Resources and Environment and

then set on the House orders.

HB 574 by Rep. Alan Seabaugh provides relative to industrial hemp. This bill is scheduled to be heard by the House Health & Welfare Committee on Wednesday, April 26, at 9:00 a.m., in Room

HB 591 by Rep. Adrian Fisher provides relative to fee exemptions for certain solar power generation facilities. This bill was reported favorably by the House Committee on House Natural Resources and

Environment and then set on the House orders.

HB 605 by Rep. Clay Schexnayder provides relative to the regulation of consumable hemp products. This bill was reported favorably by the House Health & Welfare Committee and then set on the

House orders.

SB 28 by Sen. Stewart Cathey Jr. provides relative to grain sampling and grading. This bill is scheduled to be heard by the Senate Agricultural Committee on Tuesday, April 25, at 10:00 a.m., in

Room C.

SB 32 by Sen. Beth Mizell provides relative to the sale of dairy products. This bill is scheduled to be

heard by the Senate Agricultural Committee on Tuesday, April 25, at 10:00 a.m., in Room C.

SB 42 by Sen. Fred Mills creates the Louisiana Watershed Initiative. This bill was reported favorably

as amended by the Senate Transportation Committee.

SB 67 by Sen. Robert Mills requires certain financial documents related to the Louisiana Timber and Agriculture Transportation Group Self-Insurance Funds. This bill is scheduled to be heard by the

Senate Agricultural Committee on Tuesday, April 25, at 10:00 a.m., in Room C.

SB 90 by Sen. Robert Mills provides Cooperative Endeavor Agreement for surface water. This bill was referred to the Senate Natural Resources Committee.

SB 141 by Sen. Bob Hensgens provides for carbon sequestration. This bill was referred to the Senate Natural Resources Committee.

SB 198 by Sen. Katrina Jackson provides relative to consumable hemp products. This bill was referred to the Senate Agricultural Committee.

SB 102 by Sen. Fred Mills provides relative to the Acadiana Watershed District. This bill was

reported favorably as amended by the Senate Committee on Senate Local and Municipal Affairs.

SB 154 by Sen. Bret Allain provides for renewable energy leases. This bill is scheduled to be heard

by the Senate Natural Resources Committee on Thursday, April 27, at adjournment in Room A-B.

SB 206 by Sen. Barry Milligan provides relative to foreign interest in certain Louisiana research facilities. This bill is scheduled to be heard by the Senate Committee on Senate Judiciary B on

Tuesday, April 25, at 10:00 a.m. in Room E.

SB 219 by Sen. Stewart Cathey, Jr. provides relative to industrial hemp. This bill was reported favorably by the Senate Agricultural Committee, set on the Senate orders, and then recommitted to

the Senate Finance Committee.

Monica Velasquez