HB 726 Louisiana House · 2026 Regular Session

BOATS/SHIPS/VESSELS: Increases fines for abandoning vessels

HB 726 increases penalties for abandoning boats or vessels in Louisiana by doubling the fines for this specific violation. The bill directly affects boat owners who intentionally leave vessels on public property, private land without permission, or in state waters. It amends existing law to explicitly double the criminal penalties for abandoning boats or boating accessories, as outlined in Section 2531.1(A)(2). This change applies to all vessels covered under the littering statute, including boats and related equipment. The law focuses on strengthening enforcement against vessel abandonment as a form of illegal disposal.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

Jun 2026

Introduced Feb 27, 2026 Signed Jun 2, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB726 Original → HB726 Act 667 · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill updates the legislative record for HB 726, changing its status from an original draft to an enrolled Act (Act No. 667) approved by the Governor. The substantive text of the law, which doubles penalties for abandoning boats or vessels, remains unchanged, but the sponsor list was expanded to include additional representatives.

Scope change

The bill's scope and applicability remain unchanged; the law still applies to anyone who intentionally abandons a boat or vessel.

TECHNICAL

The bill's title and status were updated from 'HB 726 Original' to 'HB 726 Act No. 667' to reflect its final passage and approval.

The list of bill sponsors was expanded to include Representatives Bayham, Berault, Brass, Butler, Carrier, Carver, Cox, Devillier, Egan, Freiberg, Glorioso, Jacob Landry, Martinez, McMakin, Sawyer, Walters, Wyble, and Zeringue.

The digest section, which summarizes the bill's intent and legal basis, was removed from the final enrolled text as it is not part of the official law.

Floor votes · Senate May 26, 2026 · House Mar 30, 2026

How they voted

39–0

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 40

May 26, 2026

D Democratic12

11 Yea 1

91% Yea

R Republican28

28 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 26, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read by title, passed by a vote of 38 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

upper

Apr 20, 2026

Committee

Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.

upper

Apr 15, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported favorably.

upper

Mar 30, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 101, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

lower

Mar 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported favorably (10-0).

lower

Mar 9, 2026

Committee

Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and Environment.

lower

Feb 27, 2026

Committee

Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and Environment.

lower

1 primary · 18 co-sponsors