Louisiana House Bill HR205

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/27/26
• Refer: 4/28/26
• Report Pass: 5/7/26
• Passed: 5/18/26

Caption

SEAFOOD: Urges and requests the United States Department of Agriculture to utilize the Commodity Procurement program under Section 32 of the Agricultural Adjustment Act to purchase domestic shrimp from Louisiana shrimpers

Summary

House Resolution 205 urges the United States Department of Agriculture to use its Section 32 Commodity Procurement authority to buy domestic shrimp from Louisiana shrimpers. The resolution frames this as a way to support Louisiana’s shrimp industry, which it describes as facing economic pressure from foreign imports, high fuel and operating costs, and market instability. It also emphasizes that Section 32 purchases can supply nutritious seafood to federal nutrition assistance programs such as food banks, school meals, and emergency feeding efforts. The resolution does not change Louisiana law or create a new state program. Instead, it is a formal legislative request directed to a federal agency, asking USDA to prioritize Louisiana shrimp and other domestic seafood in its procurement activities for the 2026 season. It also encourages USDA to coordinate with industry stakeholders to improve procurement, processing, and distribution, and directs that copies be sent to the USDA secretary and Louisiana’s congressional delegation.

Impact

HR205 has no direct effect on state statutes, taxes, licensing, or regulatory requirements. Its practical impact is advisory and political: it seeks to influence federal USDA purchasing decisions under existing Section 32 authority, which could provide market support to Louisiana shrimpers if the agency acts on the request. The resolution is aimed at shrimp producers, processors, coastal communities, and federal nutrition programs that could receive domestically sourced seafood.

Sentiment

The tone of the resolution is strongly supportive of Louisiana’s shrimp industry and favorable toward federal procurement as an economic stabilizer. The bill text presents the issue as urgent and emphasizes hardship, job preservation, food security, and the value of domestic seafood. No committee debate or recorded votes were provided, so the available record shows clear pro-shrimp-industry sentiment but no documented opposition in the materials supplied.

Contention

The main point of contention implied by the resolution is the competition between domestic shrimpers and imported shrimp, which the bill describes as undercutting prices and creating unfair market conditions. Another likely issue is whether USDA should use federal procurement dollars to support a specific state industry, though no formal opposition appears in the provided transcripts or vote history. The resolution also suggests concern about whether USDA will continue purchasing shrimp in 2026, indicating that the timing and scale of federal purchases are important to industry stakeholders.