House Bill No. by Representative Robby Carter seeks to amend existing laws regarding civil liability for carbon capture and storage operations in Louisiana. The bill removes the current damage caps for noneconomic losses, which previously limited recovery to $250,000 per person, and $500,000 for exceptional cases such as wrongful death or severe physical injuries. Additionally, it eliminates the provision that allowed for a maximum recovery of $1 million per person if the liability limits were deemed unconstitutional. The bill aims to provide greater accountability for owners and operators of carbon dioxide storage facilities and transmission pipelines.

In addition to the removal of damage caps, the bill makes several technical changes to the existing law. It clarifies that the secretary or state will not be liable for costs associated with site restoration beyond the funds created by the law, and it allows the secretary or agents to enter private land for site assessment or restoration purposes. The bill also ensures that parties contracting with the Department of Conservation and Energy are not considered public employees under certain provisions of Louisiana law. Overall, the legislation aims to enhance the legal framework surrounding carbon capture and storage by removing financial limitations on damages and refining liability provisions.

Statutes affected:
HB79 Original: 30:1109(B), 30:1109(G)