[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6269698,"mediaKeyId","3040849-2111e919537488b8dc61d53fe01b8d0f","parentId",3040849,"title","Votes at a glance: Natural Resources Committee actions April 16, 2025","audioSeconds",8088,"startMs",157000,"endMs",8245000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3040849-2111e919537488b8dc61d53fe01b8d0f&start=157&end=8245","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3040849-2111e919537488b8dc61d53fe01b8d0f/thumbnail_157000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6269698/Louisiana/Votes-at-a-glance-Natural-Resources-Committee-actions-April-16-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6269698-722ca8d7527034e9e649c91889731ec6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159268&Signature=hI9U8T7ijqDA8yvgEmn1Kf5FVInCaTy7Pu1Xod~SbRCElVNHr9SsGCnAqRx9mcFGOnr6Pzxy~b-46uuLCeWKm~AB2dtJ~5dwIqdiDpOGIv6Z0Y-7KysFtQ5ZUqthvhRqhNR01j8UTJbCVQrQEeKjAdpt9Lf4iVW8a3y-~2hAHmdI5AjpfiuqH0jleNF0LmcdNxZ1aHxlUfvEQVTwAZsqw5mw502bSxxta78-I7uLtILjLgkC9iK9uhC5vIdA2X8sG95fG5wd1srWV3HAviye4u4Lha2btBMoIltdcFreIbBjvTRq6sWCninpXL0W~4WkkDttdpWQqEDoYwwVf5Zatg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Louisiana Legislature","date","2025-04-16T00:00:00Z","article","The House Natural Resources Committee considered multiple bills on April 16 and recorded the following actions.

- House Bill 550 (substitute 12-57) — reported favorable with amendments. The substitute transfers reporting and testing authority for imported seafood to the Department of Agriculture and Forestry and establishes reporting and enforcement procedures. (See separate article for details.)

- House Bill 173 — reported favorable with amendments. Expands state park wardens’ authority to issue civil litter citations statewide and creates an administrative adjudication process to collect civil penalties.

- House Bill 581 — reported favorable. Prohibits intentional outdoor release of inflated balloons; indoor releases and certain accidental releases (including by minors under age 16) were discussed as out of scope for enforcement.

- House Bill 205 — voluntarily deferred by sponsor Representative McCormick after extended testimony and departmental discussion. Industry seeks statutory clarity on allowable surface injection pressures for commercial class II saltwater disposal wells in Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, DeSoto, Red River and Webster parishes; Department of Energy and Natural Resources to consult further with industry.

- House Bill 219 — reported favorable (deer identification statutory change; administrative housekeeping to align field tagging with modern tag systems).

- House Bill 604 — voluntarily deferred (red drum tag program by Representative Orgeron; sponsor indicated he would defer to allow further stakeholder work; testimony both for and against was received).

- House Bill 204 — reported favorable (authorizes a Department of Wildlife and Fisheries collector's duck stamp; funds go to waterfowl account for habitat work).

- House Bill 564 — reported favorable (Conservation Incentive Program; program would provide grants and incentives for private-land habitat improvements; sponsor sought seed funding in the appropriations process).

Most bills were forwarded by voice vote. Where committee discussion raised implementation questions (for example, deposit of fines or the technical standard for allowable injection pressure), departments were asked to return to the committee with clarifying details.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Natural Resources Apr 16, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Summary of committee outcomes for bills considered April 16 by the House Natural Resources Committee, including bills reported favorable and bills deferred for further work.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature LA, Louisiana","taxId",78558,"location","Louisiana","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6269701,"Northwest Louisiana operators push for higher allowable injection pressures; bill deferred for further work",3634,3096000,6730000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3040849-2111e919537488b8dc61d53fe01b8d0f&start=3096&end=6730","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3040849-2111e919537488b8dc61d53fe01b8d0f/thumbnail_3096000.jpg","/articles/6269701/Louisiana/Northwest-Louisiana-operators-push-for-higher-allowable-injection-pressures-bill-deferred-for-further-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6269701-f267bfb4c9f014caaabb40e6432ee121/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159268&Signature=Eo5I6n~drIQhs3oRAmeaq447GxIUN7vASv4pur2E5PLdRnK1qDSQZ8S3Luvv01UH2Oihi7Nec-GJgfkf5kjgK7Tega~SDS6lVZvqHC-a-oQ1Zsi6QGP3FSqdx4Cm5arWJly9PbzBIeoJR7SGdAvSEFYUS-TNUyEYOAlmUZhiT5V5Xy~4lHUjmRFRc23jpM0UkBHqO0zzxhn2D1EoaXkpPkS76DFNSMPnBG4h1ES4aEkReDpcCxmJRJLHc7YYhP1yvi5maTEZyohObuAuJ-f9h2S7XN4uJTwFJh4AvNAxhR~wiiZD5JB6b2UdnPdhLGevIHc9Ay5xZ4KmwhenDNuqpA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Industry witnesses representing commercial class II injection well operators and service companies told the House Natural Resources Committee on April 16 that Louisiana’s current allowable surface injection pressures (MASIPs) are lower than neighboring Texas and hinder disposal-well operations in northwest parishes.

Representative Robert McCormick introduced House Bill 205 to provide statutory direction for the operation of saltwater disposal wells in Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, DeSoto, Red River and Webster parishes and to set a standard surface injection gradient of 0.5 pounds per square inch per vertical foot (0.5 psi/ft), a level witnesses said is common in Texas.

\"Approval of this bill will be instrumental and ultimately necessary because of the following: these wells provide the absolute necessary service to produce oil and gas,\" said Mark Moore of Approach Environmental. He and other witnesses argued that current MASIPs assigned by the state (commonly in the 0.15–0.25 psi/ft range in testimony) are too low for Northwest Louisiana geology and force companies to truck produced saltwater to Texas disposal wells.

Operators described economic and infrastructure impacts from long-haul truck traffic and cited investments that cannot operate under current pressure limits. Brian Snead of Bulldog Oilfield Services said he invested roughly $5,000,000 to build a commercial disposal facility and was unable to operate it at the MASIP initially assigned; he described months-long delays and repeated technical reviews.

Companies and technical witnesses presented fracture-modeling arguments intended to show that, for the region’s geology and specified confining layers (the Midway Shale was cited in testimony), injection at a 0.5 psi/ft gradient would not propagate fractures to underground sources of drinking water (USDWs). Jordy Babineau and other licensed geologists described modeling and monitoring practices, and they told lawmakers the permitting process in Louisiana is rigorous but inconsistent compared with neighboring states.

Blake Canfield, executive counsel for the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, told the committee the agency is working with industry and the sponsor to find a balanced approach that ensures USDW protection and meets EPA primacy obligations; the department noted the current regulatory calculation that ties allowable pressure to a percentage of the fracture pressure for the relevant formation and said exceptions and modeling are part of why permitting can be prolonged.

After extended testimony from operators and departmental discussion, Representative McCormick voluntarily deferred House Bill 205 to continue work with DENR and refine technical and statutory language. Industry witnesses and lawmakers said they expect further meetings to try to harmonize regional practice with public-safety protections.","Industry witnesses told the committee that current allowable surface injection pressures (MASIPs) in Louisiana restrict commercial saltwater disposal wells and send water to Texas. Representative McCormick voluntarily deferred House Bill 205 after extended testimony and department discussion.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6269707,"Committee backs bill banning outdoor release of inflated balloons in Louisiana",1086,1969000,3055000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3040849-2111e919537488b8dc61d53fe01b8d0f&start=1969&end=3055","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3040849-2111e919537488b8dc61d53fe01b8d0f/thumbnail_1969000.jpg","/articles/6269707/Louisiana/Committee-backs-bill-banning-outdoor-release-of-inflated-balloons-in-Louisiana","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6269707-07a38fe5232a7996c6b64acb8a32e6fb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159268&Signature=iM4J1rJPguanEUZC75sl-2v2xj08DViwRECKDjAsl-Lj~Sd3WLLe6roNjPqQns1AqF-Y0HxPzD3y7MAKRZpvGrBpZ5bIu-KH~y4uubjFbLDp-bwDuwbM8PQr-UhiRxDfJ4IyeivqY7cLssAoCD08UOdq1PcZAqszA9cFEV5L5~H9yRQZK7J7B3Yi3gGfj-1Bg8xlehPOE8XDfV6cUzypmtU9XEeXIjGO57lMyqiOwILBbdAVAa4v75veS-Aq4QtUgmJuhg99V74ZbGJoHKNIpA6x1JvpgzZntH5YM-c3y1JfVafUQjixQI6LZNnGc4wopr5vVQ7Ti2LCLFIphgMyeA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Natural Resources Committee on April 16 reported House Bill 581 favorably. The bill would make it unlawful to intentionally release inflated balloons outdoors in Louisiana; indoor releases and non-intentional incidents were discussed as outside the primary enforcement focus.

Representative Ilk, sponsor of the measure, told the committee that balloon releases cause power outages and pose wildlife risks. \"The long lasting consequences for the environment, wildlife and landscape of our state and country have been greatly affected,\" Ilk said during committee testimony.

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser, testifying in support, described photographs of wildlife entangled in balloons and said the goal is cultural change rather than punishing ordinary celebrations. \"We're not against them having those balloons at celebrations, but when they're finished, to pop them and dispose of them properly so they don't become deadly pieces of litter,\" Nungesser said.

Cattlemen’s Association testimony cited livestock losses when calves ingest balloon material. Jared Daigle of the Louisiana Cattlemen’s Association told the committee that balloons and balloon fragments can become lodged in animal digestive tracts, causing fatal outcomes.

The Humane Society of Louisiana also supported the bill, emphasizing wildlife and marine impacts and urging a clear prohibition rather than quantity-based exemptions.

Committee members asked about enforcement practicality. Sponsors said the law aims to deter large organized releases and to change behavior through public education; members noted the bill specifically exempts indoor releases and stated minors under 16 would not be subject to direct enforcement when a balloon release occurs accidentally.

Representative Domingue moved favorable, and the committee reported the bill favorable by voice vote. Support cards included the Louisiana Farm Bureau, Entergy and conservation groups; opponents were not recorded in the hearing record provided.","House Bill 581, which would prohibit the outdoor release of inflated balloons, was reported favorable after testimony from the lieutenant governor, cattlemen and humane groups who cited wildlife entanglement, power outages and marine impacts.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6269712,"Committee approves expansion letting state park wardens issue litter citations statewide",1105,835000,1940000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3040849-2111e919537488b8dc61d53fe01b8d0f&start=835&end=1940","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3040849-2111e919537488b8dc61d53fe01b8d0f/thumbnail_835000.jpg","/articles/6269712/Louisiana/Committee-approves-expansion-letting-state-park-wardens-issue-litter-citations-statewide","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6269712-5e5c208825b232f8c7315f15ad39c4d3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159268&Signature=PozUQSK7NKcXKrqyW8gzIhzjH85CuBqfsKuxnBDYd6Dr~jctmedrnx3mZ7z~LJ8muucDJpJGZniyOeH6k4ZL4pfMKa~a3Zkg-0DWGOb6WiyU5ecR3G2xdQhC8EvJ5BXT7TCHp9u4qMXGy0Q~bUkLQc-4ejfXpmtggECSKzT1ltSn1YBs6OOheVVWOZ0vzi9YONIeycPXUQD2VByBO04zpfCZb001fAgCl-WEWynFOjXKmZLWnnm5DRgyoe90wSWF9GDi0fROJn6ZkVOiQObLDYYQxIg31SGi6A~I76-ZDMRt~33GcCkHz4i33tVwoZ8KnomgEoOsw1vxGX58popmXA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Natural Resources Committee on April 16 voted to report House Bill 173 by Representative Ilk favorably with a set of amendments to allow state park wardens to issue civil litter citations statewide and to create an administrative adjudication pathway to collect penalties.

\"This legislation expands the state park rangers jurisdiction to be able to write tickets statewide,\" Representative Ilk said. He said the change is intended to help local governments and to focus enforcement on litter rather than more general law enforcement activity.

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser, who oversees the Keep Louisiana Beautiful program moved under his office, testified in support and said state park staff will focus on litter enforcement and cleanup assistance where local resources are strained. \"Where we have state parks in that area, our ranges are willing when we get the call to go out and assess the problem and write the tickets,\" he said.

The committee adopted a four-part amendment set (11-51) that its sponsor described as technical changes plus a provision creating an adjudicatory process to recover civil penalties. Julia George Moore, who identified herself as general counsel for the department that would administer the program, said the adjudication would be handled by administrative law judges and could be conducted by Zoom to reduce travel burdens for respondents.

Committee members pressed on officer training and safety. The lieutenant governor said park wardens are post-certified law enforcement and would use discretion on enforcement actions; the bill limits wardens to issuing litter citations rather than broader traffic or criminal enforcement.

The bill sets civil penalties and alternative sanctions for simple litter: committee discussion identified a range beginning with a minimum civil penalty around $150 or the option to require up to eight hours of community service picking up litter; penalties escalate for repeat violations. Committee testimony said unpaid fines could be referred to the Office of Debt Recovery.

Representatives also sought and received clarification on where collected fines would be used. Witnesses said fines and other litter-related receipts would be directed into a litter-abatement account within a conservation fund to support grants and local cleanup assistance, including equipment and supplies distributed to local governments.

The committee reported the bill favorable with amendments by voice vote after support testimony from the Louisiana Sheriffs Association, Police Jury Association and local law-enforcement partners.","The Natural Resources Committee reported House Bill 173 favorable with amendments, expanding civil-ticketing authority so state park wardens may issue litter citations outside park boundaries and authorizing an administrative-law adjudication process to collect civil penalties.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6269716,"Committee backs bill to move seafood import testing and reporting to agriculture department",615,165000,780000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3040849-2111e919537488b8dc61d53fe01b8d0f&start=165&end=780","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3040849-2111e919537488b8dc61d53fe01b8d0f/thumbnail_165000.jpg","/articles/6269716/Louisiana/Committee-backs-bill-to-move-seafood-import-testing-and-reporting-to-agriculture-department","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6269716-cfaab403d4a2690ad49ed800f281ee49/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159268&Signature=fYdJZGN0TgT21IbPvIBKfZg8g9O1Emj6M1NZGPcAXrZJyeXxFSm1GZzUMmvBFBv-mXlY7ftxnTZm4NUp8bNqqtoQxH3tec6U5FA5E6g1JdfPTkL3W3phTbvYgMRFFz2zueJWXvyrMAzP5Qqln~tF5L3sY-gPSbIDsgRT89brCYh~Eg9MXLatRJ8BsfbqrACaKmCe1oOZxqem-Ll0Hdy608yAjhc1Vm5NkYWEBo3ruufBDnhJz0l~Kzz519P2r72FkfPCYcgjqYz2iFuZp5QLIPgX2VKIPnojSvMSZFalGolhSximI2wAFeNMrxMm0yCGOv3kaivfB5ZR3rUHtxDSmw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A House committee on April 16 adopted amendments and reported favorably substitute 12-57 for House Bill 550, transferring authority and day-to-day responsibility for imported seafood reporting and testing to the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry.

The measure, carried by Representative Kevin Kerner, would require importers and processors to submit reports and samples so the state can track whether domestic seafood is being mixed with imports and to enable lab testing for adulterants.

\"This bill is just for transparency,\" Representative Kevin Kerner said during the committee hearing. \"We want to make sure that the less than 10% that’s caught domestically is not being mixed in with any foreign imports and being sold at, from the processing plants.\"

The Department of Agriculture and Forestry, represented in committee by Commissioner Mike Strain, told lawmakers the agency already operates the state agricultural chemistry lab in partnership with the LSU AgCenter and has adjudicatory structure to handle enforcement. \"We do the testing through the agricultural chemistry lab which is a joint lab that we have with the LSU AgCenter,\" Strain said. \"This will streamline the process.\"

Under the substitute language, the department would collect reporting data, run required tests and forward any positive findings to Health and Hospitals (for stop orders or public-health actions) while adjudicatory steps such as fines would be handled through the department’s established administrative process.

Committee members asked about civil penalties and how labeling fines interact with the new authority. Committee discussion cited a sequence of escalating fines for failure to report: up to $1,000 for a first violation, $2,500 for a second and up to $5,000 for a third. Separate statutory penalties for mislabeling packages noted in committee testimony were described as higher (witnesses cited first-offense labeling penalties at $15,000, escalating on repeat violations).

Representative Ed DeWitt moved favorable action on the substitute and the committee reported the bill favorable with amendments; the amendments were adopted on a voice vote prior to the favorable report.

Support and opposition cards were filed; supporters included individuals who did not speak at the table and the Lieutenant Governor’s office was listed as having helped develop substitute language. Opponents on the card list included representatives of the Louisiana Retailers Association.

The department testified it expects most processors to comply and that the program’s goal is improved transparency rather than heavy fines. \"If they miss a date, they will get a noncompliance letter, and after that the fines start,\" Strain said. \"Generally, those entities are not going to let it escalate.\"

The committee sent the measure forward with the adopted substitute language. Implementation details—including where fines will be deposited and precise licensing-fee flows—were discussed as follow-up items for the department to clarify to the committee.","The House Natural Resources Committee adopted amendments and reported favorably a substitute for House Bill 550 (substitute 12-57) to centralize reporting, testing and enforcement for imported seafood under the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, with fines and adjudicatory procedures established.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Natural Resources Committee actions April 16, 2025

Northwest Louisiana operators push for higher allowable injection pressures; bill deferred for further work

Committee backs bill banning outdoor release of inflated balloons in Louisiana

Committee approves expansion letting state park wardens issue litter citations statewide

Committee backs bill to move seafood import testing and reporting to agriculture department