This week sort of felt like the “calm before the storm.”

Only one of our priority bills came up in committee this week, Rep. McCormick’s HB 205, which would allow more pressure (up to 0.5 lb limit) on saltwater disposal wells and make Louisiana more competitive with Texas.

If you recall, this one came up last week in Natural Resources (with LOGA President Mike Moncla's testimony), but McCormick voluntarily deferred the bill while he was working on some amendments to potentially broaden the language beyond just Haynesville Parishes.

We spoke with Rep. McCormick on Tuesday, and he decided that they’re going to go ahead and push it through Natural Resources and then amend it in the Senate. It passed out of committee on Wednesday and now goes to the full House.

While nothing is on the schedule as of yet, this coming Tuesday (4/29) is supposed to be the day that all of the anti-CCUS bills come up in House Natural Resources. House Ways & Means also has a committee hearing Monday where several anti-CCUS bills surrounding tax levies are expected to be heard.

That Monday Ways & Means hearing will also feature one of our priority bills that we’re supporting, Rep. Ken Brass’s HB 383, which postpones the termination of a tax credit for C-corporations for local inventory taxes paid. We will be there to support it.

The Senate moved quickly on our mineral prescription bill this week. SB 168 (Womack) passed unanimously out of the Senate. Very exciting! It now goes to the House Civil Law & Procedure committee.

The Senate also passed Senator Reese’s anti-CCUS bill, SB 73, unanimously on Wednesday. We will be there to oppose it again when it comes up in committee in House Natural Resources.

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