The Louisiana House on June 4 adopted House Concurrent Resolution 61, directing a special task force to study interagency consultation processes related to water resources for current and future data centers and data processing facilities.

Representative Coates presented the resolution and Representative Echols offered an amendment to add the speaker’s designee, the senate president’s designee and representatives from “Lehi” and a business lobbying group as members. Echols said the change aimed to ensure groups that recruit data centers to the state “have a vital voice within that ecosystem.” Representative Desotel questioned whether the lobby organization’s membership and focus were appropriate for the task force and asked Echols whether he had consulted the group before adding it.

After discussion and a brief back‑and‑forth on the House floor, Representative Desautels offered a floor amendment removing the lobby group from the membership list; the House adopted that amendment and later approved the resolution. Representative Coates moved the resolution back onto the calendar for amendment consideration and, after the change, said the measure would foster a comprehensive, interagency plan for water resources and data‑center impacts.

Why it matters: the resolution recognizes growing interest in data‑center projects across parts of Louisiana and seeks a coordinated state approach to water use and permitting. Lawmakers scrutinized membership language to avoid privileging private associations over impartial, cross‑agency perspectives.

Outcome and vote: the House adopted HCR 61 after the lobby representation was removed; the roll call recorded 93 yeas and 0 nays. The resolution asks agencies and stakeholders to provide information and to participate in a task force to produce recommendations on water resources and interagency coordination.

Background: the amendment debate followed concerns from lawmakers representing areas with active data‑center recruitment about water demand and regulatory coordination. Representative Echols said North Louisiana’s data‑center activity motivated him to propose including recruiting entities in the conversation; others pushed instead for public and agency representation without a named lobby group.

Ending: with the amendment adopted to remove the lobby organization, the task force will proceed with members named in the final resolution to assess water‑resource planning and interagency consultation for data centers.