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HR 345

ENVIRONMENT: Creates the Task Force on Seismic Activity

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Rodney Schamerhorn

HR 345 creates a temporary 11-member Task Force on Seismic Activity to study Northwest Louisiana earthquakes and issue publicly presented recommendations to the Legislature by Marc

Taken by the Clerk of the House and presented to the Secretary of State in accordance with the Rules of the House.
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Bill Summary · HR 345

Purpose and intent

  • Establishes the Task Force on Seismic Activity to study the prevalence and causes of earthquakes in North Louisiana.
  • Aims to propose written recommendations to the Louisiana legislature and to present findings to the public at a duly noticed public meeting.

Key provisions and changes

  • Scope:
    • Focuses on seismic activity in Northwest/North Louisiana, with emphasis on recent earthquakes in DeSoto, Caddo, Sabine, Natchitoches, Bienville, and Red River Parishes.
    • Acknowledges both natural and potential human-influenced factors contributing to seismic events.
  • Task Force composition (11 members):
    1. Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Conservation and Energy (chair).
    2. Associate Director of the USGS, Natural Hazards (ex officio).
    3. Dean of Tulane University, School of Science and Engineering (or designee).
    4. Director of the Red River Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (or designee).
    5. Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (or designee).
    6. President of the Louisiana Wildlife Federation (or designee).
    7. Acting Director of the LSU Louisiana Geological Survey (or designee).
    8. A representative of the oil and gas industry (appointed by the governor).
    9. A representative of an industrial waste injection facility (appointed by the governor).
    10. A representative of a carbon capture and underground storage facility (appointed by the governor).
  • Appointment timeline:
    • Designees named to the task force by August 15, 2026.
  • Leadership and operation:
    • Chair: Secretary of the Department of Conservation and Energy.
    • First meeting: No later than September 1, 2026.
    • Staffing: By the Department of Conservation and Energy.
    • Quorum: A majority of members.
    • Rules: Governed by House Rules or applicable Joint Rules.
    • Compensation: Members serve without pay, but may receive per diem or expense reimbursements as allowed by their organizations.
    • Open meetings and public records: Meetings subject to the Open Meetings Law; records subject to the Public Records Law.
  • Reporting:
    • The task force must prepare a written report with recommendations for the legislature.
    • Report due and presented at a duly noticed public meeting in Northwest Louisiana no later than March 1, 2027.
  • Record of transmission:
    • A copy of the resolution is to be transmitted to the Governor, state agency heads, and other specified entities.

Who is affected

  • State agencies: Louisiana Department of Conservation and Energy, Department of Environmental Quality, Louisiana Geological Survey (LSU), Red River Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.
  • Federal partner: United States Geological Survey (USGS) (ex officio participation).
  • Academic and research institutions: Tulane University (Dean of the School of Science and Engineering) and LSU Louisiana Geological Survey.
  • Industry representation: Appointed members from the oil and gas industry, an industrial waste injection facility, and a carbon capture and underground storage facility.
  • General public: The findings and recommendations are to be shared at a public meeting and via written report.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Formation: Task Force created by House Resolution HR 345; no new statute—establishes a temporary, advisory body.
  • Appointments: Designees by August 15, 2026; governance and staffing by the Department of Conservation and Energy.
  • Meetings: First meeting by September 1, 2026; ongoing meetings subject to Open Meetings Law.
  • Reporting deadline: March 1, 2027, for the final written recommendations and public presentation in Northwest Louisiana.
  • Public access: Reports and meetings publicly accessible under Open Meetings and Public Records laws.

Summary

HR 345 creates a TEMPORARY Task Force on Seismic Activity to investigate earthquakes in Northwest Louisiana, considering both natural and human-related factors. It designates a diverse 11-member panel, led by the Secretary of Conservation and Energy, with participation from federal, academic, state, and industry representatives. The Task Force will issue written recommendations to the Legislature and present findings at a publicly noticed meeting in Northwest Louisiana by March 1, 2027. The operation is subject to transparency laws, with meetings open to the public and records public.

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

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