WATER/RESOURCES: Prohibits the sale of Louisiana running surface water outside of the state

HLS 26RS-120 ENGROSSED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 599
BY REPRESENTATIVE SCHAMERHORN
WATER/RESOURCES: Prohibits the sale of Louisiana running surface water outside of
the state
1 AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 30:961(L) and to repeal R.S. 30:961(I), relative to the sale of state-owned
3 waters; to prohibit the sale of running surface water belonging to the state to be used
4 outside of the state; to remove the secretary's authority to enter into cooperative
5 endeavor agreements for withdrawal of running surface water for out of state use;
6 and to provide for related matters.
7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 30:961(L) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
9 §961. Cooperative endeavor agreements; withdrawal of surface water; intent
10 * * *
11 L. Nothing contained in this Section shall be construed as authorizing the
12 sale of running surface water owned by the state of Louisiana for use outside of the
13 state.
14 Section 2. R.S. 30:961(I) is hereby repealed in its entirety.
Page 1 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-120 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 599
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 599 Engrossed 2026 Regular Session Schamerhorn
Abstract: Prohibits the sale of running surface water belonging to the state for use in other
states.
Present law provides for the management of running surface water of the state including the
establishment of cooperative endeavor agreements for withdrawal and sale of the water.
Present law authorizes the secretary to enter into cooperative endeavor agreements for use
of running surface water outside of the boundaries of the state with the approval of the
House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment and the Senate Committee on
Natural Resources.
Proposed law revokes the authority to enter into cooperative endeavor agreements for use
of running surface water outside of the state and further provides that no provision of present
law can be construed to allow the sale of the running surface water of the state for use
outside the state.
(Adds R.S. 30:961(L); Repeals R.S. 30:961(I))
Page 2 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.