House Bill No. 637, introduced by Representative Coates, establishes a framework for habitat conversion fees specifically for large-scale solar development projects in Louisiana. The bill authorizes the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to impose fees on solar power generation facilities that cover ten acres or more, aimed at mitigating the loss of important habitats and species. The department is tasked with creating rules to determine a per-acre fee that reflects the ecological impact of such developments, taking into account factors such as geographic location, market value, habitat rarity, and the presence of at-risk species.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that the fees collected must not exceed the costs incurred by the department during the review process and must be deposited into the Conservation Fund. These funds are designated for protecting, replacing, or mitigating the loss of habitats affected by solar development. The implementation of this bill is contingent upon the passage of another related bill, HB 615, during the same legislative session.