Senate Bill No. 214, introduced by Senator Hensgens, aims to enhance emergency preparedness related to water management in Louisiana. The bill amends the heading of Part I of Chapter 13 of Title 38 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes, changing it from "Powers and Duties of the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission" to "General Provisions." Additionally, it enacts R.S. 38:2502, which establishes a limitation of liability for political subdivisions involved in flood mitigation preparations. Specifically, it states that these subdivisions, along with their officers, employees, or agents, will not be held liable for damages resulting from actions taken to reduce water levels in response to weather events forecasted by the National Weather Service or the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

The proposed law includes important exceptions, stating that the limitation of liability does not apply in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct. Furthermore, the provisions are applicable only to political subdivisions whose jurisdiction includes four parishes, with at least one parish having a population between 145,000 and 350,000, as determined by the most recent federal decennial census. The bill is set to take effect on August 1, 2026.