CONGRESS: Memorializes Congress to act to lower the insurance rates based on fifty percent completion of the Comite Diversion Canal Project.

SLS 26RS-1508 ENGROSSED
2026 Regular Session
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 59
BY SENATOR BARROW
CONGRESS. Memorializes Congress to act to lower the insurance rates based on fifty
percent completion of the Comite Diversion Canal Project.
1 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
2 To memorialize the Congress of the United States to reevaluate and redraw flood-risk maps
3 and systems upon fifty percent completion of the Comite River Diversion Canal
4 Project and decrease insurance rates based on mitigation progress in Louisiana.
5 WHEREAS, the Comite River Diversion Canal Project was developed to redirect
6 excess flood water from the Comite River Basin toward the Mississippi River in order to
7 reduce future flood damage; and
8 WHEREAS, during the August 2016 flood of record within the basin, approximately
9 109,000 homes flooded, of which 79,000 homes were located in East Baton Rouge Parish
10 and Livingston Parish. Flood damages were estimated at $3.8 billion in residential property
11 damage with $2.3 billion occurring in East Baton Rouge Parish and Livingston Parish; and
12 WHEREAS, following the 2016 flood, the project received major federal funding and
13 advanced into active construction, including work on the diversion channel, control
14 structures, bridges, and related infrastructure and has made measurable progress toward
15 completion, representing a significant step toward long-term flood risk reduction for
16 communities in and around East Baton Rouge Parish; and
17 WHEREAS, flood risk is a major factor in increased insurance costs in Louisiana,
18 resulting in higher premiums, financial burdens on families, reduced housing affordability,
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1 and impaired economic growth in communities across this state; and
2 WHEREAS, the Comite River Diversion Canal Project in southeastern Louisiana is
3 a long-standing federal and state flood mitigation project designed to reduce flood damages
4 for residents and property owners; and
5 WHEREAS, despite significant progress toward long-term flood risk reduction and
6 completion of the project since 2016, Louisiana homeowners, renters, farmers, and
7 businesses continue to face severe increases in property and flood insurance premiums; and
8 WHEREAS, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has indicated
9 once the project is fifty percent completed, they can begin redrawing flood maps in a way
10 that shows the project is finished, resulting in lowered insurance rates for tens of thousands
11 of people who live within the Basin; and
12 WHEREAS, it has been publicly reported that FEMA estimates that the fifty percent
13 threshold for project completion will be met in the summer of 2027, and by 2028 should
14 eliminate or reduce flood insurance premiums in advance of the project being completed;
15 and
16 WHEREAS, recognition of substantial completion benchmarks, including
17 approximately fifty percent completion of the Comite River Diversion Canal Project, should
18 support updated risk modeling, mitigation recognition, improved affordability, and future
19 premium relief.
20 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
21 memorialize the Congress of the United States to take necessary action to stabilize and
22 reduce insurance costs for Louisiana residents and businesses impacted by flood risk,
23 including through federal recognition of measurable flood-risk reduction associated with
24 major mitigation infrastructure.
25 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution shall be transmitted
26 to the secretary of the United States Senate and the clerk of the United States House of
27 Representatives and to each member of the Louisiana delegation of the United States
28 Congress.
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The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Senate Legislative Services.
The keyword, summary, 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)]
DIGEST
SCR 59 Engrossed 2026 Regular Session Barrow
Memorializes Congress of the United States to reevaluate and redraw flood-risk maps and
systems upon fifty percent completion of the Comite River Diversion Canal Project and
decrease insurance rates based on mitigation progress in Louisiana.
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Natural Resources to
the original bill
1. Make technical changes.
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