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HB1171 • 2026
WILDLIFE/MGT AREAS: Authorizes the use of airboats in the Maurepas Swamp Wildlife Management Area
WILDLIFE/MGT AREAS: Authorizes the use of airboats in the Maurepas Swamp Wildlife Management Area
Energy
Passed Legislature
This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.
- Sponsor
- Shane Mack
- Last action
- 2026-05-06
- Official status
- Pending Senate Natural Resources - Considered 5/21/26
- Effective date
- Not listed
Plain English Breakdown
The bill summary and digest do not provide information about the exact impact of allowing airboat use on wildlife or visitors.
Using Airboats in Maurepas Swamp Wildlife Management Area
This bill allows the use of airboats in the Maurepas Swamp Wildlife Management Area.
What This Bill Does
- Allows the use of airboats in the Maurepas Swamp Wildlife Management Area.
- Repeals old rules that stopped airboat use in this area since 2019.
Who It Names or Affects
- People who want to use airboats in the Maurepas Swamp Wildlife Management Area.
- The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries which manages this area.
Terms To Know
- Maurepas Swamp Wildlife Management Area
- A protected wildlife area where specific rules apply to help manage and protect the environment.
- Airboats
- Boats with propellers that can move on both land and water, often used in swampy areas.
Limits and Unknowns
- The bill does not create new rules for airboat use but relies on existing regulations.
- It is unclear what specific impacts this change will have on wildlife or visitors to the area.
Amendments
These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.
Plain English: The amendment adds new rules for airboats in the Maurepas Swamp Wildlife Management Area, including operating restrictions and noise reduction requirements.
- Adds specific time limits and location restrictions for airboat use from March 1 to September 1 each year within designated areas like pipeline rights-of-way and sloughs.
- Requires airboats to have equipment that reduces engine noise, such as automotive-style mufflers or underwater exhaust systems.
- The amendment text does not specify all the details of operating restrictions, leaving some aspects unclear.
Bill History
-
2026-05-06
S
Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources.
-
2026-05-05
S
Received in the Senate. Rules suspended. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.
-
2026-05-05
H
Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 92, nays 2. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
-
2026-04-29
H
Scheduled for floor debate on 05/05/2026.
-
2026-04-29
H
Read by title, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.
-
2026-04-28
H
Reported favorably (13-2).
-
2026-04-01
H
Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and Environment.
-
2026-03-31
H
Read by title. Lies over under the rules.
Official Summary Text
WILDLIFE/MGT AREAS: Authorizes the use of airboats in the Maurepas Swamp Wildlife Management Area
Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
HLS 26RS-1906 ENGROSSED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 1171
BY REPRESENTATIVE MACK
WILDLIFE/MGT AREAS: Authorizes the use of airboats in the Maurepas Swamp Wildlife
Management Area
1 AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 56:109.5 and to repeal R.S. 56:109.4, relative to the use of airboats; to provide
3 for the use of airboats within the Maurepas Swamp Wildlife Management Area; and
4 to provide for related matters.
5 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 56:109.5 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
7 §109.5. Use of airboats on the Maurepas Swamp Wildlife Management Area
8 Use of airboats within the Maurepas Swamp Wildlife Management Area shall
9 be permitted.
10 Section 2. R.S. 56:109.4 is hereby repealed in its entirety.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 1171 Engrossed 2026 Regular Session Mack
Abstract: Provides for the use of airboats within the Maurepas Swamp Wildlife
Management Area.
Proposed law permits the use of airboats within the Maurepas Swamp Wildlife Management
Area.
Proposed law repeals the provisions in present law which terminated in 2019 permitting the
use of airboats in the Maurepas Swamp Wildlife Management Area on airboat trails and
providing for promulgation of rules and regulations and for violations.
(Adds R.S. 56:109.5; Repeals R.S. 56:109.4)
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.