House Bill No. by Representative Owen aims to enhance public participation in the permitting process for Class V and Class VI injection wells by mandating public hearings in every parish where such permits are proposed. The bill enacts new legal language under R.S. 30:1105(E), which requires that a public hearing be held to gather comments from the public prior to the issuance of a permit. This hearing must take place within the first fifteen days of the public comment period and is prohibited from occurring between December 20 and January 1.

The proposed law builds upon existing regulations that require public hearings and notice to local governing authorities regarding carbon sequestration projects. It retains the current provisions while adding the specific requirement for public hearings related to Class V and VI permit applications, thereby ensuring that community input is considered in the decision-making process.