This bill proposes to memorialize Congress to authorize and fully fund the Mississippi River Basin Fishery Commission Act. It includes minor text corrections to ensure grammatical accuracy and consistent spelling within the document. The measure is currently in the legislative process, having been adopted by the Senate and sent to the House for further consideration.
This Louisiana bill allows licensed wildlife rehabilitators to legally possess and care for white-tailed deer under specific health and containment rules. It establishes strict protocols for Chronic Wasting Disease, requiring that deer originating from infected zones be released only within the same area and mandating euthanasia if symptoms appear. Additionally, the law prohibits rehabilitating deer that show signs of disease, human habituation, or originate from outside the state. The legislation also sets minimum enclosure sizes and construction standards while requiring advance notice before releasing animals without any identifying tags.
SB 189 prohibits intentionally releasing chemicals into Louisiana's atmosphere - through methods like burning fuel - to directly affect temperature, weather, climate, or sunlight. It applies to anyone conducting such releases within the state for these specific purposes. The bill explicitly excludes fire retardants or agricultural applications (seeds, fertilizers, pesticides) when used below 1,000 feet above ground. The bill is currently prefiled for the 2026 legislative session and has not yet been debated or voted on.
HB 802 establishes Louisiana's Watershed Restoration and Conservation Fund to support the cleanup and long-term management of lands and watersheds damaged by sand and gravel mining operations, with priority for flood-prone areas. The fund is financed by 100% of sand and gravel severance tax revenues (after constitutional allocations) plus donations, and it can only provide grants to legally created watershed entities that manage flood risks and have local representation. These eligible groups must maintain approved master plans, have floodplain management authority, and include experts in water resources. The fund requires annual reports to natural resources committees detailing how money is spent. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.
SB 111 sets daily catch limits and minimum size requirements for recreational fishing of black bass and crappie in a defined area of south-central Louisiana. It prohibits taking more than five black bass (each at least 14 inches long) or 25 crappie (each at least 8 inches long) in a single day within specified boundaries south of US 190, east of the levee, and north of US 90. The bill directly affects recreational anglers fishing in that geographic region and prohibits possessing finfish filets. These changes would become effective August 1, 2026.
HB 872 requires all commercial vessels engaged in menhaden reduction fishing (including carrier vessels, steamers, and purse boats) to install and use an automatic identification system (AIS). The AIS is a tracking system that automatically shares a vessel's location, speed, and heading with other ships, shore stations, and satellites. This bill directly affects commercial fishing operations harvesting menhaden for processing into products like fish meal or oil. The law mandates this technology to improve vessel tracking and safety in Louisiana waters, with no exemptions specified for the covered vessel types.
HB 665 prohibits the use of hoop nets and seines (specific types of fishing gear) in North Pass and Manchac Pass, from Interstate 55 to Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana. This law directly affects commercial and recreational fishermen operating in those waterways. The key provision bans these gear types within the defined geographic boundaries specified in the bill. The legislation aims to manage fishing practices in these specific coastal areas, though it does not specify the underlying reasons for the prohibition.
This concurrent resolution asks the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to study whether it is possible to add hunting, conservation, and shooting sports classes to public school curricula for students in grades five through twelve. The study, which must be completed by March 1, 2027, will explore how these courses could fit into existing physical education programs or be offered as electives, covering topics like firearm safety, wildlife identification, and outdoor survival skills. The bill also considers whether completing such a course could lead to official Hunter Education Certification for students. Ultimately, the resolution directs the state education board and the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to investigate this idea and report their findings to the state legislature.
This bill asks the Federal Emergency Management Agency to update how often it reviews flood maps in Louisiana. It specifically urges FEMA to consider the state's recent investments in levees and other flood protection measures when calculating flood risks under its new Risk Rating 2.0 system. The goal is to ensure that these improvements are recognized, which could lead to fairer flood insurance rates for residents and businesses in the area.
This bill is a concurrent resolution that expresses the Louisiana Legislature's support for a formal study requested by Senator John N. Kennedy. The study is directed at the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to investigate how land use changes and habitat loss impact migratory waterfowl behavior and populations within the Mississippi Flyway. Specifically, the resolution asks the federal agency to examine variables affecting waterfowl winter distributions, breeding patterns, and related economic outcomes in response to observed population declines in Louisiana. The primary effect of the bill is to formally endorse the request for this research rather than to enact new laws or regulations.
