HB857 • 2026

SEAFOOD: Provides for labeling of commingled imported and domestic seafood

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Timothy P. Kerner
Last action: 2026-05-22
Official status: Signed by the Governor - Act 323
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Seafood Labeling Law

This law requires seafood processors and distributors to label mixed imported and domestic seafood clearly, with penalties for mislabeling.

What This Bill Does

Requires seafood processors and distributors to provide information about testing done in the country of origin or upon arrival in the United States if requested by a department.
Allows the department to test seafood if there is reason to believe it might be imported but labeled as domestic.
Imposes penalties on commercial seafood processors or distributors who mislabel imported seafood as domestic.

Who It Names or Affects

Seafood processors and distributors in Louisiana
The state department responsible for overseeing seafood testing

Terms To Know

Commingled seafood: A mix of imported and domestic seafood that is combined together.
Civil penalties: Fines or other punishments for breaking a law, but not criminal charges.

Limits and Unknowns

The specific details about the civil penalties are not provided in the summary.
It is unclear how strictly this will be enforced and what the exact consequences might be for non-compliance.

Bill History

2026-05-22 H
Effective date: 08/01/2026.
2026-05-22 H
Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 323.
2026-05-19 H
Sent to the Governor for executive approval.
2026-05-18 S
Signed by the President of the Senate.
2026-05-18 H
Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.
2026-05-13 H
Received from the Senate without amendments.
2026-05-13 S
Rules suspended. Read by title, passed by a vote of 36 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
2026-05-05 S
Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.
2026-05-04 S
Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
2026-04-29 S
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 (15-0-1).
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

SEAFOOD: Provides for labeling of commingled imported and domestic seafood

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

ENROLLED
ACT No. 3232026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 857
BY REPRESENTATIVE KERNER
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 3:4749.2(B)(introductory paragraph) and (1) and
3 (D)(introductory paragraph), relative to imported seafood; to require labeling of
4 commingled seafood; to provide penalties for commingled seafood labeled as
5 domestic; and to provide for related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 3:4749.2(B)(introductory paragraph) and (1) and (D)(introductory
8 paragraph) are hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
9 §4749.2. Imported seafood; testing; penalties
10 * * *
11 B. Upon request of the department, the The processor or distributor shall:
12 (1) Provide any information, if available, on whether the seafood has
13 previously been tested in the country of origin or upon arrival in the United States
14 upon request of the department.
15 * * *
16 D. If the department has reason to believe a commercial seafood processor
17 or distributor is processing or distributing imported or commingled seafood packed
18 or labeled as domestic seafood, the department may test the seafood to ensure the
Page 1 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HB NO. 857 ENROLLED
1 seafood is domestic. If the seafood is not domestic, the department may assess the
2 following civil penalties on the commercial seafood processor or distributor:
3 * * *
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
Page 2 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.