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 resolution directs Louisiana's Board of Regents to conduct a rigorous, peer-reviewed study on how mixing carbon dioxide from industrial sources and direct air capture could impact the state's water supply and ecology. The study must analyze risks such as groundwater contamination and rock interactions using real data from current well permits rather than hypothetical scenarios. It also requires evaluating whether existing regulations are sufficient to protect the environment and offering specific recommendations for improvement if gaps are found. The Board of Regents must submit an initial report by January 2027, an interim analysis by June 2027, and a final comprehensive report by June 2028 to the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment.
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.
This bill amends Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries rules to update regulations for managing Chronic Wasting Disease in deer populations. It establishes specific management zones around infected areas, prohibiting supplemental feeding and baiting in the inner zone while allowing it under strict conditions in the outer buffer zone. The legislation also defines clear procedures for creating, modifying, or removing these zones based on surveillance results and requires the use of identifiable boundaries like roads and waterways.
This resolution asks state agencies and local governments in Ouachita Parish to study how to combine their trash collection, debris removal, and disaster cleanup services into one unified system. The study will look at ways to save money, handle storm debris more efficiently after natural disasters, and build better long-term infrastructure like landfills and recycling centers. Specific areas of focus include creating a single billing system, setting up pre-planned cleanup contracts, and exploring partnerships with private companies to fund these improvements. The involved agencies must work together to complete this analysis and submit a final report with their findings and recommendations to the state legislature by December 1, 2026.
HB 835 establishes an annual $100 charter guide permit for fishing guides operating within Louisiana's Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs). This permit replaces individual access permits for both the guide and their paying clients during for-hire fishing trips. Guides must submit confidential landing reports detailing trips, anglers, and fishing locations to the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, but financial data is excluded. Violations of the permit or reporting rules carry fines starting at $1,000 or require vessel monitoring systems for repeat offenses, with license suspension possible for non-compliance. The bill directly affects commercial fishing guides conducting trips in WMAs.
HB 757 prohibits commercial fishing for menhaden (a small fish used in fish oil and feed) within Louisiana waters designated by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. It directly affects commercial fishers, vessels, and businesses involved in menhaden harvesting. The bill establishes strict liability (meaning violators are responsible without proof of intent) and imposes escalating penalties: $50,000 for a first offense, license revocation for up to 365 days for repeated violations, and permanent license loss after a fourth violation. These penalties apply to individuals or businesses operating commercial fishing vessels in prohibited zones.
HB 858 exempts GPS location data collected by Louisiana's Department of Wildlife and Fisheries on individual wildlife and aquatic animals from public records disclosure. The bill amends state law to explicitly exclude this specific data from being released under public records requests. This directly affects the department's ability to share such data with the public, while protecting the precise locations of individual animals from potential misuse. The key provision prevents the release of GPS information that could reveal where specific animals are located.
