RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
ACT 9 (SB 205) 2022 Regular Session Jackson
Prior law (R.S. 3:1201 et seq.) provided for the "Soil Conservation Districts Law" and
created the state soil and water conservation commission and soil and water conservation
districts.
Prior law provided for the purposes of the "Soil Conservation Districts Law", including the
conservation of the soil and soil resources of this state.
New law adds the conservation of soil health to the list of purposes and otherwise retains
prior law.
New law defines the following terms:
(1)"Soil health" means the overall composition of the soil, including the amount of
organic matter in and water holding capacity of the soil, and the continued capacity
of soil to function as a vital living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and
humans.
(2)"Soil health practices" means agricultural practices that improve the health of soils,
including but not limited to consideration of depth of topsoil horizons, water
infiltration rate, organic carbon content, nutrient content, bulk density, biological
activity, biological and microbiological diversity, and minimization of bare ground.
Prior law required the members of the old state soil and water conservation commission
created by law prior to August 1, 1956, to continue to serve until the new members of the
state soil and water conservation commission were elected.
New law removes obsolete provisions of prior law.
Prior law required the chairman of the old state soil and water conservation commission to
notify the soil and water conservation district supervisors of the time and the place that an
election was to be held within 45 days after August 1, 1956.
New law requires the chairman of the state soil and water conservation commission to notify
the soil and water conservation district supervisors of the time and the place that an election
is to be held as provided by law.
New law requires a state convention to be held upon the call of the chairman of the state soil
and water conservation commission and requires the chairman to provide notice to the soil
and water conservation district supervisors.
Prior law provided for the powers of the state soil and water conservation commission,
including the power to assist and guide districts in the preparation and carrying out of
programs for resource conservation authorized by law.
New law adds the preparation and carrying out of programs for soil health to the list of
powers of the commission and otherwise retains prior law.
New law corrects a reference in law from the Soil Conservation Service of the United States
Department of Agriculture to the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the United
States Department of Agriculture.
Prior law provided for the powers of the soil and water conservation districts.
New law adds soil health, soil health improvements, soil health practices aiding enhanced
food and fiber production, conservation of natural resources, and adaptation to changes in
climate and environment to the list of powers and otherwise retains prior law.
Effective upon signature of the governor (May 13, 2022). (Amends R.S. 3:1201(C) and (D), 1202 (intro para), 1202(3), 1204(A)(2) and (D)(1) and
(12), and 1208(1), (2), (6), and (7); adds R.S. 3:1202(13) and (14))