HB 652 Louisiana House · 2026 Regular Session

WILDLIFE & FISHERIES: Provides for the membership of the the Oyster Task Force

HB 652 amends Louisiana's Oyster Task Force membership structure by adding one member appointed by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry (now designated as paragraph B(16)). The bill also specifies that the Department of Agriculture and Forestry will receive the task force's recommendations regarding the oyster industry and production. This change affects the task force composition, which includes representatives from oyster associations, parishes, and coastal agencies, and clarifies which state agencies receive its recommendations. The bill does not alter oyster industry policies but updates the task force's governance structure.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Feb 27, 2026 Signed May 11, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB652 Original → HB652 Act · 3 edits

MINOR

HB 652 was enacted as an Act to significantly expand the membership of the Oyster Task Force, adding representatives from new geographic areas (Calcasieu Lake) and new stakeholder groups (commercial fisherman organizations, the Louisiana Farm Bureau, and the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority). This change broadens the task force's scope to include a wider range of industry voices and ensures recommendations are sent to additional state agencies responsible for coastal health and energy.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from a single geographic focus (Jefferson, Lafourche, and Terrebonne Parishes) to include Calcasieu Lake and the broader state oyster industry, while also increasing the number of voting members.

ELIGIBILITY

Added new voting members representing Calcasieu Lake harvesters, United Commercial Fishermen, Delta Commercial Fishermen, the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation, and the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority.

Modified the composition of the task force by adding specific geographic requirements for Lafourche or Terrebonne Parish members and removing the previous single representative for Southwest Pass.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement that the task force make recommendations to the Department of Conservation and Energy, the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Board, the Department of Health, and the Governor's executive assistant for coastal activities.

Floor votes · Senate May 5, 2026 · House Mar 31, 2026

How they voted

37–0

Passed · 3 other

Total votes 40

May 5, 2026

D Democratic12

11 Yea 1

91% Yea

R Republican28

26 Yea 2

92% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read by title, passed by a vote of 36 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

upper

Apr 20, 2026

Committee

Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.

upper

Apr 15, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported favorably.

upper

Mar 31, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 102, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

lower

Mar 25, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported favorably (16-0-1).

lower

Mar 9, 2026

Committee

Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and Environment.

lower

Feb 27, 2026

Committee

Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and Environment.

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors