FISHING: Adds Atlantic tarpon to the definition of saltwater game fish

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Joseph Orgeron
Last action: 2026-05-29
Official status: Sent to Governor
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Adding Atlantic Tarpon to Saltwater Game Fish

This bill adds the Atlantic tarpon to the list of saltwater game fish in Louisiana.

What This Bill Does

Adds the Atlantic tarpon to the definition of saltwater game fish.
Updates the names and classifications for certain saltwater game fish.
Specifies that the new law will take effect after it is signed by the governor or if not signed, after a set period.

Who It Names or Affects

Fishermen who catch Atlantic tarpon in Louisiana waters.
State agencies responsible for managing and regulating fishing activities.

Terms To Know

Saltwater game fish: A type of fish that is considered a sport fish caught in saltwater, often regulated by the state.
Effective date: The date when a new law or regulation begins to be enforced.

Limits and Unknowns

It does not specify how fishing regulations for Atlantic tarpon will change.
The exact effective date depends on the governor's signature or lack thereof.

Bill History

2026-05-29 H
Sent to the Governor for executive approval.
2026-05-28 S
Signed by the President of the Senate.
2026-05-28 H
Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.
2026-05-28 H
Received from the Senate without amendments.
2026-05-27 S
Read by title, passed by a vote of 35 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
2026-05-26 S
Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.
2026-05-25 S
Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
2026-05-21 S
Rules suspended. Reported favorably.
2026-04-01 S
Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources.
2026-03-31 S
Received in the Senate. Rules suspended. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.
2026-03-31 H
Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 102, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
2026-03-30 H
Scheduled for floor debate on 03/31/2026.
2026-03-26 H
Read by title, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.
2026-03-25 H
Reported favorably (14-0-1).
2026-03-09 H
Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and Environment.
2026-02-27 H
First appeared in the Interim Calendar on 2/27/2026.
2026-02-27 H
Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and Environment.
2026-02-27 H
Prefiled.

Official Summary Text

FISHING: Adds Atlantic tarpon to the definition of saltwater game fish

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

ENROLLED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 688
BY REPRESENTATIVE ORGERON
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 56:8(70)(b), relative to saltwater game fish; to add Atlantic
3 tarpon to the definition of saltwater game fish; to update the names of certain
4 saltwater game fish; to provide for an effective date; and to provide for related
5 matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 56:8(70)(b) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
8 §8. Definitions
9 For purposes of this Chapter, the following words and phrases have the
10 meaning ascribed to them in this Section, unless the context clearly shows a different
11 meaning:
12 * * *
13 (70) "Game fish" means all of the following species of freshwater and
14 saltwater fish:
15 * * *
16 (b) Saltwater game fish means any sailfish (Istiopharus Istiophorus
17 platypterus), blue marlin (Makaira indica nigricans), black marlin (Makaira
18 nigricans Istiompax indica), striped marlin (Tetrapturus Kajikia audax), hatchet
19 marlin or roundscale spearfish (Tetrapturus spp. georgii), white marlin (Tetrapturus
20 albidus Kajikia albida), and red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus), and Atlantic tarpon
21 (Megalops atlanticus).
22 * * *
23 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
24 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
25 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
Page 1 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HB NO. 688 ENROLLED
1 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
2 effective on the day following such approval.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.