HB 653 Louisiana House · 2026 Regular Session

SEAFOOD: Provides for membership of the Oyster Task Force

HB 653 adds two members appointed by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry to the existing Oyster Task Force, increasing its membership from 15 to 17. The bill also explicitly requires the task force to make recommendations about the oyster industry to the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, in addition to other agencies like the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. This directly affects oyster industry stakeholders - including dealers, growers, associations, and coastal parishes - who participate in the task force’s work. The change aims to strengthen the Department of Agriculture and Forestry’s role in shaping oyster industry policy through the task force’s recommendations.

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

HB653 Original → HB653 Act · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to remove the provision adding two new members to the Oyster Task Force appointed by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry. Instead, the final version focuses on reorganizing existing task force membership categories and updating the list of state agencies that receive recommendations from the task force. This change shifts the bill's focus from expanding the task force's composition to refining its operational structure and reporting requirements.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed by removing the specific mandate to add new members to the task force, while retaining the requirement for the task force to provide recommendations to state agencies.

ELIGIBILITY

Removed the requirement to add two new members to the Oyster Task Force appointed by the commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Forestry.

REQUIREMENT

Reorganized the specific membership categories within the task force, changing the numbering and descriptions of appointing bodies for various associations and organizations.

Updated the list of state agencies and entities that receive recommendations from the task force to include additional bodies such as the Department of Conservation and Energy and the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Board.

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 94, nays 5. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

lower

Mar 25, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported with amendments (15-0-1).

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