House Bill No. [insert bill number] seeks to repeal the civil liability limits currently established under R.S. 30:1109(B) concerning carbon dioxide sequestration and transmission. Specifically, the bill eliminates the maximum compensatory damages that can be recovered in civil liability actions against the owners or operators of storage facilities, carbon dioxide transmission pipelines, or the generators of the carbon dioxide being managed by these entities. Under existing law, damages for noneconomic loss were capped at $250,000 per person, with higher limits for wrongful death or severe disfigurement or injury.

By repealing these liability limits, the proposed law allows for potentially unlimited compensatory damages in cases involving carbon dioxide storage and transmission, thereby increasing the financial exposure for facility owners and operators. This legislative change aims to address concerns regarding accountability and compensation for damages related to carbon dioxide handling, reflecting a shift in policy towards greater liability in this sector.

Statutes affected:
HB507 Original: 30:1109(B)