Senate Bill No. 60, known as the Louisiana Landowners Protection Act, aims to amend existing laws regarding the transportation and sequestration of carbon dioxide. The bill prohibits expropriation by private entities for the purpose of transporting carbon dioxide by pipeline or for geologic storage, effectively removing the authority for such actions that were previously granted. It also repeals provisions that allowed the Secretary of the Department of Conservation and Energy to issue certificates of public convenience and necessity related to carbon dioxide pipelines and storage facilities, as well as the authority to order unit operations for carbon dioxide storage.

Additionally, the bill modifies the state's public policy regarding carbon dioxide, removing the declaration that carbon dioxide is a valuable commodity and instead emphasizing the state's responsibilities to protect natural resources and safeguard individual rights. The legislation retains the requirement for compliance with the federal Safe Drinking Water Act while eliminating previous provisions that allowed for expropriation and the issuance of related certificates. The act will take effect upon the governor's signature or after the lapse of time for gubernatorial action.

Statutes affected:
SB60 Original: 30:4(C)(17), 30:1102(A), 30:1104(A)(1), 30:1104(C), 19:2(10)