House Natural Resources committee reports dozens of bills favorable, advances fisheries and wildlife measures

The Louisiana House Natural Resources Committee on May 11 reported a broad package of bills favorable, moving a set of Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and coastal measures forward while deferring others for further work.

The committee reported favorable motions on several local property-transfer bills, including Senate Bill 229 (Bossier Parish) and SB 71 (Lafayette Parish), both described by sponsors as transfers of surplus state property to support local redevelopment. Chair of the committee confirmed the routine voice votes and recorded the measures as reported favorable.

Lawmakers also moved a string of fisheries and vessel-related bills. Senate Bill 203 clarifies possession rules for fish taken on multiday remote camps, allowing fishermen to demonstrate launch from the south-of-190 corridor in lieu of retaining a boat-launch receipt. Senate Bill 429 establishes an administrative pathway for registration of motorboats that have been unregistered for at least five years. The committee also advanced SB 204, removing a residency-based prohibition on certain commercial gear licenses, SB 205, which eases duplicate state registration for federally documented vessels (estimated revenue loss about $15,000), and SB 213, which tightens titling rules for vessels and outboard motors to reduce ownership disputes.

On wildlife issues, the panel adopted a substitute for House Bill 662 codifying department procedures for seized sick, injured or orphaned wildlife; the statute establishes a hierarchy of dispositions (return to the wild, rehabilitation, placement, euthanasia as last resort) and requires euthanasia to follow current American Veterinary Medical Association guidelines.

The committee also took up health and safety measures. Senate Bill 274, which updates lead-hazard risk assessments for early learning centers and other child-occupied facilities and requires results to be submitted to state agencies, passed as amended with technical clarifications from the Department of Environmental Quality and Department of Health.

Two high-profile items were voluntarily deferred: HR 216, Representative Owen’s resolution to repudiate the 2022 Louisiana Climate Action Plan, was deferred after extended debate and public comment and the author agreed to return with a proposal for a hearing; and HB 890, which would require additional sediment and water-bottom analysis for coastal-use permits in Lake Maurepas and Lake Pontchartrain, was set aside so the sponsor and the Department of Conservation and Energy can continue negotiations.

What’s next: Most reported bills will proceed to the House floor and other committees as required by legislative rules; deferred items will return after staff work and further consultation with affected agencies. The committee did not take final floor votes on the deferred items during this session’s hearing.

Quotes: "This is just taking care of technical issues and helping people get registered and back into commerce," said Cole Garrett, general counsel for Wildlife and Fisheries, describing several department-backed vessel bills. "We have an obligation to try to reduce government on the citizens of the state," Garrett added about SB 205’s registration change.

The committee recessed after reading in late support cards and adjourning without opposition.