Provides for lead service line replacement. (8/1/26)

Senate Bill 268 enacts new section 33:4081.2 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes to authorize municipalities to enter private property for the purpose of replacing lead service lines connecting municipal water mains to buildings. The statute permits a municipality to adopt an ordinance granting itself, its municipal water system, or their agents the right to access property within the municipality to perform lead service line replacement work. The municipality must provide property owners and residents with at least seven days advance notice of entry unless an emergency situation exists as determined by the municipality or municipal water system. The statute explicitly restricts the scope of entry to activities directly related to lead service line replacement and prohibits municipalities from using the entry authorization for other purposes.

Property owners and residents are significantly affected by this legislation as it removes property owners' absolute power to deny municipalities access to private land for lead service line replacement projects. The notice requirements impose procedural obligations on municipalities to attempt personal notification of owners and residents regarding the scheduled replacement work, and if personal contact proves impossible, municipalities must use certified mail or post written notice on the property that specifies the replacement date and time, identifies who will perform the work, describes expected water service disruptions, identifies any alternative water distribution locations, and outlines what actions the municipality will take if property access cannot be obtained. Following completion of the work, municipalities must send certified mail notification to the owner including the approximate completion time and a summary of work performed. These provisions apply to property owners within any municipality that chooses to adopt an ordinance implementing this right-of-entry authority.

The statute operates within Louisiana's municipal authority framework under Title 33 of the Revised Statutes and assumes municipalities possess police power to regulate public health matters connected to water systems. The legislation recognizes the state's interest in addressing lead contamination in drinking water infrastructure while establishing a balanced approach by requiring municipalities to adopt ordinances before exercising entry rights and by mandating comprehensive notice procedures to property owners. The definition of municipal water system encompasses various water utility entities including municipal utilities authorities, water districts, waterworks commissions, and other political subdivisions authorized to operate public water systems, establishing a broad class of entities potentially authorized to perform replacements. The statute's effective date of August 1, 2026 provides municipalities time to develop ordinances and procedures implementing this authority, and the legislation does not establish state funding mechanisms for the replacements themselves.