The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Louisiana establishes $100 annual wildlife management area access permit for charter fishing guides
Last action · May 22, 2026: Effective date: 05/22/2026.Sponsor: Rodney Schamerhorn
Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.
What This Bill Does
Louisiana has enacted a law establishing an optional $100 annual Charter Guide Access Permit that covers access requirements for both charter fishing guides and their clients within wildlife management areas. The measure also requires guides to submit s as designated by the commission, excluding financial information, and outlines penalties for violations.
Charter boat fishing guides operating in state s can now purchase a single $100 annual permit that covers access for themselves and all clients on for-hire trips, replacing individual access requirements.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Charter boat fishing guide licensees
Charter boat fishing guides may purchase a $100 annual access permit, must submit landing reports if requested by the commission, and face specific penalties and vessel monitoring requirements for violations.
Clients on for-hire fishing trips
Clients' wildlife management area access permit requirements are satisfied when accompanied by a guide holding the Charter Guide WMA Access Permit.
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
The department receives permit fees, collects landing reports, approves vessel monitoring systems, and receives fine payments from convicted violators.
Key Facts
- Established a Charter Guide WMA Access Permit costing one hundred dollars annually for charter boat fishing guide licensees.
- The permit satisfies wildlife management area access permit requirements for both the charter fishing guide and their clients on for-hire fishing trips.
- The permit is valid for one year, beginning January 1 and expiring December 31 of the same calendar year.
- Charter boat fishing guide licensees may be required by the commission to complete and return landing reports detailing trips, anglers, areas, and times fished.
Show all 7 facts
- Landing reports exclude financial information and are maintained as confidential.
- First-time offenders of specific provisions must pay a fine of no less than one thousand dollars to the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
- Repeat offenders face vessel monitoring system requirements for three to ten years and potential license suspension along with at least forty hours of community service.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the new Charter Guide WMA Access Permit cost?
Does the permit cover clients as well as the guide?
What information is required in the landing reports?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
20 actions- May 22, 2026HouseEnrolledSigned by the Governor. Becomes Act No. 321.
- May 22, 2026HouseEffective date: 05/22/2026.
- May 19, 2026HouseSent to the Governor for executive approval.
- May 18, 2026HouseEnrolledEnrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.
- May 18, 2026SenateEnrolledSigned by the President of the Senate.
- May 13, 2026SenateFloorRules suspended. Read by title, passed by a vote of 35 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
Show 14 earlier actions
- May 13, 2026HouseReceived from the Senate without amendments.
- May 5, 2026SenateFloorReported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.
- May 4, 2026SenateIntroducedRead by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
- Apr 29, 2026SenateCommitteeReported favorably.
- Apr 14, 2026SenateCommitteeRead second time by title and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources.
- Apr 13, 2026SenateReceived in the Senate. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.
- Apr 9, 2026HouseFloorRead third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 83, nays10. The bill, having received two-thirds vote of the elected members, was finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
- Apr 8, 2026HouseScheduled for floor debate on 04/09/2026.
- Apr 7, 2026HouseFloorRead by title, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.
- Apr 1, 2026HouseCommitteeReported favorably (10-6).
- Mar 9, 2026HouseIntroducedRead by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and Environment.
- Feb 27, 2026HousePrefiled.
- Feb 27, 2026HouseCommitteeUnder the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and Environment.
- Feb 27, 2026HouseFirst appeared in the Interim Calendar on 2/27/2026.
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
www.legis.la.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance50How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy15Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz20Current news / social attention level
Publisher tools