Committee amends expropriation statute to allow narrow use for very large aviation and space facilities

Senator Seabaugh offered an amendment (set 2806) to Senate Bill 466 that would add paragraph 13 to the expropriation statute (Title 19): under very specific circumstances a domestic or out‑of‑state U.S. corporation authorized to do business in Louisiana could acquire property for research, development, testing, operation, manufacture or construction of aircraft, airports, spaceflight activities, landing fields, landing strips and related navigation facilities.

The amendment limits the authority with several strict conditions: the parcel must be at least 20,000 contiguous acres, contain no residential structures, and the acquiring entity must not be a foreign adversary as defined in the referenced federal guidance (15 C.F.R. and U.S. Treasury list). Sponsor Seabaugh and members discussed the need to remain competitive with other states pursuing aerospace and space‑industry projects while underscoring the narrow scope of the authority.

Several senators asked whether the change broadened the universe of entities that can seek expropriation; the sponsor acknowledged it does for the very specific aviation/space case but emphasized that ordinary compensation and constitutional takings requirements remain in force. The committee reported the bill with the amendment.