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HB 498

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

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Chuck Owen and 1 co-sponsor

Beauregard Parish can ban or permit CO2 pipelines, Class VI wells, and geologic sequestration within its borders, superseding state permits where chosen.

Involuntarily deferred in committee.
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Bill Summary · HB 498

Summary of HB 498 (2026, Louisiana)

Purpose and intent

  • Grants Beauregard Parish governing authorities (Beauregard Parish Police Jury) the local authority to determine whether carbon dioxide activities may be located within the parish.
  • Specifically, it allows Beauregard Parish to prohibit or permit:
    • Class VI injection wells (geologic sequestration of CO2)
    • Geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide
    • Pipelines transporting carbon dioxide within the parish
  • This is framed as a local option to address public health, safety, and welfare concerns and to give local communities meaningful control over CO2 projects.

Key provisions and changes

  • Adds new local-option authority to Beauregard Parish:
    • The parish governing authority may, by resolution or ordinance, decide whether Class VI wells, CO2 geologic storage, and CO2 pipelines may be located in the parish.
    • A copy of any such resolution or ordinance must be provided to the Louisiana Department of Conservation (the department).
    • Any prohibition becomes effective upon adoption by the parish.
    • Local determinations supersede conflicting state or local laws, regulations, orders, permits, or certificates. Vested rights or grandfathering authority cannot override a parish prohibition.
  • Department of Conservation and Energy (the secretary) remains the statewide regulator, but its authority is explicitly limited by the local option:
    • The secretary cannot issue orders, permits, or certificates for Class VI wells, CO2 sequestration, or CO2 pipelines in any parish that has prohibited these activities via the local option procedure.
    • This prohibition prevents final issuance of such permits or certificates in the affected parish, regardless of prior applications.
  • Local option specifics for Beauregard Parish:
    • The parish can prohibit or permit CO2 activities by ordinance or resolution.
    • The parish’s decision applies to Class VI wells, sequestration, and pipelines for CO2 within the parish.
  • Severability:
    • If any part of the act is held invalid, the remaining provisions continue to have effect.
  • Effective date:
    • The act becomes effective upon signature by the governor (or the lapse of the governor’s time to act if not signed), or as otherwise provided by law if veto and legislative approval occur.

Who is affected

  • Beauregard Parish residents and stakeholders:
    • The parish would gain the power to approve or prohibit CO2 injection wells, geologic sequestration projects, and CO2 pipelines within parish boundaries.
  • Louisiana Department of Conservation and Energy:
    • The department’s ability to issue permits or certificates for these activities would be overridden in parishes that exercise the local option to prohibit.
  • Developers, operators, and proponents of CO2 sequestration projects:
    • Projects would be subject to local authorization in Beauregard Parish, potentially limiting or banning activities in the parish depending on local action.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Local option procedure:
    • Beauregard Parish authorities can act by passing a resolution or ordinance to prohibit or permit CO2 activities.
    • A copy of the action must be provided to the department.
    • Prohibition becomes effective upon adoption.
  • Preemption and supersession:
    • Local actions under this bill supersede conflicting state laws, regulations, and department actions within the parish.
  • Effective date:
    • Automatic upon governor’s signature or expiration of the waiting period if the governor does not act; if vetoed and later approved by the legislature, effective the day after approval.

Notes

  • The bill emphasizes local control in Beauregard Parish and creates a legal framework to limit or bar CO2 infrastructure within the parish, while preserving statewide regulation outside the parish or in areas that do not exercise local option prohibitions.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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