House Bill No. [insert bill number] aims to enhance the expropriation procedures for pipeline owners and operators in Louisiana by establishing a code of conduct and additional requirements for those granted expropriation authority. The bill mandates that any expropriating authority, excluding public entities, must bear the court costs associated with expropriation proceedings. It also requires that property owners receive a sworn statement from appraisers confirming their disinterested status, as well as detailed information regarding the appraisal process and compensation due.

Furthermore, the bill introduces a process for contesting the validity of proposed expropriations based on specific grounds, such as the lack of good faith negotiations or failure to comply with legal requirements. It stipulates that pipeline operators must provide written notice to landowners before initiating expropriation, allowing them to be present during appraisals and requiring good faith negotiations with documented attempts to meet in person. The secretary of the Department of Conservation and Energy is empowered to revoke certificates and impose penalties for non-compliance with these new provisions.