Read the full stored bill text
ENROLLED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 835
BY REPRESENTATIVE SCHAMERHORN
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 56:302.9(H) through (J) and to enact R.S. 56:302.9(K), relative
3 to charter guide wildlife management area access permits; to create an annual charter
4 guide wildlife management area access permit; to establish a fee for the permit; to
5 provide for the privileges conveyed by the permit; to provide for an effective date;
6 and to provide for related matters.
7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 56:302.9(H) through (J) are hereby amended and reenacted and R.S.
9 56:302.9(K) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
10 §302.9. Charter boat fishing guide license; nonresident fee
11 * * *
12 H. A charter boat fishing guide licensee performing for-hire fishing guide
13 activity within a wildlife management area may purchase a Charter Guide WMA
14 Access Permit. This permit satisfies the wildlife management area access permit
15 requirements for the charter fishing guide and his clients when engaged in a for-hire
16 fishing trip within a wildlife management area. The fee for the Charter Guide WMA
17 Access Permit shall be one hundred dollars. The permit is valid for one year,
18 beginning on January first of each calendar year and expiring on December
19 thirty-first of the same calendar year.
20 I. Each charter boat fishing guide licensee may complete a landing report and
21 return the report to the department at the time and manner designated by the
22 commission. The commission shall establish the information to be provided in the
Page 1 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HB NO. 835 ENROLLED
1 landing report by the charter boat fishing guide licensee. The landing report may
2 include information on the number of trips taken, number of anglers fishing on a trip,
3 area fished, time fished, trip origin, any information determined by the commission
4 to be necessary to properly manage the fishery resource of the state, and any
5 information required by the commission to prepare stock assessments. However, the
6 commission shall not request any financial information. The information provided
7 by a licensee shall be maintained as confidential in accordance with R.S. 56:301.4.
8 The commission shall adopt rules and regulations in accordance with the
9 Administrative Procedure Act to implement the provisions of this Subsection.
10 I. Except for Subsection H, a violation of any provision of this Section shall
11 constitute a class four violation, R.S. 56:34.
12 J. Penalties.
13 (1) Except for Subsection I of this Section, a violation of any provision of
14 this Section shall constitute a class four violation subject to the penalties of R.S.
15 56:34.
16 (2) In addition to any other penalty provided for in this Section, for any
17 person convicted of a first offense of violating Subsection A or B of this Section, the
18 offender shall pay a fine of no less than one thousand dollars to the Department of
19 Wildlife and Fisheries. For any person convicted of a second offense of violating
20 Subsection A or B of this Section, the offender may only operate a vessel that
21 employs a vessel monitoring system for the three years after the date of the
22 conviction. For any person convicted of a third or subsequent offense of violating
23 Subsection A or B of this Section, the offender may only operate a vessel that
24 employs a vessel monitoring system for ten years after the date of the conviction.
25 (2) (3) Whenever an offender is required to employ a vessel monitoring
26 system, access to the monitoring system shall be granted to the department, and the
27 offender shall notify the department on which vessel or vessels the offender will be
28 operating for commercial or recreational use. Any person required to be on board
29 a vessel with an approved vessel monitoring system shall comply with all rules and
30 regulations promulgated by the department or the commission to ensure compliance
Page 2 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HB NO. 835 ENROLLED
1 with vessel monitoring system requirements. The cost of a vessel monitoring system
2 shall be the responsibility of the offender. The department shall approve the vessel
3 monitoring system for use pursuant to this Section.
4 (3) (4) Any charter guide or individual posing as a charter guide required to
5 operate a vessel with an approved vessel monitoring system who is found operating
6 any vessel that is not equipped with such a system, for commercial or recreational
7 purposes, may have their charter guide license suspended and may be prohibited
8 from obtaining such a license for the remainder of the year in which the person was
9 found not abiding by the vessel monitoring requirement. In addition, the violator
10 shall be sentenced to perform no less than forty hours of community service. If
11 available, the hours shall be served in a litter abatement community service program.
12 (4) K. The department shall adopt rules and regulations in accordance with
13 the Administrative Procedure Act to implement the provisions of this Section.
14 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
15 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
16 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
17 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
18 effective on the day following such approval.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
Page 3 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.