WATER/RESOURCES: Urges and requests the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and the Department of Conservation and Energy to study cooperative endeavor agreements for the withdrawal of surface water

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Gabe Firment

The bill requests state agencies study use of cooperative agreements to manage surface water withdrawals and assess their potential benefits, risks, and frameworks.

Taken by the Clerk of the House and presented to the Secretary of State in accordance with the Rules of the House.

Summary of Bill: HR 374 (Louisiana, 2026)

Purpose and Intent

The bill urges and requests state agencies to study cooperative endeavor agreements (CEAs) related to the withdrawal of surface water.

Specifically, it directs the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) and the Department of Conservation and Energy (likely a typo; assume Department of Environmental Quality or similar energy/conservation agency in Louisiana) to examine how CEAs could be used to manage or facilitate surface water withdrawals.

Key Provisions

The bill does not amass new authorities or create funding programs on its face. Instead, it constitutes a formal request for study and analysis by the specified agencies.

It requires interagency consideration of cooperative endeavor agreements as a mechanism for surface water withdrawal arrangements, including potential frameworks, terms, and governance structures.

The measure may propose evaluating:

Potential benefits and risks of CEAs in securing surface water withdrawals.
Legal, regulatory, and environmental implications.
Coordination with local governments, stakeholders, and affected communities.
Administrative processes, monitoring, and accountability provisions within CEAs.

The exact scope, methodologies, and timelines for the study would likely be determined by the agencies in consultation with lawmakers.

Affected Parties

State agencies:

Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF)
Department of Conservation and Energy (as referenced; if this is a transitional or combined agency in Louisiana, it would be the relevant department handling conservation-energy matters)

Potentially affected stakeholders include:

Municipalities and local water suppliers relying on surface water resources
Environmental groups and conservation organizations
Landowners and agricultural users relying on surface water
Industries with surface water withdrawal needs (industrial, energy, etc.)

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Status: Read by title and lie under the rules (pending further consideration in committee or floor action).

No explicit funding authorization or implementation timeline is included in the bill text as described; the primary action is to require a study.

The bill carries a co-sponsor: Rep. Gabe Firment, indicating bipartisan interest and support.

Potential Impacts and Considerations

If the study identifies viable CEAs for surface water withdrawals, it could lay groundwork for future legislation or administrative rules authorizing or guiding such agreements.

Outcomes may address:

Clarification of legal authority to enter CEAs for surface water withdrawal.
Safeguards to protect ecological flows, water rights, and public interests.
Frameworks for cost-sharing, risk management, long-term stewardship, and performance monitoring.

Given the focus on surface water withdrawals, regional water security, drought resilience, and environmental sustainability are likely considerations in the study.

If you’d like, I can add a brief glossary of terms (e.g., “cooperative endeavor agreements”) or compare this bill’s potential approach with similar mechanisms in other states.