Bill > SB94

This bill makes several key changes to Louisiana state law regarding waters and coastal boundaries. First, it renames the "Gulf of Mexico" to the "Gulf of America" throughout state statutes and legal documents, requiring the Louisiana Law Institute to update all references accordingly. The bill modifies the definition of "waters of the state" to include surface waters extending three miles into the Gulf of America and adds specific clarifications about what constitutes "waters of the state" for regulatory purposes. It also introduces a new definition of "fastlands" that includes areas surrounded by levees, berms, flood protection structures, or natural formations, even if they would otherwise be considered wetlands. The bill explicitly states that this definition does not affect land or water bottom ownership and clarifies that certain areas without a continuous surface connection to other water bodies may be excluded from regulatory definitions. These changes have implications for coastal use permits, pollution discharge regulations, and how water resources are defined and managed in Louisiana, potentially providing more specificity and flexibility in interpreting water-related laws.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/BillInfo.aspx?s=25rs&b=SB94&sbi=y