ENVIRONMENT: Provides for the burning of untreated, unpainted dimensional lumber

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Beryl Amedée and 16 co-sponsors

HB 727 prevents DEQ from banning burning untreated, unpainted dimensional lumber (and wood mats), requiring rule changes to align regulations with this protection.

Effective date: 08/01/2026.

1) Purpose and Intent

Bill HB 727 seeks to prohibit the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) from banning the burning of specific construction debris, specifically untreated, unpainted dimensional lumber (and wood mats, per Floor Amendments).

It directs a statutory change adding a new provision to protect certain debris from prohibition on burning and requires the Administrative Code to be updated to remove or amend conflicting rules.

2) Key Provisions and Changes

Adds a new statute: R.S. 30:2155.2 (Construction debris).

Section A: The DEQ “shall not prohibit the burning of untreated, unpainted dimensional lumber.”
Section B: The DEQ must, via the Administrative Procedure Act rulemaking process, amend or remove any rules in the Administrative Code that conflict with this new section.

Amendments and scope (as reflected in amendments during the process):

Original text: prohibits DEQ from prohibiting burning of untreated, unpainted dimensional lumber.
House Floor Amendments: extend the prohibition to include wood mats as debris for which burning cannot be prohibited.

Administrative Code impact: Requires alignment of existing regulations with the new statutory protection; any conflicting rules would need to be amended or repealed.

3) Who/What is Affected

Affected Entity: Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and its authority/regulatory framework.

Construction industry/debris management: Builders, contractors, and waste handlers dealing with untreated, unpainted dimensional lumber and wood mats as part of construction debris.

General public: Implications for environmental policy enforcement and debris disposal practices, especially in contexts where burning is used as a debris management method.

4) Procedural and Timeline Considerations

Legislative process:

The bill adds a new statutory protection effective upon enactment (subject to standard lawmaking and eventual implementation through rulemaking).
Section B requires the DEQ to undertake rulemaking under the Administrative Procedure Act to amend/remove conflicting Administrative Code provisions.

Amendments and status:

The bill was read, referred to committee, amended, and passed the Louisiana House with multiple co-sponsors listed.
Action history shows progression from committee referral to final passage in the House in March-April 2026; it would proceed to the Senate for consideration.

Potential implementation timeline:

After enactment, DEQ would initiate rulemaking to modify Administrative Code provisions to align with the new statute. The exact timeline would depend on administrative rulemaking schedules and any required public comment periods.

5) Additional Notes

The bill’s text indicates a focus on construction debris management practices and aims to preserve the option to burn certain materials on-site, rather than prohibiting it outright.

The inclusion of wood mats in amendments indicates a broader scope for “debris items” protected from prohibition on burning.

If you’d like, I can provide a side-by-side comparison with current Louisiana DEQ rules to highlight specific regulatory references that would be affected by HB 727.

Bill