HB 688 — FISHING: Adds Atlantic tarpon to the definition of saltwater game fish
Last action — Vetoed by the Governor.
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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✓Passed House
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✓Passed Senate
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✓To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 27, 2026. Enacted.
Signed by Governor Jeff Landry (Republican) on May 28, 2026.
Odds of enactment
High chanceBased on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.
Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.
A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.
Prognosis
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Enacted
Current position in the legislative process.
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1 sponsor
1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.
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Single-party support
Sponsorship is currently within one party (1 R).
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Cleared a recorded vote
Passed 2 recorded votes so far.
Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.
In plain language
The bill adds Atlantic tarpon to the list of saltwater game fish.
This legislation amends the definition of saltwater game fish to include Atlantic tarpon. This change may affect fishing regulations and practices.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
14 added · 24 removedPlain-language change summary
The updated bill HB 688 now officially includes the Atlantic tarpon as one of the designated saltwater game fish in Louisiana. This change is important because it recognizes the Atlantic tarpon among other significant fish species, potentially impacting fishing regulations and conservation efforts in the state. The bill also clarifies the process for when it becomes effective, depending on the governor's actions.
HLSENROLLED 26RS-929 ENGROSSED Regular Session HOUSE BILL NO.
688 BY REPRESENTATIVE ORGERON FISHING:AN ACT To amend and reenact R.S.
Adds Atlantic tarpon to the definition of saltwater game fish AN ACT To amend and reenact R.S.
* * * (b) Saltwater game fish means any sailfish (Istiopharus Istiophorus platypterus), blue marlin (Makaira indica nigricans), black marlin (Makaira nigricans Istiompax indica), striped marlin (Tetrapturus Kajikia audax), hatchet marlinorroundscalespearfish(Tetrapturusspp.georgii),whitemarlin(Tetrapturus Pagealbidus 1Kajikia ofalbida), 2and CODING:red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus), and Atlantic tarpon (Megalops atlanticus).
Wordsinstruckthroughtypearedeletionsfromexistinglaw;wordsunderscored are additions.
HLS 26RS-929 ENGROSSED HB NO.
688 albidus Kajikia albida), and red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus), and Atlantic tarpon (Megalops antlanticus).
If vetoedPage bythe1 governorandof subsequentlyapprovedbythe2 legislature,CODING: this Act shall become effective on the dayfollowing such approval.
DIGESTWordsinstruckthroughtypearedeletionsfromexistinglaw;wordsunderscored ThedigestprintedbelowwaspreparedbyHouseLegislativeare Services.additions.
ItconstitutesHB nopartNO. of the legislative instrument.
The688 keyword,ENROLLED one-liner,vetoed abstract,bythe andgovernorand digestsubsequentlyapproved dobythe notlegislature, constitutethis partAct ofshall thebecome laweffective oron proofthe ordayfollowing indiciasuch ofapproval. legislative intent.
[R.S.SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA APPROVED:
1:13(B)Page and2 24:177(E)]of HB2 688CODING: Engrossed 2026 Regular Session Orgeron Abstract:
Adds Atlantic tarpon to the definition of saltwater game fish.
Present law provides definitions for freshwater and saltwater game fish.
ProposedlawretainspresentlawandaddsAtlantictarpontothedefinitionofsaltwatergame fish.
Proposed law updates the names of saltwater game fish provided for in present law.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S.
56:8(70)(b)) Page 2 of 2 CODING:
View plain text versions (3)
- Enrolled HB688 Enrolled Current pdf
- Engrossed HB688 Engrossed pdf
- HB688 Original View text pdf
Action History
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Vetoed by the Governor.
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Sent to the Governor for executive approval.
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Received from the Senate without amendments.
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Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.
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Signed by the President of the Senate.
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Read by title, passed by a vote of 35 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
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Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.
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Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
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Rules suspended. Reported favorably.
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Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources.
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Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 102, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
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Received in the Senate. Rules suspended. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.
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Scheduled for floor debate on 03/31/2026.
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Read by title, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.
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Reported favorably (14-0-1).
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Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and Environment.
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Prefiled.
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Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and Environment.
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First appeared in the Interim Calendar on 2/27/2026.
Sponsors
- Joseph A. Orgeron · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 146 not signed on
Sponsors (1)
- Joseph A. Orgeron Republican
Co-sponsors (0)
None.
Not signed on (146)
146 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 146 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Republican | 24 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Democrat | 10 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 35 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| % of votes cast | 90% | 0% | 0% | 10% |
How each member voted (39)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Mr. President | — | Yea |
| Edward J. Price | Democrat | Yea |
| Gary Carter | Democrat | Yea |
| Gerald Boudreaux | Democrat | Yea |
| Jay Luneau | Democrat | Yea |
| Jimmy Harris | Democrat | Yea |
| Katrina R. Jackson-Andrews | Democrat | Yea |
| Larry Selders | Democrat | Not Voting |
| Regina Barrow | Democrat | Yea |
| Royce Duplessis | Democrat | Yea |
| Sam Jenkins | Democrat | Yea |
| Sidney Barthelemy II | Democrat | Yea |
| Adam Bass | Republican | Yea |
| Alan Seabaugh | Republican | Yea |
| Beth Mizell | Republican | Yea |
| Blake Miguez | Republican | Yea |
| Bob Hensgens | Republican | Not Voting |
| Brach Jerad Myers | Republican | Yea |
| Caleb Kleinpeter | Republican | Yea |
| Eddie J. Lambert | Republican | Yea |
| Franklin J. Foil | Republican | Not Voting |
| Glen Womack | Republican | Yea |
| Gregory A. Miller | Republican | Yea |
| Heather Cloud | Republican | Yea |
| Jeremy Stine | Republican | Not Voting |
| John C. "Jay" Morris | Republican | Yea |
| Jr., William "Bill" Wheat | Republican | Yea |
| Kirk Talbot | Republican | Yea |
| Mark Abraham | Republican | Yea |
| Michael "Big Mike" Fesi | Republican | Yea |
| Mike Reese | Republican | Yea |
| Patrick Connick | Republican | Yea |
| Patrick McMath | Republican | Yea |
| Rick Edmonds | Republican | Yea |
| Robert "Bob" Owen | Republican | Yea |
| Robert Allain | Republican | Yea |
| Stewart Jr. Cathey | Republican | Yea |
| Thomas A. Pressly | Republican | Yea |
| Valarie Hodges | Republican | Yea |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Republican | 65 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Democrat | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 102 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| % of votes cast | 97% | 0% | 0% | 3% |
How each member voted (105)
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- Who sponsors HB 688?
- HB 688 is sponsored by Joseph A. Orgeron (Republican).
- What is the current status of HB 688?
- This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 27, 2026. Enacted.
- Where can I track HB 688?
- Track HB 688 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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