HB872 • 2026

FISHING/COMMERCIAL: Requires all commercial menhaden reduction fishery vessels to use an AIS system

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Jerome Zeringue
Last action: 2026-05-25
Official status: Signed by the Speaker
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Commercial Fishing Vessels Must Use AIS

This act requires commercial menhaden fishing vessels to use an automatic identification system (AIS) for tracking and communication.

What This Bill Does

Defines 'automatic identification system' as a radio-based system that tracks vessel positions, speeds, and directions.
Requires all commercial menhaden reduction fishery vessels to have and use AIS systems.
Prohibits fishing without a functioning AIS for more than two consecutive business days.
Ensures at least two vessels in a cooperative group always have functioning AIS while actively fishing.

Who It Names or Affects

Commercial menhaden reduction fishery vessel operators
Vessels engaged in commercial menhaden fishing

Terms To Know

Automatic identification system (AIS): A radio-based tracking system that allows vessels to automatically exchange data such as position, speed, and direction with other vessels, shore stations, and satellites.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify penalties for non-compliance.
It is unclear if there are exemptions or exceptions to the AIS requirement.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

Summary of Senate Amendments to HB872

Filed

Plain English: The amendment limits the requirement for commercial menhaden reduction fishery vessels to use an automatic identification system (AIS) only when actively fishing, sets a two-day limit on fishing without AIS, and requires at least two boats in a set to have functioning AIS.

Limits the requirement that purse boats must use an AIS system only when they are actively engaged in fishing.
Prohibits vessels from engaging in fishing for more than two consecutive days without a functioning AIS system.
Requires at least two cooperating vessels in a set to have functioning AIS systems.

The amendment text does not provide details on the consequences of non-compliance with these requirements.

House Committee Amendment #3351 NATR Adopted

Adopted

Plain English: HCAHB872 4563 3351 HOUSE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS 2026 Regular Session Amendments proposed by House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment to Original House Bill No.

HCAHB872 4563 3351 HOUSE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS 2026 Regular Session Amendments proposed by House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment to Original House Bill No.
872 by Representative Zeringue 1 AMENDMENT NO.
1 2 On page 1, line 2, after "325.5" and before "(D)" delete "(Section heading) and" 3 AMENDMENT NO.
2 4 On page 1, line 7, after "325.5" and before "(D)" delete "(Section heading) and" Page 1 of 1 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions.

House Committee Amendment #3280 NATR Draft

Draft

Plain English: HCAHB872 4563 3280 HOUSE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS 2026 Regular Session Amendments proposed by House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment to Original House Bill No.

HCAHB872 4563 3280 HOUSE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS 2026 Regular Session Amendments proposed by House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment to Original House Bill No.
872 by Representative Zeringue 1 AMENDMENT NO.
1 2 On page 1, line 2, after "325.5" and before "(D)" delete "(Section heading) and" 3 AMENDMENT NO.
2 4 On page 1, line 7, after "325.5" and before "(D)" delete "(Section heading) and" Page 1 of 1 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions.

House Vote on HB 872 CONCUR IN SENATE AMENDMENTS (#1436)

Filed

Plain English: The amendment requires commercial menhaden reduction fishery vessels to use an Automatic Identification System (AIS) for tracking and safety purposes.

Commercial menhaden reduction fishery vessels must now install and use an AIS system.

The official text does not provide specific details on how the AIS systems will be implemented or enforced, which limits a full explanation of the practical changes.

Senate Committee Amendment #2942 NATR Adopted

Adopted

Plain English: SCAHB872 4442 2942 SENATE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS 2026 Regular Session Amendments proposed by Senate Committee on Natural Resources to Engrossed House Bill No.

SCAHB872 4442 2942 SENATE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS 2026 Regular Session Amendments proposed by Senate Committee on Natural Resources to Engrossed House Bill No.
872 by Representative Zeringue 1 AMENDMENT NO.
1 2 On page 2, delete lines 1 through 3 and insert: 3 "D.(1) All vessels engaged in commercial menhaden reduction fishing shall 4 have installed and utilize an automatic identification system (AIS).
This requirement 5 shall apply to a carrier vessel or steamer, commonly called a mother ship, and to any 6 purse boat actively engaged in fishing.

Senate Committee Amendment #2907 NATR Draft

Draft

Plain English: SCAHB872 4442 2907 SENATE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS 2026 Regular Session Amendments proposed by Senate Committee on Natural Resources to Engrossed House Bill No.

SCAHB872 4442 2907 SENATE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS 2026 Regular Session Amendments proposed by Senate Committee on Natural Resources to Engrossed House Bill No.
872 by Representative Zeringue 1 AMENDMENT NO.
1 2 On page 2, delete lines 1 through 3 and insert: 3 "D.(1) All vessels engaged in commercial menhaden reduction fishing shall 4 have installed and utilize an automatic identification system (AIS).
This requirement 5 shall apply to a carrier vessel or steamer, commonly called a mother ship, and to any 6 purse boat actively engaged in fishing.

Bill History

2026-05-25 H
Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.
2026-05-22 H
Sent to the Governor for executive approval.
2026-05-21 S
Signed by the President of the Senate.
2026-05-20 H
Read by title, roll called, yeas 94, nays 0, Senate amendments concurred in.
2026-05-19 H
Scheduled for concurrence on 05/20/2026.
2026-05-13 H
Received from the Senate with amendments.
2026-05-13 S
Rules suspended. The amended bill was read by title, passed by a vote of 37 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
Committee amendments read and adopted. Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
2026-04-29 S
Reported with amendments.
2026-04-15 S
Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources.
2026-04-14 S
Received in the Senate. Rules suspended. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.
2026-04-14 H
Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 98, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
2026-04-13 H
Scheduled for floor debate on 04/14/2026.
2026-04-09 H
Read by title, amended, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.
2026-04-08 H
Reported with amendments (11-0).
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/COMMERCIAL: Requires all commercial menhaden reduction fishery vessels to use an AIS system

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

ENROLLED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 872
BY REPRESENTATIVE ZERINGUE
1 AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 56:8(160) and 325.5(D), relative to commercial menhaden reduction fishery
3 vessels; to require vessels to use automatic identification systems; to provide
4 definitions; to direct the Louisiana State Law Institute to organize and renumber
5 certain definitions; and to provide for related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 56:8(160) and 325.5(D) are hereby enacted 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 (160) "Automatic identification system" means a very high frequency (VHF)
14 radio-based tracking system that allows vessels to automatically exchange data, such
15 as position, speed, and heading, with other vessels, shore stations, and satellites.
16 * * *
17 §325.5. Commercial menhaden; harvest reporting; automatic identification system
18 * * *
19 D.(1) All vessels engaged in commercial menhaden reduction fishing shall
20 have installed and utilize an automatic identification system (AIS). This requirement
21 shall apply to a carrier vessel or steamer, commonly called a mother ship, and to any
22 purse boat actively engaged in fishing.
Page 1 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HB NO. 872 ENROLLED
1 (2) No vessel that is required to utilize an AIS under this Paragraph shall
2 engage in fishing without a functioning AIS for more than two consecutive business
3 days. For a group of vessels cooperating on a set as defined in R.S. 56:325.5, the AIS
4 of at least two vessels shall be functioning at all times while actively engaged in
5 fishing.
6 Section 2. The Louisiana State Law Institute is hereby authorized and directed to
7 alphabetize and renumber the definitions contained in R.S. 56:8 and to correct any
8 cross-references to the renumbered Paragraphs if necessary, consistent with the provisions
9 of this Act.
10 Section 3. This Act shall become effective on April 19, 2027.
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.