www.thecentersquare.com – By Nolan McKendry | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-04-25 16:45:00
(The Center Square) − Louisiana Rep. Joseph Orgeron, R-Jefferson, is taking a less cautious position on carbon capture — acknowledging local concerns while defending the role the technology can play in reducing industrial emissions.
Orgeron will vice chair a high-stakes showdown over the future of carbon capture in Louisiana at the House Natural Resources and Environment Committee on Tuesday, where lawmakers are set to hear a sweeping package of bills aimed at reining in the state’s growing carbon sequestration industry.
“I sympathize with those constituents who are looking for the opt-out option—to not have it in their parish,” Orgeron told The Center Square in an interview. “But I represent an area basically awash in hydrocarbon harvesting from the early ’50s, ’60s. We’ve had our environment kind of shared with the hydrocarbon harvesting industry, so we’re a little bit more open to it.”
Orgeron chairs the state’s Clean Hydrogen Task Force and has positioned himself as an advocate for low-carbon technologies that can reduce emissions without sidelining Louisiana’s traditional energy sector.
“In Louisiana, we have the hydrocarbons, like natural gas, that can then be cracked to make the hydrogen feedstock that’s needed,” Orgeron said. “And rather than release [the carbon] into the environment… basically capture that carbon and sequester it safely in underground pore space that we also have a large amount of.”
Still, he acknowledged the desire of some parishes to block carbon capture developments and said he would support local opt-outs — though not without consequence.
“They would have to relinquish any and all benefits, monetary benefits, that they may receive from the added space, the added industry… that may come from carbon sequestration in the state,” Orgeron said.
The legislation, driven largely by Republican lawmakers from western and central Louisiana, targets everything from eminent domain powers to public notice requirements, with an emphasis on strengthening landowner rights and local control.
Rep. Rodney Schamerhorn, R-Beauregard, said in a previous interview that past land seizures for projects like Fort Polk and the Toledo Bend Reservoir have left lasting scars in his region, fueling deep mistrust of new carbon capture initiatives. While many residents initially supported the technology, he said they now feel misled about its purpose and risks.
The committee will also take up House Bill 4 by Rep. Charles Owen, HB353 by Rep. Shane Mack, HB522 by Rep. Danny McCormick, HB568 by Rep. R. Dewith Carrier, and Senate Bill 73 by Sen. Mike Reese.
The wave of proposals comes amid mounting scrutiny of carbon infrastructure, particularly in light of a 2020 pipeline rupture in Satartia, Miss. that released a cloud of CO2 into a nearby town when a landslide hit, causing residents to collapse or suffer seizures from oxygen deprivation.
Industry leaders are pushing back.
“This is a business opportunity,” said Tommy Faucheux, president of the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association. “If we lose that, the investments — and the jobs — will go elsewhere.”
“These CCS projects and the associated development could transform communities in ways they’ve never seen,” Faucheux said. “We’re talking about economic development in parts of Louisiana that haven’t traditionally benefited from the oil and gas footprint.”
“The industry has been spending a lot of time engaging with communities, with land owners,” he added. “The companies want to work and come to agreements with all the landowners. They want to have conversations about pipeline routes, for instance. The use of eminent domain has not been something we’ve prioritized or really led with. I think it has been really more the exception than the standard.”
Tensions rose at the Louisiana State Capitol as a legislative package to reduce auto insurance costs neared final approval. Six controversial “tort reform” bills passed the Senate, mostly on party lines, with Republican support and Democratic opposition. These bills limit plaintiffs’ recovery in auto injury lawsuits, aiming to curb inflated medical claims and litigation. One key bill restricts compensation to actual medical payments rather than billed charges. Democrats argued these reforms won’t lower rates and would hurt injured parties. Another bipartisan bill would increase transparency in insurance rate changes. The package now advances to the House and requires Gov. Jeff Landry’s approval.
Louisiana auto insurance debate overheats as legislation nears finish line
Tensions are escalating at the State Capitol as a legislative package that attempts to lower auto insurance costs in Louisiana nears its final stage of approval.
On Wednesday, the Senate advanced six of the more controversial insurance measures in a floor session that lasted late into the night. The debate included impassioned floor speeches and a heated clash between two lawmakers, both attorneys who stand on opposite sides of the issue.
Gov. Jeff Landry has signaled support for the proposals.
Only one of the bills cleared the chamber with bipartisan support, while the other five passed mostly along party lines with Republicans voting in favor of them and Democrats against. Those five are so-called “tort reform” proposals that give insurance companies certain protections or advantages in litigation, making it harder for accident victims to file successful lawsuits.
Tort reform legislation from previous years has failed to reduce auto insurance rates, though most Republicans, including state Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple, have said those measures were not strong enough.
This lack of results was among the points of contention during Wednesday’s debate on Senate Bill 231, which took up most of the evening before the bill passed in a 27-8 vote. Sponsored by Sen. Mike Reese, R-Leesville, it would effectively reduce the money plaintiffs can recover for medical expenses in an auto accident lawsuit. The amount would be limited to what a plaintiff actually pays for care rather than what doctors and hospitals bill.
Supporters of Reese’s bill argue it would provide medical billing transparency in personal injury lawsuits and prevent plaintiffs’ attorneys from basing claims on artificially inflated medical bills no one actually pays.
Opponents argue transparency should apply to both sides. They pointed to a separate tort reform law that allows insurers to hide certain details related to their policyholder’s coverage during a trial. Jurors could lower a monetary award if they believe an individual defendant — rather than an insurance company — will be personally on the hook for paying it, according to their viewpoint.
“Current law allows the plaintiff to lie to the jury, and it does not allow the defendant to tell the truth,” Sen. Alan Seabaugh, R-Shreveport, an attorney whose practice includes insurance defense, said in support of the measure.
State Sen. Jay Luneau in the Louisiana Senate chambers on June 8, 2023. (Photo credit: Wes Muller/LAI)
Sen. Jay Luneau, D-Alexandria, took issue over what he called Seabaugh’s “ambush-type” strategy to tack on a late-hour amendment to Reese’s bill that other senators had no time to review.
Luneau, a personal injury lawyer, said the amended bill was being rushed because Seabaugh had a conflicting court date Tuesday, when the Senate convenes next after a long Memorial Day holiday.
Standing at the Senate floor lectern within a foot of each other, Luneau and Seabaugh got into an exchange that quickly grew intense.
Seabaugh said the amendment, which was eventually adopted, requires judges and juries to be shown both the amount paid and the amount billed for medical expenses in auto injury cases, but confusion ensued over its text. The Republican senator, defending his amendment, said that Luneau, himself, had requested the provision.
When Luneau denied this and offered to withdraw the purported request, Seabaugh, in a raised voice, accused Luneau of lying.
“You were pounding the table, saying ‘Let’s tell the jury everything. Let’s let them see the billed amount,’” Seabaugh said, pausing but drawing no response from Luneau. “You are just gonna come up here and blatantly bald-faced lie, and I’m not surprised.”
The accusation drew quick intervention from Senate President Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, and prompted Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Louis Carral Jr. to swiftly approach the lectern, prepared to physically separate the two men.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! Guys, guys, come on!” Henry told the two senators. “There’s a certain amount of decorum that we expect to have in the Senate. Y’all need to relax.”
The amendment actually would have allowed defendants to try to lower jury awards following a trial
Later, Luneau delivered a lengthy speech against the bill, so long that he appeared to be mounting a filibuster to delay a vote. But he ultimately ceded the floor after detailing his comprehensive argument against tort reform.
Luneau cited data from the Louisiana Department of Insurance that shows there are more than 100 auto insurance companies in Louisiana, countering arguments that more insurers are needed in the state to create competition. Overall, they received $5.9 billion in premiums and paid out $3.4 billion in claims and losses, the date shows.
The five largest auto insurers in the state — State Farm, Progressive, Geico, Allstate and GoAuto — control 70% of the market, according to state data Luneau shared.
“This is a bad bill,” Luneau said. “It’s going to take money away from people who are legitimately injured, and it’s not going to reduce automobile insurance rates. And we’ll be right back here again with people screaming about the next round of tort reform we need to do.”
Reese’s bill next heads to the House for consideration.
Rate history disclosure
Only one of the five proposals, House Bill 148, sponsored by Rep. Jeff Wiley, R-Maurepas, received bipartisan support. Republicans counted for all of the no votes in the 26-9 outcome.
Wiley’s proposal would require homeowner and auto insurance companies to show customers what they paid previously for coverage when sending out renewal notices. It would let customers see whether their rates have changed before they decide to extend their policy.
The bill would also give the state insurance commissioner power to strike down any insurance rate increase considered “excessive” or unreasonably high. Temple has lobbied against this provision, arguing it would force him to choose between rates based on real market conditions and the perception that he’s lowering rates to improve his reelection chances.
Senate Republicans weakened the provision Wednesday when they inserted language into Wiley’s bill that could let Temple approve excessively high rates as long as an insurer shows that they weren’t chosen arbitrarily or randomly.
Another amendment to Wiley’s bill allows the public to review documents insurance companies file with the state when seeking a rate increase, but only if the insurance commissioner determines the information shouldn’t be kept confidential as a proprietary trade secret.
The measure will return to the House for a final vote on amendments before heading to the governor’s desk.
Other insurance legislation the Senate approved included:
House Bill 450, by Rep. Michael Melerine, R-Shreveport, would end the Housley presumption, a standard of evidence explained in a 1991 Louisiana Supreme Court ruling that applies to auto accidents, medical malpractice and other injury lawsuits. In a nutshell, the Housley presumption says courts should assume a plaintiff’s injuries resulted from the accident in question if they were in good health beforehand.
The bill received final approval in a 28-9 vote and awaits Gov. Landry’s signature.
House Bill 434, sponsored by Rep. Jason DeWitt, R-Alexandria, would limit bodily injury claims by plaintiffs who did not carry auto insurance at the time of the accident. It would forbid them from recovering as much as $100,000 worth of damages.
The bill received final approval in a 28-9 vote and has been sent to the governor.
House Bill 431, sponsored by Rep. Emily Chenevert, R-Baton Rouge, would change Louisiana’s comparative fault statute, which assigns a percentage of blame to each party in an accident and allows for the recovery of damages in proportion with those percentages.
Proponents argue comparative fault allows someone to recover damages for injuries sustained in accidents for which they are mostly at fault. Opponents say it is the fairest way to assign liability.
Under current law, if a court finds one party in a lawsuit is 60% at fault for an accident and the other party is 40% at fault, they would each be liable for their respective share of the damages and could file claims against each other for the remaining amounts. Under Chenevert’s bill, anyone who is 51% or more at fault for an accident would get nothing.
The bill passed in a 28-9 vote and will return to the House for changes made in the Senate.
House Bill 436, by Rep. Gabe Firment, R-Pollock, would prohibit “unauthorized aliens” — defined in the measure as individuals illegally in the United States under federal immigration law — who are injured in car accidents from receiving compensation for pain, suffering and lost income. The proposal would still allow recovery for property damages and medical expenses. Auto insurance companies could still sell policies to unauthorized immigrants.
It cleared the chamber in a 27-10 vote and will return to the House for a vote on Senate amendments.
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Louisiana Illuminator is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Louisiana Illuminator maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Greg LaRose for questions: info@lailluminator.com.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Center-Right
This article presents a detailed account of the Louisiana legislative process regarding auto insurance tort reform, highlighting the Republican-backed bills that favor insurance companies by limiting plaintiffs’ recoveries. The framing largely reflects a conservative, pro-business perspective through emphasis on tort reform and insurance industry interests, supported by Republican lawmakers and Gov. Jeff Landry. However, it also fairly presents Democratic opposition and arguments against the bills, including concerns about limiting injured plaintiffs’ rights and the ineffectiveness of prior reforms. The balanced presentation of both sides suggests reporting that leans moderately toward conservative viewpoints without ignoring opposing perspectives.
www.thecentersquare.com – By Nolan McKendry | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-05-22 14:59:00
The Louisiana Senate Committee on Finance reviewed the proposed $45 billion budget for fiscal year 2026, focusing on education, health, human services, and infrastructure. Advocates for disabilities, addiction recovery, domestic violence survivors, and low-income students urged increased funding for social safety nets. Easter Seals Louisiana requested $465,000 for support services, and People First of Louisiana sought restoration of a $110,000 funding cut. Addiction treatment advocates called for sustained investment, warning of Medicaid rate cuts without it. The Louisiana Association for the Blind requested $11 million, promising a $35 million return. Domestic violence services requested an additional $3 million for shelters. The Pelican Institute advocated for full funding of the GATOR scholarship program.
(The Center Square) − The Louisiana Senate Committee on Finance took testimony Thursday on the state’s proposed $45 billion operating budget for the 2026 fiscal year, hearing directly from advocates for individuals with disabilities, those battling addiction, survivors of domestic violence, and low-income students.
The budget, which includes constitutionally mandated funding for K-12 education, also outlines major appropriations for health, human services, and infrastructure. As lawmakers begin parsing through the spending plan, nonprofit and community leaders are pressing for renewed or increased investments in social safety net programs.
Tracy Garner, president and CEO of Easter Seals Louisiana, a nonprofit providing support to people with disabilities, urged the committee to approve $465,000 in state funding through House Bill 1. The money would go toward support coordination services — a vital link between individuals and the care they need.
Other organizations made similar appeals. Jamie Duplechine, chapter coordinator for People First of Louisiana, asked the committee to restore $110,000 in funding that had been cut from the group, which advocates for individuals with developmental disabilities.
Several people with disabilities testified in support of the organization’s work. Charles Romera also voiced gratitude for a previous $250,000 allocation to the Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council, but noted the funds have yet to be reallocated in the current proposal.
Several advocates and protestors rallied in support of disability services funding.
The behavioral health and addiction treatment community also turned out in force.
Lonnie Granier, policy and advocacy manager at Odyssey House Louisiana−one of the state’s largest behavioral health nonprofits−thanked lawmakers for an additional $10 million in the State General Fund for substance use disorder treatment.
Granier warned, however, that without sustained investment, “addiction Medicaid rates will be cut” once temporary funding enhancements expire. Granier called on legislators to support $31 million in total for substance use disorder Medicaid treatment rates.
Scottie Thompson, a peer support specialist at Serenity Treatment Center, also testified, requesting recurring funds for addiction services, though did not specify an amount.
Brian Patchett, president and CEO of the Louisiana Association for the Blind, requested an additional $11 million in funding, calling it “an investment that would yield $35 million” in return.
Domestic violence services were also the subject of advocacy.
Mariah Wisneski, executive director of the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence, noted the Legislature has allocated $7 million in state funds for victim services in the current budget.
She requested an additional $3 million, citing tangible results from past funding: over 200 new shelter beds and 11 outreach offices, many in rural areas.
“Investments from the last two years have been incredibly successful,” Wisneski told the committee.
Also appearing before the panel was Laurie Adams with the Pelican Institute for Public Policy, who asked lawmakers to prioritize full funding for the Louisiana GATOR scholarship program to ensure that all eligible applications are supported.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Centrist
The article provides a straightforward account of testimony before the Louisiana Senate Committee on Finance regarding the proposed state budget. It reports on the appeals and requests made by various advocacy groups—such as those supporting individuals with disabilities, addiction treatment services, and domestic violence survivors—without endorsing or critiquing their positions. The tone is neutral and factual, offering balanced coverage of the budget’s components and the perspectives of multiple stakeholders. There is no language or framing that indicates an ideological stance or bias; instead, the piece focuses on presenting relevant information about policy discussions and funding priorities in an impartial manner.
SUMMARY: NOAA forecasts an above-average 2025 Atlantic hurricane season with 13 to 19 named storms, 6 to 10 hurricanes, and 3 to 5 major hurricanes. There is a 90% confidence level that the season will be at least average or above. Officials in South Louisiana and Mississippi emphasize readiness despite staffing concerns, highlighting experience gained from recent seasons. New this year is an upgraded “Potential Tropical Cyclone” product, allowing watches and warnings up to 72 hours before storm development based on minimal signs, giving emergency managers more time to prepare. Local meteorologists express confidence in their preparedness and public communication efforts.
NOAA predicts above average 2025 Atlantic hurricane season
