House Bill No. by Representative Jacob Landry seeks to enhance the legal framework surrounding the unauthorized entry and theft of critical infrastructure in Louisiana. The bill amends existing laws to include oil and natural gas facilities and operations as part of the definition of critical infrastructure. It introduces new provisions that classify theft or unauthorized entry of such infrastructure as predicate crimes for terrorism, thereby imposing stricter penalties. Specifically, the bill mandates that individuals convicted of terrorism through these acts face a minimum imprisonment of 20 years at hard labor.

Additionally, the bill revises the penalties for theft of critical infrastructure, consolidating them into a single category where all convictions will result in a fine of up to $50,000 or imprisonment at hard labor for up to 20 years, or both. This change simplifies the previous tiered penalty structure based on the value of the stolen property. Overall, the proposed legislation aims to strengthen the protection of critical infrastructure in Louisiana and deter potential acts of terrorism related to these vital resources.

Statutes affected:
HB429 Original: 14:61(B), 14:24(C)