WILDLIFE & FISHERIES: Provides for charter boat fishing guide licenses

HLS 26RS-1911 REENGROSSED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 1189
BY REPRESENTATIVE BRYANT
WILDLIFE & FISHERIES: Provides for charter boat fishing guide licenses
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 56:302.9(A)(1)(b) and (3), relative to charter boat fishing guides;
3 to require that freshwater charter boat fishing guides obtain a United States Coast
4 Guard captain's license if operating on waters of the United States located in
5 Louisiana; and to provide for related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 56:302.9(A)(1)(b) and (3) are hereby amended and reenacted to read
8 as follows:
9 §302.9. Charter boat fishing guide license; nonresident fee
10 A.(1)
11 * * *
12 (b)(i) No person shall act as or represent himself to be a freshwater charter
13 boat fishing guide unless that person possesses a valid state charter boat fishing
14 guide license, proof of commercial marine insurance, and a valid state recreational
15 fishing license that grants fishing privileges appropriate for his charter activity. In
16 addition, any person acting as a freshwater charter boat fishing guide who is in
17 charge of the operation of a vessel shall have his required licenses and proof of
18 commercial marine insurance on his person while on the water. It shall not be a
19 violation of this Section for a person to represent himself as a charter boat fishing
20 guide if that person held a valid license during the previous thirty days but has not
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-1911 REENGROSSED
HB NO. 1189
1 renewed the license. The department shall provide written notification to the holder
2 of a license issued pursuant to this Subparagraph that the holder may be subject to
3 other requirements of law, including holding a valid captain's license issued by the
4 United States Coast Guard.
5 (ii) A freshwater charter boat fishing guide, if operating on waters of the
6 United States located in Louisiana, shall possess a valid captain's license issued by
7 the United States Coast Guard.
8 * * *
9 (3) The nonresident charter boat fishing guide license shall be available only
10 from the Baton Rouge office of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Such
11 licenses shall be issued on a consignment basis, and no agent fees shall apply. A
12 nonresident saltwater charter boat fishing guide license shall be made available only
13 to those persons who possess a valid captain's license issued by the United States
14 Coast Guard.
15 * * *
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 1189 Reengrossed 2026 Regular Session Bryant
Abstract: Requires freshwater charter boat fishing guides to have a United States Coast
Guard captain's license in addition to the state charter boat fishing guide license if
operating on waters of the United States located in La.
Present law requires charter boat fishing guides to have a charter boat fishing guide license,
proof of commercial marine insurance, and a state recreational fishing license.
Present law further requires that the Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries provided written notice
to freshwater charter boat fishing guides that they may be subject to other legal
requirements, including holding a U.S. Coast Guard captain's license.
Proposed law provides that freshwater charter boat fishing guides must have a valid captain's
license issued by the U.S. Coast Guard if operating on waters of the U.S. located in La.
Present law requires a nonresident saltwater charter boat fishing guide license be available
only to individuals possessing a valid captain's license issued by the U.S. Coast Guard.
Proposed law modifies present law by changing the reference from a nonresident saltwater
charter boat fishing guide license to a nonresident charter boat fishing guide license.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-1911 REENGROSSED
HB NO. 1189
(Amends R.S. 56:302.9(A)(1)(b) and (3))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The House Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill:
1. Limit the requirement for freshwater charter boat fishing guide's to possess a
valid captain's license issued by the United States Coast Guard to apply if the
guide is operating in United States waters located within La.
2. Make technical changes.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.