The 2025 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature convened April 14, 2025, and adjourned June 12, 2025. The first regular session of the new term saw legislation on several hot-button issues, including 944 bills (696 in the House/248 in the Senate), 24 constitutional amendments, and 751 resolutions and study requests. For fiscal year 2025-2026, the
Act 458 of the 2025 Louisiana legislative session (“Act 458” or the “the Act”), recently signed into law by Governor Jeff Landry, introduced changes to the regulation of oil and gas operations in Louisiana. In addition to enacting changes to the laws regarding oilfield legacy suits (summarized in this recent post), Act 458 also
Nearing the end of the 2025 Regular Legislative Session, on June 11, 2025, the Louisiana Legislature passed Senate Bill No. 244 (“SB 244”), which brings significant changes to Louisiana’s oilfield site remediation statute, commonly known as “Act 312” (found at La. R.S. § 30:29). Act 312 applies to cases where environmental damage is alleged from historical
On the first day of his second term in office, President Trump issued an Executive Order titled “Unleashing American Energy.” This Order contains several provisions intended to encourage American energy production and remove barriers that “have impeded the development” of energy and natural resources.
The Order states that it is “in the national
Brief Introduction:
On July 1, 2024, the Western District of Louisiana ruled in favor of the plaintiffs in the case, State of Louisiana et al. v. Joseph R. Biden Jr. et al. No. 2:24-CV-00406 (W.D. La. July 1, 2024), ordering that the Biden Administration’s ban on the export of liquified natural gas (LNG)
The 2023 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature wrapped on June 8, 2023. During this session, the Louisiana Legislature enacted a number of bills in the energy and environmental sector of the law. Below is a brief summary of all new relevant adopted provisions:
Energy
Act 150 (SB 103) changes the name of the Department
Picture this: former wife sues her ex-husband for cutting and selling timber from a co-owned 120-acre timberland tract. The timberland tract was purchased during the couple’s marriage and was community property. As part of a divorce settlement, the ex-couple remained co-owners of the timberland. Thereafter, the ex-husband had the timber cut and sold – and checks for the timber sold were made payable to the then girlfriend (now wife) of the ex-husband. When the former wife found out, she sued the ex-husband, seeking treble damages (among other things), under Louisiana’s so-called “timber piracy” statute.
As a co-owner, is the ex-husband liable to his former wife under Louisiana’s “timber piracy” statute? This was the issue presented to the Louisiana Supreme Court in the case, Sullivan v. Wallace, 2010-0388 (La. 11/30/10), 51 So.3d 702. The Court concluded that he was not, because the “timber piracy” statute did not apply to suits between co-owners.Continue Reading The Rogue Co-Owner: Cutting and Selling Timber from a Co-owned Tract