PROPERTY/EXPROPRIATION: Prohibits the ability of private companies to request or exercise expropriation for geologic storage of carbon dioxide

HLS 26RS-185 ORIGINAL
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 671
BY REPRESENTATIVE OWEN
PROPERTY/EXPROPRIATION: Prohibits the ability of private companies to request or
exercise expropriation for geologic storage of carbon dioxide
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 30:1108(C)(1) and to enact R.S. 30:1108(C)(3), relative to
3 expropriation of property for carbon dioxide storage; to require that the department
4 appoint an acquisition agent to manage and facilitate the process for any entity
5 utilizing expropriation for carbon dioxide storage related activities; to provide for the
6 expropriating authority to reimburse the costs related to completion of the process;
7 and to provide for related matters.
8 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
9 Section 1. R.S. 30:1108(C)(1) is hereby amended and reenacted and R.S.
10 30:1108(C)(3) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
11 §1108. Eminent domain; expropriation
12 * * *
13 C.(1) In addition to the requirements of Paragraph Paragraphs (2) and (3) of
14 this Subsection and any other power of eminent domain authorized by law, eminent
15 domain authority authorized under this Chapter shall be exercised pursuant to the
16 procedures found in R.S. 19:2. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary,
17 expropriation hearings conducted pursuant to this Chapter shall be heard in the parish
18 in which the property subject to the expropriation is situated.
19 * * *
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-185 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 671
1 (3)(a) The eminent domain authorized by this Section may only be exercised
2 pursuant to the procedures contained in this Subsection and all pre-petition
3 procedures required by law shall be performed by an acquisition agent appointed by
4 the Department of Conservation and Energy. An acquisition agent may be an
5 employee of the department or a private entity contracted by the department to
6 perform the required procedures.
7 (b) Acquisition agents shall not have any financial interest in the outcome
8 of negotiations or expropriation proceedings and shall be subject to all legal
9 requirements applicable to the expropriating authority.
10 (c) The expropriating authority shall reimburse the department for the
11 acquisition agent's wages and any expenses related to the completion of the
12 procedures.
13 * * *
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 671 Original 2026 Regular Session Owen
Abstract: Requires the dept. to appoint an acquisition agent to manage and facilitate the
process for any entity utilizing expropriation for carbon dioxide storage related
activities and provides for the expropriating authority to reimburse the dept. for
costs related to completion of the process.
Present law provides for eminent domain authority related to carbon dioxide storage
operations to be exercised pursuant to the procedures found in present law (R.S. 19:2).
Proposed law retains the provisions contained in present law but requires the dept. to appoint
an acquisition agent to perform the procedures.
Proposed law provides that the acquisition agent may be an employee of the dept. or a
private entity contracted to perform the required procedures.
Proposed law prohibits the acquisition agent from having a financial interest in the outcome
of the negotiations or proceedings and provides for the acquisition agent to be subject to the
same legal requirements as the expropriating authority.
Proposed law requires the expropriating authority to reimburse the dept. for any costs of
hiring an acquisition agent and costs of completing the required procedures.
(Amends R.S. 30:1108(C)(1); Adds R.S. 30:1108(C)(3))
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.