HLS 24RS-3259 REENGROSSED
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 119
BY REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON
AGRICULTURE: Authorizes and requests the chairman of the House Committee on
Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture and Rural Development to appoint a
subcommittee to study and address the devastation of the forest industry due to the
infestation of beetles
1 A RESOLUTION
2To request the chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and
3 Rural Development to appoint a subcommittee, entitled the Louisiana Emergency
4 Beetle Committee, to study and make recommendations on rules and actions to
5 address the devastation of the forest industry due to the recent drought and
6 infestation of beetles and other pests that are killing pine and other trees and to
7 address issues arising from any laws or regulations that restrict or prohibit local and
8 state entities from removing infested trees from private properties.
9 WHEREAS, according to an article published by the Louisiana State University
10AgCenter and the Office of Research and Economic Development, the forest industry is the
11top 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 REENGROSSED
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; and
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 REENGROSSED
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 request the chairman of the House Committee of
11Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development to appoint a subcommittee,
12entitled as the Louisiana Emergency Beetle Committee, to study and make recommendations
13on rules and actions to address the devastation of the forest industry due to the recent
14drought and infestation of beetles and other pests that are killing pine and other trees and to
15address issues arising from any laws or regulations that restrict or prohibit local and state
16entities from removing infested trees from private properties.
17 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the state representative for House District 27
18shall serve as the chairman of the subcommittee and shall have all the rights and privileges
19of a standing committee member on the subcommittee.
20 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the subcommittee shall solicit the input,
21recommendations, and advice of the following entities:
22 (1) The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry.
23 (2) The Louisiana Public Service Commission.
24 (3) The Louisiana Forestry Association.
25 (4) The Police Jury Association of Louisiana.
26 (5) The Louisiana Municipal Association.
27 (6) The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality.
28 (7) The Louisiana Division of Administration.
29 (8) The office of the governor.
30 (9) The Louisiana Loggers Association.
Page 3 of 6 HLS 24RS-3259 REENGROSSED
HR NO. 119
1 (10) The Louisiana Department of Insurance.
2 (11) The Louisiana Arborist Association.
3 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the subcommittee shall advocate
4to support the Congressional bill, S.3838 of the 118
th
Congress (2024), also known as the
5Emergency Beetle Response Act of 2024 and request the Louisiana Congressional
6Delegation support this Resolution and all other Congressional instruments that address the
7solutions and remedies of this dangerous and growing beetle infestation issue.
8 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the subcommittee shall also focus its study on
9raising public awareness on beetle infestation, the dangers associated with it, and making
10recommendations on prevention or remediation.
11 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the subcommittee shall convene its first meeting
12no later than August 1, 2024, at the call of the chairman of the subcommittee, and the
13subcommittee shall hold such meetings as may be necessary to fulfill its duties.
14 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry,
15Aquaculture, and Rural Development shall provide staff assistance to the subcommittee upon
16the request of the chairman of the subcommittee.
17 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the subcommittee shall submit a report of its
18findings and recommendations of rules and actions on or before January 15, 2025, to the
19House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development, the
20commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, and the David R. Poynter
21Legislative Research Library.
22 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
23commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry.
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 Reengrossed 2024 Regular Session Mike Johnson
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 rights-of-way caused by the danger and effects of such dead
Page 4 of 6 HLS 24RS-3259 REENGROSSED
HR NO. 119
trees, and to consider whether certain regulations by the Dept. of Environmental Quality may
be suspended during emergency situations caused by natural disasters.
Provides that the state representative for House District 27 serve as the chairman of the
subcommittee and specifies that he shall have all the rights and privileges of a member of
the standing committee on the subcommittee.
Requires the subcommittee to solicit the input, recommendation, 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 Assoc.
(6)The La. Department of Environmental Quality.
(7)The La. Division of Administration.
(8)The office of the governor.
(9)The La. Loggers Assoc.
(10)The La. Department of Insurance.
(11)The La. Arborist Assoc.
Provides that the subcommittee advocate in support of the Congressional bill, S. 3838 of the
118th Congress, 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 instruments that address the issue of beetle infestation; and to focus its study
on raising public awareness on beetle infestation, the dangers of it, and making
recommendations on prevention or a remediation plan.
Provides for the subcommittee to convene its first meeting by Aug. 1, 2024, and to hold
such meetings as may be necessary to fulfill its duties. 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.
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry,
Aquaculture, and Rural Development to the original resolution:
1. Make a technical change.
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on House and
Governmental Affairs to the engrossed resolution:
Page 5 of 6 HLS 24RS-3259 REENGROSSED
HR NO. 119
1. Add La. Arborist Assoc. to list of entities to be solicited for input,
recommendations, and advice by the subcommittee.
2. Specify that the chairman of the subcommittee shall have all the rights and
privileges of a standing committee member of the subcommittee.
Page 6 of 6