The Louisiana Senate has approved Senate Bill 547, a bill which is aimed at legislatively defeating the lawsuit filed in July by the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority against 97 oil and gas companies for coastal erosion to the Louisiana coast allegedly caused by the companies’ historic operations in the state. Senate Bill 547 has been sent to the Louisiana House for consideration.
The Bill seeks to retroactively declare the Flood Authority’s procedure by which it authorized the lawsuit illegal. The proposed law would declare any governmental agreements with private parties with a total value greater than $50,000 that are not subjected to review by the Office of Contractual Review to be inequitable and contrary to public policy. The law would also declare such agreements inequitable and contrary to public policy if a private party attempts to take unilateral action on behalf of the State or any political subdivision of the State without review of the State Office of Contractual Review.
Lobbyists representing oil and gas interests were present in the galleries of the Senate chamber during debate over Senate Bill 547. If passed by the House, the Bill is likely to face a constitutionality challenge by opponents.
Further updates are available at la.gov. Contact Toni Ellington at (504) 599-8500 for further questions.
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