HLS 24RS-3259 ORIGINAL
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 119
BY REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON
AGRICULTURE: Creates and provides for a subcommittee to study and recommend laws
or actions to address the impact of the infestation of beetles and other pests on pine
and other trees and the safety of persons and utilities
1 A RESOLUTION
2To authorize and request the chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry,
3 Aquaculture, and Rural Development to appoint a subcommittee, entitled the
4 Louisiana Emergency Beetle Committee, to study and make recommendations on
5 rules and actions to address the devastation of the forest industry due to the recent
6 drought and infestation of beetles and other pests that are killing pine and other trees
7 and to address issues arising from any laws or regulations that restrict or prohibit
8 local and state entities from removing infested trees from private properties.
9 WHEREAS, according to an article published by the Louisiana State University
10(LSU) AgCenter and the Office of Research and Economic Development, the forest industry
11is the top agricultural sector in Louisiana worth ten to fourteen billion dollars, making it a
12substantial economic contributor to the state's economy every year and is one of the biggest
13job creators in Louisiana, creating approximately thirty-seven thousand jobs in this state; and
14 WHEREAS, more than half of all land in Louisiana is comprised of forests that are
15heavily dominated by pines; and
16 WHEREAS, forests are continually threatened by natural disasters, invasive species,
17diseases, and other factors; and
18 WHEREAS, due to the recent drought in this state and increasing drought frequency
19with extreme heat, pines and other trees have become more vulnerable to beetle and pest
20infestation; and
Page 1 of 6 HLS 24RS-3259 ORIGINAL
HR NO. 119
1 WHEREAS, the National Drought Mitigation Center has categorized a substantial
2portion of Louisiana's parishes as being in an "exceptional drought" state for extended
3periods of time which causes trees to weaken and become more susceptible to various issues,
4especially to pests and diseases; and
5 WHEREAS, according to the United States Department of Agriculture Forest
6Service, Ips beetles and other types of beetles and pests are prevalent in the south, usually
7attacking weakened, dying, or recently felled trees and fresh logging debris; and
8 WHEREAS, research conducted in the southeastern United States revealed that pines
9are sensitive to droughts, and trees damaged from a drought may take several years to fully
10regain their health and vigor, which may worsen forest conditions or increase the risk of
11infestations of beetles and other pests; and
12 WHEREAS, natural disasters, such as prolonged droughts, sometimes result in high
13numbers of dead and weakened trees on private properties near right-of-ways, resulting in
14dangerous conditions despite good preventative measures; and
15 WHEREAS, these trees not only contribute to the beetle infestation in this state but
16also create danger to people and infrastructure when not removed and handled promptly; and
17 WHEREAS, the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality has created
18regulations for tree removal in certain situations which may burden arborists or other tree
19removal specialists as well as private citizens who may bear the costs associated with tree
20removal; and
21 WHEREAS, many infested trees are on private properties near public right-of-ways
22and roads; however, local and municipal entities are unable to cut or remove such trees on
23private properties due to current legal restrictions despite the danger to homeowners,
24utilities, and person traveling upon public roads and right-of-ways.
25 WHEREAS, the interests of the citizens of the state of Louisiana would be served
26by the creation of a subcommittee of the House Committee of Agriculture, Forestry,
27Aquaculture, and Rural Development to study and recommend rules and actions to address
28items and issues including, but not limited to, the following:
29 (1)Forest devastation caused by beetle infestation.
Page 2 of 6 HLS 24RS-3259 ORIGINAL
HR NO. 119
1 (2)Problems related to dead, weakened, or infested trees on private properties
2near power lines and other issues and effects on public right-of-ways caused by the danger
3and effects of such trees.
4 (3)Possible suspension of certain regulations by the Department of
5Environmental Quality during emergency situations caused by natural disasters.
6 (4)Possible suspension of any law or regulation prohibiting a public entity from
7entering a private property to cut or remove dangerous, infested trees that may pose a danger
8to the public and to infrastructure.
9 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
10Legislature of Louisiana does hereby authorize and request the chairman of the House
11Committee of Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development to appoint a
12subcommittee, entitled as the Louisiana Emergency Beetle Committee, study and make
13recommendations on rules and actions to address the devastation of the forest industry due
14to the recent drought and infestation of beetles and other pests that are killing pine and other
15trees and to address issues arising from any laws or regulations that restrict or prohibit local
16and state entities from removing infested trees from private properties.
17 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the chairman of the House Committee on
18Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development shall appoint the members of
19the subcommittee.
20 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the state representative for House District 27
21shall serve as the chairman of the subcommittee.
22 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the subcommittee shall solicit the input,
23recommendations, and advice of the following entities:
24 (1) The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry.
25 (2) The Louisiana Public Service Commission.
26 (3) The Louisiana Forestry Association.
27 (4) The Police Jury Association of Louisiana.
28 (5) The Louisiana Municipal Association.
29 (6) The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality.
30 (7) The Louisiana Division of Administration.
Page 3 of 6 HLS 24RS-3259 ORIGINAL
HR NO. 119
1 (8) The office of the governor.
2 (9) The Louisiana Loggers Association.
3 (10) The Louisiana Department of Insurance.
4 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the subcommittee shall advocate
5to support the Congressional bill, S.3838 of the 118
th
Congress (2024), also known as the
6Emergency Beetle Response Act of 2024 and request the Louisiana Congressional
7Delegation support this Resolution and all other Congressional instruments that address the
8solutions and remedies of this dangerous and growing beetle infestation issue.
9 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the subcommittee shall also focus its study on
10raising public awareness on beetle infestation, the dangers associated with it, and making
11recommendations on prevention or remediation.
12 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that members of the subcommittee shall serve
13without compensation, except per diem or expense reimbursement to which they may be
14individually entitled as members of their constituent organizations.
15 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the subcommittee shall convene its first meeting
16no later than August 1, 2024, at the call of the chairman of the subcommittee, and the
17subcommittee shall hold such meetings as may be necessary to fulfill its duties.
18 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that at the first meeting, the subcommittee shall elect
19a vice chairman and other officers as it deems appropriate.
20 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry,
21Aquaculture, and Rural Development shall provide staff assistance to the subcommittee upon
22the request of the chairman of the subcommittee.
23 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the subcommittee shall submit a report of its
24findings and recommendations of rules and actions on or before January 15, 2025, to the
25House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development, the
26commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, and the David R. Poynter
27Legislative Research Library.
28 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
29commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry.
Page 4 of 6 HLS 24RS-3259 ORIGINAL
HR NO. 119
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HR 119 Original 2024 Regular Session Mike Johnson
Authorizes and requests the chairman House Committee of Agriculture, Forestry,
Aquaculture, and Rural Development to appoint a subcommittee, entitled the La. Emergency
Beetle Committee, to study and recommend rules and actions to address forest devastation
caused by beetle infestation, problems related to dead trees on private properties near power
lines and other issues and effects on public right-of-ways caused by the danger and effects
of such dead trees, and to consider whether certain regulations by the Dept. of
Environmental Quality may be suspended during emergency situations caused by natural
disasters.
Requires the chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and
Rural Development to appoint the members of the subcommittee.
Requires the state representative for House District 27 to serve as the chairman of the
subcommittee.
Requires the subcommittee to solicit the input, recommendations, and advice of the
following entities:
(1)The La. Department of Agriculture and Forestry.
(2)The La. Public Service Commission.
(3)The La. Forestry Association.
(4)The Police Jury Association of La.
(5)The La. Municipal Association.
(6)The La. Department of Environmental Quality.
(7) The La. Division of Administration.
(8) The office of the governor.
(9) The La. Loggers Association.
(10) The La. Department of Insurance.
Requires the subcommitee to advocate in support of the Congressional bill, S. 3838 of the
118
th
Congress of 2024, also known as the Emergency Pine Beetle Response Act of 2024,
and to request the La. Congressional Delegation to support such Act as well as any other
Congressional instrument that address the issue of beetle infestation.
Requires the subcommittee to also focus its study on raising public awareness on beetle
infestation, the dangers of it, and making recommendations on prevention or a remediation
plan.
Requires members of the subcommittee to serve without compensation, except per diem or
expense reimbursement to which they may be individually entitled to.
Page 5 of 6 HLS 24RS-3259 ORIGINAL
HR NO. 119
Requires the subcommittee to convene its first meeting no later than Aug. 1, 2024, at the call
of the chairman of the subcommittee, and the subcommittee to hold such meetings as may
be necessary to fulfill its duties. Requires the subcommittee to elect a vice chairman and
other officers as it deems appropriate at the first meeting.
Requires the House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural
Development to provide staff assistance to the commission upon the request of the chairman
of the subcommittee.
Requires the subcommittee to submit a report of its findings and recommendations of rules
and actions by Jan. 15, 2025, to the House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture,
and Rural Development, the commissioner of the La. Dept. of Agriculture and Forestry, and
the David R. Poynter Legislative Research Library.
Page 6 of 6