House Bill No. 783, introduced by Representative McCormick, aims to enhance compensation for landowners when their pore space is taken through eminent domain. The bill enacts R.S. 30:1108(E), which stipulates that if eminent domain is exercised to take pore space or related rights, or if such rights are included in a unitization order by the commissioner of conservation, the landowner must be compensated at least the maximum amount paid to any other landowner involved in the project. This compensation is calculated on a per-acre basis and includes all revenue streams associated with the geological storage of carbon dioxide.

Additionally, the proposed law allows courts to request and review necessary information to determine compensation if expropriation occurs, or the commissioner of conservation can request this information if unitization is ordered. However, the provisions of this bill do not apply if there is an existing contract between the landowner and the storage operator. The bill aims to ensure fair compensation for landowners affected by the exercise of eminent domain in the context of carbon dioxide storage.