In the 2018 Louisiana Regular Legislative Session, we saw the enactment of:
6 bills we opposed
10 bills we supported
We also saw bills that did not get out of committee, including:
5 bills we opposed
8 bills we supported
Of the bills that made it out of committee but failed to pass in the full legislature, we saw:
2 bills we supported
Let’s start with what was successful. We saw the passage of the following bills we supported:
HB 633 - WATER/DRINKING WATER: Provides relative to testing for lead in drinking water (LA Rep. Marcus Hunter (D-LA-017)
HB 403 - WATER/RESOURCES: Provides relative to membership on the Capital Area Groundwater Conservation District board of commissioners (LA Rep. Stephen "Steve" Carter (R-LA-068))
HB 35 - ENVIRONMENT/LITTERING: Amends penalties for gross littering (LA Rep. Phillip DeVillier (R-LA-041))
HB 49 - COASTAL RES/WETLANDS: Authorizes coastal restoration and protection projects as compensatory wetlands mitigation (LA Rep. Jerry "Truck" Gisclair (D-LA-054))
HB 374 - TAX APPEALS/BOARD: Requires the Board of Tax Appeals to refund certain filing fees and deposits paid relating to claims for the solar energy systems tax credit (LA Rep. Neil Abramson (D-LA-098))
HB 104 - ENERGY/PIPELINES: Increases the ceiling on penalties for pipeline safety violations (LA Rep. James "Jim" Morris (R-LA-001))
HB 130 - WILDLIFE/MGT AREAS: Provides for the establishment of airboat trails on wildlife management areas (LA Rep. Clay Schexnayder (R-LA-081))
HCR 1 - WATER/SEWER OPERATORS: Creates the Sanitary Sewer Systems Overflows Commission (LA Rep. Paul Hollis (R-LA-104))
SCR 5 - WATER/WATERWAYS: Expresses opposition to the "One Lake" project proposing to dam the Pearl River and to build a 1,500 acre lake near Jackson, Mississippi and requests the United States Army Corps of Engineers to deny a pending permit for the project. (LA Sen. Beth Mizell (R-LA-012))
And our very own commendation:
HR 115 - COMMENDATIONS: Commends the town of Abita Springs for joining the Sierra Club Ready for 100 program (LA Rep. Paul Hollis (R-LA-104))
Unfortunately, we also saw the passage of the following bills, for many of which we very vehemently outspoken in our opposition:
HB 727 - CRIME: Provides relative to unauthorized entry of and criminal damage to a critical infrastructure (LA Rep. Major Thibaut (D-LA-018))
SB 490 - WATER/WATERWAYS: Exempts the Comite River from certain provisions of the Louisiana Scenic Rivers Act for a set period of time. (LA Sen. Bodi White (R-LA-006))
HB 411 - WATERWAYS/SCENIC RIVERS: Exempts the Tickfaw River and Blind River from certain restrictions of the Natural and Scenic Rivers Program (LA Rep. Clay Schexnayder (R-LA-081))
HB 119 - MINERALS: Prohibits the commissioner of conservation from regulating the hours of operation of certain facilities receiving exploration and production waste (LA Rep. Stuart Bishop (R-LA-043))
SB 168 - PUBLIC RECORDS: Exempts certain Department of Agriculture and Forestry records from the Public Records Law. (LA Sen. Francis Thompson (D-LA-034))
HB 665 - PUBLIC RECORDS: Provides relative to records of port economic development negotiations (LA Rep. Gregory "Greg" Miller (R-LA-056))
The two bills we supported that did not see final passage in the legislature even after making it out of committee, were:
HB 391 - WATERWAYS/NAVIGATION: Provides for public access to the running waters of the state (LA Rep. J. Kevin "Kevin" Pearson (R-LA-076))
HCR 60 - FISHING/RECREATIONAL: Establishes the Public Access to Waterways Task Force (LA Rep. Raymond "Ray" Garofalo (R-LA-103))
Clearly, water was a top priority this legislative session. We saw some success with the passage of Rep. Hunter’s bill increasing testing for lead in certain water systems, even though Rep. Hunter introduced many more bills regarding public environmental safety that were not enacted, as well as Rep. Hollis’s creation of a commission to monitor and study sanitary sewer system overflows, which present a real public health threat. We also saw an increased focus on the important work of the Capital Area Groundwater Commission and the need to reduce saltwater intrusion in that aquifer system. Improved coastal wetland restoration, regulation of the previously unregulated of use of airboats in wildlife management areas, opposition to a damaging development plan for the Pearl River, and increased penalties for gross littering will all improve the way we in Louisiana conserve and live with water.
Unfortunately, we also saw last year’s assault on the Louisiana Wild and Scenic River Program continue with a vengeance with the successful passage by Sen. Bodi White of SB 490, exempting the Comite River from certain provisions of the Louisiana Scenic Rivers Act for a set period of time, and of HB 411 by Rep. Clay Schexnayder, exempting the Tickfaw River and Blind River from certain restrictions of the Natural and Scenic Rivers Program. We recently began working with partner organizations Louisiana Wildlife Federation, Nature Conservancy, and Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation to increase public knowledge and awareness of how vital the Scenic Rivers Program is to our state for flood control, resource conservation, and recreational enjoyment. We will also continue to support all efforts to maintain and secure the right of the public to access the running waters of the state, a cause championed by Reps. Kevin Pearson and Ray Garofalo this session.
For more information, and links to the full text and all versions of the bills we tracked this legislative session, be sure to check out our Legislative page on our website.