[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-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],{"_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",6208664,"mediaKeyId","3743277-c9b27e4e2a3756fa69682220f57bdb33","parentId",3743277,"title","Senator Henskins reads lengthy Natural Resources amendments; Senate postpones action","audioSeconds",1193,"startMs",1398000,"endMs",2591000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3743277-c9b27e4e2a3756fa69682220f57bdb33&start=1398&end=2591","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3743277-c9b27e4e2a3756fa69682220f57bdb33/thumbnail_1398000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6208664/Louisiana/Senator-Henskins-reads-lengthy-Natural-Resources-amendments-Senate-postpones-action","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6208664-e3a88693b18bd19e01e307e3903b8e2d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771071744&Signature=Ob3rcgSIm-uCmVonTwr6UnSyOfjKoEVhTYMKga-vZmudb~i11aVwa~X7oDY9ezcut7MTe-~GsyFkcdOOKScaIXsoXWqtE2y5-50ztiBCanoK3tmJ8sfu2PK-4BxtPERMypwXSZpYkPG4UY3hHEw-v27fJrJ4dld2VnWE2X4fJbvPuo10egjdDuALdSm0JbCenAHnl2K8dtac4VjyAPEr0RFNm2dLpags9Q0J86pfgYoCBBX9ugANWmPNaWMf6u3HmWtPTd6LE~uPTAQcjCzp00Af0T-AaTj5AkP5u1LmSA4IJpTN1m4v6c~cjawk6aLnVNrNabnfJUoHLP4W00ASAQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Louisiana Legislature","date","2025-06-10T00:00:00Z","article","Senator Henskins spent an extended period on the floor reading House amendments to Senate Bill 244 — a comprehensive rewrite of statutes that would rename the Department of Natural Resources, create new offices, change bonding authority, and add provisions on carbon sequestration, pipelines, remediation, water resources and related fees and funds. After the reading, Henskins told the Senate he did not intend to seek concurrence today and asked that the bill be returned for further consideration tomorrow.

The bill contains dozens of substantive changes across energy, water and land-use law. Henskins described a voluntary alternative-dispute-resolution process under the department’s jurisdiction that would let parties select retired judges as hearing masters; those masters would issue draft decisions subject to 30-day review, and panels of three hearing masters would handle appeals of the ADR findings. The measure also revises how carbon dioxide pipelines are defined and when an operator can claim “common carrier” status — language that affects the use of eminent domain and whether the Louisiana Public Service Commission would have rate-setting oversight for certain lines.

Henskins outlined new notice requirements for certain well permits (class 5 and class 6), including a requirement the applicant make a reasonable search and good-faith effort to notify operators, mineral servitude owners, leaseholders and surface owners within specified distances or areas. The bill would require publication of certain geological sequestration applications on the department website and includes provisions authorizing confidential treatment of bid information during solicitation (with finalized bids becoming public once awarded).

On remediation, Henskins said the bill would require submission of an evaluation of a remediation plan within 180 days after a responsible party admits liability or a court finds liability, permit 30 days for alternate plans and comments, and direct courts to adopt the “most feasible” remediation plan unless another plan is proven superior by clear and convincing evidence. The bill would allow a party who meets regulatory standards to satisfy remediation responsibility and includes provisions about attorneys’ fees and how awards would be paid into court registry accounts. Henskins also noted a provision that would limit non-remediation damages to 300% of fair market value in some cases and set transitional rules tied to an effective date near 09/01/2027.

Henskins described numerous fiscal and fund changes: adjustments to how various resource and restoration fees are collected and invested (including use of the Louisiana Management Pool), changes to the natural resource financial security fund, and directions about the mineral and energy operation fund and carbon dioxide geological trust monies. He said the House added water-resources language to authorize a comprehensive program, establish state jurisdiction over water resources, and to alter several permitting and reporting requirements for wells — including removing some registration and construction standard mandates and changing inspection and measurement authority.

Multiple members asked for clarification during the reading. One senator noted the body would not act on the bill today and sought confirmation that Henskins intended to return the bill later; Henskins confirmed he would ask that the bill be brought back tomorrow to allow members time to study the changes. No vote was taken on the substance of the bill during this session.

Because of the breadth of changes and cross-jurisdictional consequences, Henskins told colleagues the reading was intended to give members line-and-page references so they could review the amended text prior to any final action.

Provisions described by Henskins reference the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), the Louisiana Public Service Commission, the Office of Mineral Resources, the natural resource commission, and existing statutory citations (including RS 30-related provisions) that the bill would amend or supersede. Henskins repeatedly framed the items he read as amendments that members should study before any concurrence vote.

Ending: The measure will return to the Senate calendar for further consideration; Senator Henskins asked the presiding officer to bring SB 244 back the next day so members can review the specific line- and page-numbered amendments.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate June 10, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Senator Henskins spent nearly 20 minutes reading House amendments to Senate Bill 244 — a sweeping overhaul of the state’s natural-resources statutes — and told the Senate he would not ask for a vote today, instead asking the chamber to resume consideration the following day.","taxTitle","Senate, Committees, Legislative, Louisiana","taxId",20596,"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},6208659,"Senate acts on long list of House amendments and resolutions; votes at a glance",2906,375000,3281000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3743277-c9b27e4e2a3756fa69682220f57bdb33&start=375&end=3281","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3743277-c9b27e4e2a3756fa69682220f57bdb33/thumbnail_375000.jpg","/articles/6208659/Louisiana/Senate-acts-on-long-list-of-House-amendments-and-resolutions-votes-at-a-glance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6208659-30f2379093fde25e737a9568433e9500/orig.mp4?Expires=1771071744&Signature=jSN9-vu~dpbLgsyT9UzzbebfYo7sYQqJ7oJgJIZ0m3QgDww-Aqaaup5IFpD7d~0sSZmPEu28lZ8S0~4dFvyblC~x7Z7f5nKskqHshbxUlGH7VLXR8GQ3PQom5QzWkH4FeG7vjxJ0Yw6UQqAH9lddLwH2qpcflUZVgHhgKzovGvcUzFbOwHyij89WWSW2rnejY70O5i-wW-mYE7sl39-iMGKFgKFiAu0FCDh6hGWrqJSQb-tJzY9V-QHZrmfiyTh2QWSFsu-67MU5nhmjZ4aCM7gqGjAvhHVuRw9YQpWZga5yCVFBujmx3tIE3I1N02Qx2owDxsnzQgajtul2BaLlyQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Louisiana Senate considered a broad slate of House amendments, resolutions and bills during its session and completed votes on a number of items. Many measures were concurred in with unanimous or near-unanimous margins; a subset of bills had amendments rejected and were sent to conference or returned to the calendar. The chamber recessed for the afternoon after the roll of work through the bills.

Votes at a glance (bill — sponsor — action taken — vote tally where recorded):

- Senate Resolution 183 — Senator DuPlessis — adopted by unanimous consent (no objection recorded).

- Senate Concurrent Resolution 70 — Senator Miller — adopted, voting machine recorded 32 yays, 0 nays.

- Senate Bill 122 (Title 37; Senator Abraham) — Senate rejected House amendments (moved by Senator Abraham); recorded vote: 34 yays, 0 nays; amendments rejected.

- Senate Bill 125 (explosives licensure; Senator Owen) — Senate concurred in House amendments; recorded vote: 34 yeas, 0 nays; amendments concurred in.

- Senate Bill 153 (Behavioral Health; Senator Sellers) — Senate concurred in House amendments; recorded vote: 34 yeas, 0 nays; amendments concurred in.

- Senate Bill 165 (River Parishes juvenile justice; Senator Miller) — motion to reject House amendments carried; recorded vote: 37 yays, 0 nays; amendments rejected and matter to conference.

- Senate Bill 175 (State Plumbing Board; Senator Womack) — Senate concurred in House amendments; recorded vote: 35 yeas, 0 nays; amendments concurred in.

- Senate Bill 207 (vocational-technical access in public high schools; Senator Carter) — Senate concurred in House amendments; recorded vote: 36 ayes, 0 nays; amendments concurred in.

- Senate Bill 231 (medical-expense recoverable amounts; Senator Reese) — Senate concurred in House amendments; recorded vote: 30 yays, 6 nays; amendments concurred in.

- Senate Bill 41 (child-welfare registry for school employees; Senator Barrow) — Senate concurred in House amendments; recorded vote: 39 ayes, 0 nays; amendments concurred in.

- Senate Bill 30 (recreational vehicle dealerships; Senator McMuth) — Senate concurred in House amendments; recorded vote: 37 yeas, 0 nays.

- Senate Bill 96 (Medicaid behavioral health rates; Senator McNabb) — Senate concurred in House committee amendments and retained subject to appropriations language; recorded vote: 38 yays, 0 nays.

- Senate Bill 97 (flood control / DOTD provisions; sponsor on the floor) — Senate concurred in amendments after clarifying criminal/civil language; recorded vote: 30 yays, 0 nays.

- Senate Bill 128 (law enforcement responsibilities; Senator Carter) — sponsor moved to reject House floor amendments to resolve conflicts; recorded vote rejecting amendments: 39 yays, 0 nays.

- Additional concurrence or rejection actions recorded during the session included a number of local and technical bills and resolutions (see actions array below for the session record and specific motions). Several bills were sent to conference or returned to the calendar where members indicated further work was required.

Several motions on parish or district bills (for example, DeSoto Parish Police Jury language and St. George Fire Protection District residency language) resulted in rejection of House amendments and referral to conference. The Senate recessed at approximately 12:30 p.m. and planned to resume consideration at 3:30 p.m.

Ending: The chamber completed votes on dozens of routine and substantive bills; sponsors were asked to continue conference work during the recess and the Senate will resume later in the day.","The Louisiana Senate processed dozens of House amendments, resolutions and bills, concurring in many House amendments and rejecting others. Several bills were returned to the calendar and one major Natural Resources bill was read but set for later action.","actionData","errors"]

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Senator Henskins reads lengthy Natural Resources amendments; Senate postpones action

Senate acts on long list of House amendments and resolutions; votes at a glance