The bill, sponsored by Senator Hensgens, proposes extensive amendments to the laws governing the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, which will be renamed the Department of Conservation and Energy. A significant change includes the replacement of the term "commissioner" with "secretary," indicating a shift in authority and oversight. The bill establishes a new organizational structure for the department, with the secretary appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate, and introduces various offices within the department, such as the Office of Permitting and Compliance and the Office of Enforcement. It also outlines the department's jurisdiction over natural resources not managed by other state agencies and introduces provisions for expedited permits, enforcement, and remediation processes.

Additionally, the bill addresses the management of mineral resources, including the establishment of a Natural Resources Financial Security Fund and the Louisiana Natural Resources Trust Authority. It emphasizes compliance with environmental standards, mandates public hearings for certain permits, and outlines the secretary's authority to enforce regulations related to oil and gas conservation. The bill also introduces a structured process for groundwater management, including the registration of new wells and licensing of water well drillers, while ensuring sustainable use of groundwater resources. Overall, the proposed changes aim to enhance regulatory efficiency, improve oversight of natural resources, and ensure environmental protection in Louisiana.

Statutes affected:
SB244 Original: 30:1(A), 30:3(3), 30:4(A), 30:1(B), 30:1(B)(1), 30:5(A), 30:1(A)(1), 30:2(A), 30:8(A)(1), 30:9(A), 30:10(A)(1), 30:12(A), 30:18(A)(1), 30:20(A), 30:21(A), 30:22(B), 30:23(B), 30:25(A)(2), 30:26(A), 30:27(A), 30:28(A), 30:29(A), 30:73(1), 30:74(A), 30:79(A), 30:82(1), 30:83(A)(5), 30:1(B)(3), 30:85(A)(1), 30:86(A)(2), 30:88(B), 30:1(A)(3), 30:2(C), 30:89(A), 30:90(C), 30:91(A), 30:91(A)(1), 30:92(A), 30:93(A), 30:94(A), 30:95(B), 30:3(2), 30:5(A)(2), 30:6(A), 30:7(A), 30:9(D), 30:10(A), 30:13(A), 30:14(A), 30:121(A), 30:1(C)(10), 30:129(B)(1), 30:3(B)(1), 30:143(D)(2), 30:9(A)(1), 30:209(4), 30:413(A), 30:414(A), 30:502(D), 30:503(1), 30:521(A), 30:521(C), 30:541(2), 30:544(A), 30:546(A), 30:557(A), 30:558(A), 30:559(A), 30:560(B), 30:561(A), 30:572(1), 30:603(A), 30:1(5), 30:2(2), 30:702(1), 30:704(B), 30:705(A), 30:723(A), 30:731(1), 30:904(2), 30:905(A), 30:3(A)(1), 30:907(A), 30:908(A)(12), 30:915(B)(7), 30:917(A)(1), 30:1102(B), 30:1103(10), 30:1104(A), 30:1104(A)(3), 30:1108(A)(1), 30:1109(A)(1), 30:1109(C), 30:1110(A), 30:2456(A), 31:115(C)(1), 36:354(A)(7), 36:359(A), 36:359(B)(1), 38:3072(A), 38:3076(A), 38:3076(A)(24), 38:132(A), 38:136(4), 38:3092(2), 38:3094(A)(1), 38:3094(B), 38:3094(B)(7), 38:3094(C), 38:3094(C)(1), 38:1(C), 38:2(1), 38:3(A), 38:3(C), 38:3(C)(4), 38:3(F)(2), 38:3(G), 38:6(A), 38:6(B), 38:7(B), 38:8(A), 38:3098(A), 38:3098(B), 38:1(4), 44:1(B)(19), 49:29(B), 56:1(C)(2), 56:13(B), 56:14(B), 30:4(N), 30:85(D)(11), 30:86(F), 38:6(A)(1)
SB244 Engrossed: 30:2456(A), 31:115(C)(1), 36:354(A)(7), 36:359(A), 36:359(B)(1), 38:3072(A), 38:3076(A), 38:3076(A)(24), 38:132(A), 38:136(4), 38:3092(2), 38:3094(A)(1), 38:3094(B), 38:3094(B)(7), 38:3094(C), 38:3094(C)(1), 38:1(C), 38:2(1), 38:3(A), 38:3(C), 38:3(C)(4), 38:3(F)(2), 38:3(G), 38:6(A), 38:6(B), 38:7(B), 38:8(A), 38:3098(A), 38:3098(B), 38:1(4), 44:1(B)(19), 49:29(B), 56:1(C)(2), 56:13(B), 56:14(B), 30:4(N), 30:85(D)(11), 30:86(F), 38:6(A)(1)
SB244 Reengrossed: 30:557(A), 30:558(A), 30:559(A), 30:560(B), 30:561(A), 30:572(1), 30:603(A), 30:1(5), 30:2(2), 30:702(1), 30:704(B), 30:705(A), 30:723(A), 30:731(1), 30:904(2), 30:905(A), 30:1(A), 30:3(A)(1), 30:907(A), 30:908(A)(12), 30:915(B)(7), 30:917(A)(1), 30:1102(B), 30:1103(10), 30:1104(A), 30:1104(A)(3), 30:1108(A)(1), 30:1109(A)(1), 30:1109(C), 30:1110(A), 30:2456(A), 31:115(C)(1), 36:354(A)(7), 36:359(A), 36:359(B)(1), 38:3076(A), 38:3076(A)(24), 38:136(4), 38:3092(2), 38:3094(A)(1), 38:3094(B), 38:3094(B)(7), 38:3094(C), 38:3094(C)(1), 38:1(C), 38:2(1), 38:3(A), 38:3(C), 38:3(C)(4), 38:3(F)(2), 38:3(G), 38:6(A), 38:6(B), 38:8(A), 38:3098(A), 38:3098(B), 38:1(4), 44:1(B)(19), 49:29(B), 56:1(C)(2), 56:13(B), 56:14(B), 30:4(N), 30:85(D)(11), 30:86(F), 38:6(A)(1)
SB244 Enrolled: 30:1, 30:3(3), 30:4(A), 30:1(B), 30:5(A), 30:1(A)(1), 30:2(A), 30:1(A), 30:8(A)(1), 30:9(A), 30:10(A), 30:1(B)(1), 30:12(A), 30:18(A)(1), 30:20(A), 30:21(A), 30:22(B), 30:23(B), 30:25(A)(2), 30:26(A), 30:27(A), 30:28(A), 30:73(1), 30:74(A), 30:79(A), 30:82(1), 30:83(A)(5), 30:1(B)(3), 30:85(A)(3), 30:86(A)(2), 30:88(B), 30:1(A)(3), 30:2(C), 30:89(A), 30:90(C), 30:91(A), 30:91(A)(1), 30:92(A), 30:93(A), 30:94(A), 30:95(B), 30:3(2), 30:5(A)(2), 30:6(A), 30:7(A), 30:9(D), 30:13(A), 30:14(A), 30:121(A), 30:1(C)(10), 30:129(B)(1), 30:3(B)(1), 30:143(D)(2), 30:9(A)(1), 30:209(4), 30:413(A), 30:414(A), 30:502(D), 30:503(1), 30:521(A), 30:521(C), 30:541(2), 30:544(A), 30:546(A), 30:557(A), 30:558(A), 30:559(A), 30:560(B), 30:561(A), 30:572(1), 30:603(A), 30:1(5), 30:2(2), 30:702(1), 30:704(B), 30:705(A), 30:723(A), 30:731(1), 30:904(2), 30:905(A), 30:3(A)(1), 30:907(A), 30:908(A)(12), 30:915(B)(7), 30:917(A)(1), 30:1103(3), 30:1104(A), 30:1104(A)(3), 30:1108(A)(1), 30:1109(A)(1), 30:1109(C), 30:1110(A), 30:2456(A), 30:29(A), 30:87(A), 31:115(C)(1), 36:354(A)(7), 36:359(A), 36:359(B)(1), 38:3073(8), 38:3076(A), 38:136(4), 38:3092(2), 38:3094(A)(1), 38:3094(B), 38:3094(B)(7), 38:3094(C), 38:3094(C)(1), 38:1(C), 38:2(1), 38:3(A), 38:3(C), 38:3(C)(4), 38:3(F)(2), 38:3(G), 38:6(A), 38:6(B), 38:8(A), 38:3098(A), 38:3098(B), 38:1(4), 44:1(B)(19), 45:251(3), 49:29(B), 49:922(D)(7), 56:1(C)(2), 56:13(B), 56:14(B), 30:4(N), 30:29(M)(1), 30:85(D)(11), 30:86(F), 30:3(E), 30:1103(10), 30:1104(F), 38:3073(2), 38:6(A)(1)
SB244 Act 458: 30:1, 30:3(3), 30:4(A), 30:1(B), 30:5(A), 30:1(A)(1), 30:2(A), 30:1(A), 30:8(A)(1), 30:9(A), 30:10(A), 30:1(B)(1), 30:12(A), 30:18(A)(1), 30:20(A), 30:21(A), 30:22(B), 30:23(B), 30:25(A)(2), 30:26(A), 30:27(A), 30:28(A), 30:73(1), 30:74(A), 30:79(A), 30:82(1), 30:83(A)(5), 30:1(B)(3), 30:85(A)(3), 30:86(A)(2), 30:88(B), 30:1(A)(3), 30:2(C), 30:89(A), 30:90(C), 30:91(A), 30:91(A)(1), 30:92(A), 30:93(A), 30:94(A), 30:95(B), 30:3(2), 30:5(A)(2), 30:6(A), 30:7(A), 30:9(D), 30:13(A), 30:14(A), 30:121(A), 30:1(C)(10), 30:129(B)(1), 30:3(B)(1), 30:143(D)(2), 30:9(A)(1), 30:209(4), 30:413(A), 30:414(A), 30:502(D), 30:503(1), 30:521(A), 30:521(C), 30:541(2), 30:544(A), 30:546(A), 30:557(A), 30:558(A), 30:559(A), 30:560(B), 30:561(A), 30:572(1), 30:603(A), 30:1(5), 30:2(2), 30:702(1), 30:704(B), 30:705(A), 30:723(A), 30:731(1), 30:904(2), 30:905(A), 30:3(A)(1), 30:907(A), 30:908(A)(12), 30:915(B)(7), 30:917(A)(1), 30:1103(3), 30:1104(A), 30:1104(A)(3), 30:1108(A)(1), 30:1109(A)(1), 30:1109(C), 30:1110(A), 30:2456(A), 30:29(A), 30:87(A), 31:115(C)(1), 36:354(A)(7), 36:359(A), 36:359(B)(1), 38:3073(8), 38:3076(A), 38:136(4), 38:3092(2), 38:3094(A)(1), 38:3094(B), 38:3094(B)(7), 38:3094(C), 38:3094(C)(1), 38:1(C), 38:2(1), 38:3(A), 38:3(C), 38:3(C)(4), 38:3(F)(2), 38:3(G), 38:6(A), 38:6(B), 38:8(A), 38:3098(A), 38:3098(B), 38:1(4), 44:1(B)(19), 45:251(3), 49:29(B), 49:922(D)(7), 56:1(C)(2), 56:13(B), 56:14(B), 30:4(N), 30:29(M)(1), 30:85(D)(11), 30:86(F), 30:3(E), 30:1103(10), 30:1104(F), 38:3073(2), 38:6(A)(1)