Damages cap on carbon-capture mishaps would be nullified under Louisiana House bill

Published: April 28, 2026

By: Sheridan White, LSU Manship School News Service

BATON ROUGE – A bill aimed at reshaping how Louisiana handles liability for carbon-capture incidents is gaining traction at the State Capitol, signaling a potential shift in how the emerging industry is regulated.

House Bill 79, sponsored by Rep. Robby Carter, D-Greensburg, advanced without opposition Monday from the House Civil Law and Procedure Committee.

The measure would remove the current $250,000 cap on damages related to carbon-capture release incidents, placing the industry on equal footing with most other sectors operating in Louisiana.

Under current law, carbon-capture companies benefit from a liability limit that critics argue gives them an unfair advantage. Carter was outspoken in questioning why the industry is treated differently.