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Committee backs bills to expand Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission amid federation opposition
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Summary
The committee reported constitutional amendment SB249 and companion statute SB296 favorably March 25; sponsor Senator Kleinpeter said expansion will improve basin representation, while the Louisiana Wildlife Federation opposed the changes citing concerns about concurrency with the governor and loss of experience.
The Senate Committee on Natural Resources on March 25 reported favorably two measures to increase the membership of the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission: constitutional amendment SB249 and its implementing statute SB296. Both were read into the record and reported favorably with no objection.
Sponsor Senator Kleinpeter said the commission’s current seven‑member structure underrepresents basin areas and proposed expanding membership from seven to nine to give broader regional representation. "I'm adding two members going from seven to nine," Kleinpeter said, and explained that the bill also adjusts the mix of positions that serve terms concurrent with the governor versus those that do not.
Opposition testimony: Rick Owens, testifying for the Louisiana Wildlife Federation, urged the committee to preserve the commission’s current composition. "The current commission has been...and while not perfect, has done a good job at providing a balance to the current framework," Owens said, expressing particular concern that making a majority of positions concurrent with the governor could produce excessive turnover and reduce institutional knowledge.
Kleinpeter responded that many boards are not constitutionally protected and that expanding the commission would enable basin representation and more effective local input. The committee chair moved for favorable passage of SB249 and SB296; with no objection, both were reported favorably and will proceed for further legislative consideration.
What the bills do: SB249 is a constitutional amendment to expand the commission’s membership; SB296 is the statutory change that would take effect if voters approve the amendment. The committee record shows at least one green‑card supporter offered information and one recorded public witness (Rick Owens) spoke in opposition; no roll‑call votes were recorded in committee minutes — both items advanced on voice/no‑objection motions.
Ending: Both measures were reported favorably by the committee and will move forward in the legislative process. Testimony and the text of the bills are part of the committee record and will be available through Senate clerks and bill files.
