Present law defines jurisdictional "waters of the state" as surface waters subject to tides, lakes, rivers, streams, mudflats, sandflats, wetlands, sloughs, prairie potholes, wet meadows, playa lakes, natural ponds, impoundments of waters within the state otherwise defined as "waters of the United States" in federal law, and their tributaries.

‍
Proposed law retains present law and requires that impoundments that are otherwise defined as waters of the United States in federal law must bear a continuous surface connection to waters of the state to also be jurisdictional waters of the state. Further defines "continuous surface connection" as an interface between water bodies that shows no clear line of demarcation between the end of one body and the beginning of another.

‍
Present law defines "fastlands" as lands surrounded by publicly owned, maintained, or otherwise validly existing levees or natural formations which prevent activities, other than pumping of water for drainage, within the surrounded area from having direct and significant impacts on coastal waters.

‍
Proposed law retains present law and adds that fastlands includes areas that would otherwise be considered wetlands as defined in federal law, and that are surrounded by either privately or publicly owned or maintained levees, berms, flood protection structures, or natural formations that prevent a continuous surface connection to waters of the United States.

‍
Present law refers to the body of water bordering Louisiana's coastline as the "Gulf of Mexico".

‍
Proposed law changes the name of the water body to "Gulf of America".

‍
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.