Senate Bill No. 168, introduced by Senator Womack, aims to establish a five-year liberative prescription period for the collection of bonuses, rentals, royalties, shut-in payments, and other sums payable to the state under mineral leases. The bill enacts new provisions in R.S. 30:136(A)(1)(d) and Civil Code Article 3501.2, which specify that the right to collect these payments will be subject to this five-year period from the due date of each payment, overriding the previous three-year prescription period outlined in Civil Code Article 3494(5).

Additionally, the bill clarifies that these provisions apply specifically to mineral leases granted by the state as lessor, ensuring that the collection of payments is consistent and enforceable within the established timeframe. The effective date for this legislation is set for August 1, 2025. The bill also reflects a change from an earlier proposed ten-year prescriptive period to the current five-year period.