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HB 697

SUNSET LAW: Re-creates the Department of Environmental Quality

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Brett Geymann

Re-creates the DEQ and its related entities on June 30, 2026, with a termination date of July 1, 2031 (initiation 2030) unless re-created again.

Effective date: 06/30/2026.
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Bill Summary · HB 697

Summary: HB 697 (2026) – Re-creates the Department of Environmental Quality (Louisiana)

Purpose and Intent

  • Re-creates the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and all statutory entities included within the department, effectively resetting the department’s existence under the sunset framework.
  • Establishes a new, unified re-creation date and a revised termination timeline for the DEQ and its statutory components.

Key Provisions

  • Effective re-creation date: The DEQ and all statutory entities that are part of the department are re-created effective June 30, 2026.
  • Sunset framework superseded: The bill supersedes the standard sunset process for these entities, consolidating re-creation into one act rather than requiring separate measures for each statutory entity.
  • New termination timeline:
    • The DEQ and its statutory entities would cease operations on July 1, 2031, unless the department is re-created again prior to that date.
    • The sunset-start date for termination begins July 1, 2030, unless there is another re-creation action.
  • Authority and consistency:
    • Section 1 confirms re-creation as of June 30, 2026, with continued statutory authority governed by Part XII, Chapter 1, Title 49 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950.
    • Section 3 repeals conflicting provisions and Section 4 defines the new termination schedule for the department and its statutory entities (July 1, 2031; with a 2030 initiation for termination).
  • Effective date: June 30, 2026. If vetoed and overridden by the Legislature, effective date would be the later of June 30, 2026 or the day after legislative approval.

Affected Entities

  • Department: Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).
  • Statutory entities: All statutory entities that are made part of the DEQ by law, as re-created and appended to the department in this act.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Starting point: Effective June 30, 2026.
  • Termination/cease of authority:
    • General termination date for the existence of statutory entities: July 1, 2031.
    • There is an automatic initial termination trigger on July 1, 2030, unless the DEQ is re-created again before that date.
  • Governor’s veto: If the governor vetoes the bill, it can become effective only if approved again by the Legislature, on the later date described above.
  • Legal framework: The act adds a new provision to R.S. 49:191(3)(b) and repeals R.S. 49:191(1)(j). It also adjusts related statutory authority under R.S. 49:193 and supersedes conflicting sunset provisions.

Practical Implications

  • Creates a formal, consolidated mechanism to re-create the DEQ and its subordinate entities, avoiding the need for multiple separate re-creation bills.
  • Establishes a clear 5-year phase-out horizon (2030–2031) for the re-created DEQ, with potential renewal if the department undergoes another re-creation action.
  • Sets explicit dates that will guide agency existence, budget planning, staffing, and regulatory authority continuity or wind-down.

If you’d like, I can provide a side-by-side comparison of the current sunset provisions versus HB 697’s new framework, or outline potential fiscal and regulatory impacts based on typical DEQ operations.

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

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