HB889 • 2026

FISHING/OYSTERS: Provides relative to bulk tagging of oysters

Enacted

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

Sponsor: Joseph Orgeron
Last action: 2026-05-22
Official status: Signed by the Governor - Act 324
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and digest text do not provide specific details on how bulk tagging will be implemented or what information must be included on tags beyond departmental requirements.

Bulk Tagging for Oysters

This act amends Louisiana's laws to allow bulk tagging of oysters during alternative cultivation methods, requiring tags to include information from health and wildlife departments.

What This Bill Does

Amends the law to permit a single tag representing all oysters on board a vessel when using alternative oyster cultivation methods.
Requires that tags include information required by both the Louisiana Department of Health and the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

Who It Names or Affects

Fishermen who harvest and sell oysters in Louisiana waters
The Louisiana Department of Health and the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

Terms To Know

Bulk tagging: Using one tag to represent a large number of oysters instead of individual tags for each.
Alternative cultivation methods: New ways of growing and harvesting oysters that are different from traditional methods.

Limits and Unknowns

The act does not specify the exact details of how bulk tagging will be implemented.
It is unclear what specific information must be included on the tags beyond what departments require.

Bill History

2026-05-22 H
Effective date: 08/01/2026.
2026-05-22 H
Signed by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 324.
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 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
Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
2026-04-29 S
Reported favorably.
2026-04-07 S
Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources.
2026-04-01 S
Received in the Senate. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.
2026-04-01 H
Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 96, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
2026-03-30 H
Scheduled for floor debate on 04/01/2026.
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

FISHING/OYSTERS: Provides relative to bulk tagging of oysters

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

ENROLLED
ACT No. 3242026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 889
BY REPRESENTATIVE ORGERON
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 56:449(C), relative to tagging of oysters; to establish a tag for
3 bulk harvesting for alternative oyster cultivation; and to provide for related matters.
4 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
5 Section 1. R.S. 56:449(C) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
6 §449. Tags; distribution; use; containers; penalties
7 * * *
8 C.(1) All oysters and other molluscan species taken from Louisiana waters
9 for sale which are sacked or otherwise containerized while in the shell and on board
10 a fisherman's vessel shall be tagged prior to removal from the vessel. The tag shall
11 include all information required by the Louisiana Department of Health, office of
12 public health, and the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. All oysters and other
13 molluscan species which are to be sacked or otherwise containerized while in the
14 shell at dockside shall be containerized and tagged immediately upon arrival at the
15 dock prior to shipment.
16 (2) The department shall establish a bulk tagging process to be utilized for
17 alternative oyster cultivation. The bulk tag may be utilized to represent all oysters
18 on board the vessel between the harvest area and the dockside facility. The tag shall
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HB NO. 889 ENROLLED
1 include all information required by the Louisiana Department of Health, office of
2 public health, and the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
3 * * *
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.