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HLS 26RS-424 ORIGINAL
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 498
BY REPRESENTATIVES SCHAMERHORN AND OWEN
ENERGY: Authorizes the governing authority of Beauregard Parish to determine whether
carbon dioxide sequestration and pipelines transporting carbon dioxide may be
permitted within the parish
1 AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 30:4(C)(17)(c), 1104(F), and 1104.3, relative to carbon dioxide transport and
3 sequestration in Beauregard Parish; to authorize the governing authority of
4 Beauregard Parish to determine whether Class VI injection wells, carbon dioxide
5 sequestration, and pipelines transporting carbon dioxide may be permitted within the
6 parish; to provide for the authority of the secretary of the Department of
7 Conservation and Energy; to provide for notice to the department; to provide for
8 legislative intent; to provide for severability; to provide for an effective date; and to
9 provide for related matters.
10 Notice of intention to introduce this Act has been published
11 as provided by Article III, Section 13 of the Constitution of
12 Louisiana.
13 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
14 Section 1. It is the intent of this legislature to allow the Beauregard Parish Police
15 Jury to prohibit the permitting of carbon dioxide injection wells, the geologic sequestration
16 of carbon dioxide, and the transportation of carbon dioxide by pipeline within Beauregard
17 Parish. The Beauregard Parish Police Jury adopted a resolution on October 7, 2025,
18 opposing carbon dioxide sequestration activity within the parish and urging the legislature
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HLS 26RS-424 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 498
1 to enact legislation that provides local communities with meaningful authority regarding
2 carbon dioxide sequestration projects.
3 Section 2. R.S. 30:4(C)(17)(c), 1104(F), and 1104.3 are hereby enacted to read as
4 follows:
5 §4. Jurisdiction, duties, and powers of the secretary; rules and regulations
6 * * *
7 C. The secretary has authority to make, after notice and hearings as provided
8 in this Chapter, any reasonable rules, regulations, and orders that are necessary from
9 time to time in the proper administration and enforcement of this Chapter, including
10 rules, regulations, or orders for the following purposes:
11 * * *
12 (17)
13 * * *
14 (c) The secretary's authority pursuant to this Paragraph shall be subject to the
15 local option procedures set forth in Chapter 11 of this Subtitle.
16 * * *
17 §1104. Duties and powers of the secretary; rules and regulations; permits
18 * * *
19 F.(1) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the secretary
20 shall not issue any order, permit, or certificate authorizing Class VI injection wells,
21 carbon dioxide sequestration, or the transportation of carbon dioxide through
22 pipelines in any parish where prohibited pursuant to the local option procedure set
23 forth in this Chapter.
24 (2) The prohibition in this Subsection shall prevent the final issuance of any
25 order, permit, or certificate, regardless of whether an application for the same was
26 previously submitted to the department.
27 * * *
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HLS 26RS-424 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 498
1 §1104.3. Local option; Beauregard Parish
2 A. In the exercise of the parish's police power to protect public health, safety,
3 and welfare and authority to regulate land use within its borders, the governing
4 authority of Beauregard Parish may, by resolution or ordinance, determine whether
5 Class VI injection wells, carbon dioxide sequestration, and pipelines transporting
6 carbon dioxide may be located within the parish.
7 B. A copy of any resolution or ordinance passed for this purpose shall be
8 provided to the department by the governing authority of Beauregard Parish.
9 C. Any prohibition adopted pursuant to this Section shall become effective
10 upon adoption of the resolution or ordinance by the governing authority of
11 Beauregard Parish.
12 D. Any local determination made pursuant to this Section shall supersede
13 and preempt any conflicting state or local law, regulation, order, permit, or
14 certificate. No application, option agreement, site control agreement, or preliminary
15 or draft approval shall confer vested rights or grandfathered authority inconsistent
16 with a parish prohibition adopted pursuant to this Section.
17 Section 3. If any provision of this Act or the application thereof is held invalid, such
18 invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of this Act which can be given
19 effect without the invalid provisions or applications, and to this end the provisions of this
20 Act are hereby declared severable.
21 Section 4. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
22 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
23 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
24 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
25 effective on the day following such approval.
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HLS 26RS-424 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 498
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 498 Original 2026 Regular Session Schamerhorn
Abstract: Authorizes the Beauregard Parish governing authority to determine whether
Class VI carbon dioxide injection wells, the geologic storage of carbon dioxide, and
pipelines used to transport carbon dioxide may be located within the parish.
Present law authorizes the Dept. of Conservation and Energy to permit and regulate Class
VI carbon dioxide injection wells, pipelines for the transportation of carbon dioxide for
geologic storage, and pipelines for the transportation of carbon dioxide for enhanced oil
recovery within the state.
Proposed law creates an exception to the dept.'s authority where Class VI wells, the geologic
storage of carbon dioxide, or carbon dioxide pipelines have been prohibited by the local
option procedure provided in proposed law.
Proposed law authorizes the Beauregard Parish governing authority to determine whether
Class VI wells, geologic storage of carbon dioxide, and carbon dioxide pipelines may be
located within the parish by passing an ordinance or resolution.
Proposed law requires the parish governing authority to notify the dept. of any resolution or
ordinance passed for the purpose of prohibiting or allowing Class VI injection wells, the
geologic storage of carbon dioxide, or carbon dioxide pipelines within the parish.
Proposed law provides that any prohibition by the Beauregard Parish governing authority
is effective upon its adoption.
Proposed law provides that any determination made by the governing authority of
Beauregard Parish will supersede any conflicting laws, regulations, and dept. actions.
Provides for severability that allows remaining provisions to continue to be effective even
if other provisions are determined to be invalid.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 30:4(C)(17)(c), 1104(F), and 1104.3)
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