SCR 24 Louisiana Senate · 2026 Regular Session

WILDLIFE/FISHERIES DEPT: Amends rules relative to chronic wasting disease.

This bill amends Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries rules to update regulations for managing Chronic Wasting Disease in deer populations. It establishes specific management zones around infected areas, prohibiting supplemental feeding and baiting in the inner zone while allowing it under strict conditions in the outer buffer zone. The legislation also defines clear procedures for creating, modifying, or removing these zones based on surveillance results and requires the use of identifiable boundaries like roads and waterways.

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2026

Committee Review

May 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Governor

Introduced Mar 31, 2026 Last action May 25, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

SCR24 Engrossed → SCR24 Enrolled · 5 edits · May 20, 2026

MODERATE

This bill updates the rules for managing Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Louisiana by clarifying definitions, expanding the list of affected parishes, and adjusting restrictions on feeding and baiting within specific disease zones. The changes aim to balance disease containment with the economic and cultural importance of deer hunting by allowing more flexibility in certain areas while maintaining strict controls in high-risk zones.

Scope change

The geographic scope of the CWD Control Area was updated to include additional parishes (Avoyelles, Caldwell, Catahoula, Concordia, East Carroll, Franklin, Jackson, LaSalle, Lincoln, Madison, Morehouse, Ouachita, Pointe Coupee, Rapides, Richland, Tensas, and Union), and the definition of the Control Area now explicitly includes both a 5-mile and 15-mile zone from confirmed cases.

DEFINITION

Updated the definition of 'Control Area' to specify it consists of both a 5-mile and 15-mile zone from confirmed CWD-positive deer, replacing the previous vague reference to an infectious zone and buffer.

Added new definitions for 'Apparent prevalence', 'Cervid', 'Chronic Wasting Disease', 'Control Area', 'CWD management zone', '5-mile zone', '15-mile zone', 'Supplemental feed/bait', 'Surveillance goal', and 'Surveillance season'.

Refined the definition of 'Supplemental feed/bait' to explicitly include salt, grain, or other feed that could serve as a lure or attractant for wild animals via ingestion.

REQUIREMENT

Clarified that supplemental feeding and baiting are prohibited specifically within the 'Enhanced Mitigation Zone' of the Control Area, while allowing it under certain conditions in the 'Buffer Zone'.

SCOPE

Expanded the list of parishes comprising the CWD Control Area to include Avoyelles, Caldwell, Catahoula, Concordia, East Carroll, Franklin, Jackson, LaSalle, Lincoln, Madison, Morehouse, Ouachita, Pointe Coupee, Rapides, Richland, Tensas, and Union.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 21, 2026 · House May 13, 2026

How they voted

37–0

Passed · 3 other

Total votes 40

Apr 21, 2026

D Democratic12

10 Yea 2

83% Yea

R Republican28

27 Yea 1

96% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 19, 2026

Upper · Passed

Amendments proposed by the House read and concurred in by a vote of 34 yeas and 0 nays.

upper

May 13, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read by title, concurred in by vote of 81 yeas, 0 nays.

lower

May 7, 2026

Introduced

Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.

lower

May 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported with amendments. (10-0) Referred to the Legislative Bureau.

lower

Apr 22, 2026

Committee

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

lower

Apr 21, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read by title, passed by a vote of 36 yeas and 0 nays, and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

upper

Apr 15, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported favorably.

upper

Mar 31, 2026

Introduced

Rules suspended. Introduced in the Senate. Read by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.

upper

1 primary · 27 co-sponsors