Louisiana House Bill HCR33

Louisiana 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 5/5/25
• Refer: 5/6/25
• Report Pass: 5/15/25
• Engrossed: 5/27/25
• Refer: 5/28/25
• Passed: 6/3/25

Caption

Memorializes Congress to modify the H-2B temporary non-agricultural program to assist with labor workforce shortage in the state

Summary

House Concurrent Resolution 33 is a memorial to the United States Congress urging changes to the federal H-2B temporary nonagricultural visa program so it can better address Louisiana’s workforce shortages. The resolution explains how the H-2B program works, including the federal annual cap of 66,000 visas, the seasonal split of those visas, and the limited categories of workers exempt from the cap. It emphasizes that demand for H-2B workers has grown, that the cap has already been reached for the relevant fiscal year, and that supplemental visas are being used because employers continue to need additional temporary labor. The resolution focuses on Louisiana industries that rely heavily on seasonal and temporary labor, especially seafood processing, and argues that the current federal program is important to the state’s business operations and economic stability. It cites Louisiana’s high use of the program and contends that modifying the H-2B system would help employers recruit enough workers to maintain and expand operations. The measure does not change Louisiana law or create a state program; instead, it expresses the Legislature’s position and asks Congress to act.

Impact

HCR 33 has no direct effect on Louisiana statutes, regulations, or state agency authority. Its legal impact is limited to a formal legislative request to Congress to modify federal H-2B visa policy, with copies of the resolution to be sent to congressional leaders and Louisiana’s congressional delegation. The practical effect is advocacy on behalf of Louisiana employers, particularly seasonal industries that depend on temporary nonagricultural labor, but any actual change would require federal action.

Sentiment

The sentiment around the resolution appears strongly supportive and bipartisan. The House passed it 91-0 and the Senate concurred 30-0, indicating unanimous legislative backing. The text frames the issue as an economic necessity for Louisiana businesses and presents the H-2B program as a critical tool for meeting labor shortages, with no recorded committee opposition in the provided materials.

Contention

There is little visible contention in the legislative record provided, as the votes were unanimous and no committee debate is included. The main policy issue underlying the resolution is whether Congress should expand or modify the H-2B program, including the visa cap and exemptions, to better serve employers facing labor shortages. The resolution’s strongest emphasis is on the needs of seafood processors and other seasonal employers, while potential concerns that are not developed in the text would likely involve the balance between access to foreign temporary labor and protections for U.S. workers’ wages and working conditions.