Breaking Down Updates on Construction from the 2025 Legislative Session
Louisiana REALTORS® • September 4, 2025
Construction Update: Act Nos. 239 and 422
Eric Landry, Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, L.L.P.
Louisiana REALTORS® Counsel
ACT No. 239
Summary: Act 239 became effective as of August 1, 2025 and mandates that municipalities and parishes must issue permits and conduct inspections for roof construction and reroofing projects in accordance with the Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code Council's adopted versions of the International Building Code and the International Residential Code. The act applies to all buildings, not just one- and two-family dwellings, and requires compliance with Chapter 15 of the IBC for most structures and Chapters 8 and 9 of the IRC for one- and two-family dwellings.
Details: This proposed act would add to La. R.S. 40:1730.23 and require any Louisiana municipality or parish that issues construction permits to also issue permits for and conduct inspections of all roof construction and reroofing projects. For all buildings other than one- and two-family dwellings, the permit issuing authority must comply with Chapter 15 of the International Building Code. For one- and two-family dwellings, it must comply with Chapters 8 and 9 of the International Residential Code. Note: Chapters 8, 9, and 15 of the International Residential Code are adopted and promulgated by the La State Uniform Construction Code Council.
ACT No. 422
Summary: Amends the laws regarding licensed contractors to address numerous factors, including: (i) starting January 1, 2026, any person who advertises working on any portion of a roofing system on a residential structure for which the project value is $7,500 or more shall hold the classification of Residential Roofing or Residential Construction; (ii) expands definition of “Residential Contractor” to include any person performing home improvement for which the project value is $7,500 or more, (iii) adds definitions for "Residential roofing" and "Residential roofing contractor", and requires residential roofing contractors to pass the residential roofing trade examination and meet all other licensure requirements of a residential contractor; (iv) removes “triplexes and fourplexes” from “residential structure” definition.
Details:
Modifies R.S. 37:2150.1 definitions:
- Added (7) "Employee" means a worker whose employer deducts taxes from his wages and reports his annual earnings to the Internal Revenue Service using a W-2 form.
- Changes the dollar amount in (10) “Home Improvement” definition from “$7,500 or more but is less than $50,000” to when “seven thousand five hundred or more.
- Expands the definition of (11) “Home improvement contractor” to any person who undertakes or attempts to undertake or submits a price or bid “or offers to construct, supervise, superintend, oversee, direct, perform, or in any manner assume charge of a home improvement project for which the project value is at least seven thousand five hundred dollars but less than fifty thousand dollars. A home improvement contractor shall not perform any structural work that is integral to the structural integrity of any new or existing structure, including but not limited to footings, foundations, outside walls, skeleton, bearing columns and interior load bearing walls, floor slabs, or roofing systems to any type.”
- Adds definition (12) "License" means any form of license or registration the board is authorized to issue in accordance with this Chapter.
- Extends dollar threshold in (14) “Mold remediation contractors” to $7,500 or more.
- Extends dollar threshold in (16) “Plumbing Contractor” to $10,000 or more.
- Expands definition of “Residential Contractor” to include: (i) Any person bidding or performing home improvement for which the project value is $7,500 or more, and (ii) Any person performing the installation of a modular home with a value equal to or greater than $50,000.
- Adds definition: (20) "Residential roofing" means the construction, alteration, repair, improvement, demolition, putting up, tearing down, furnishing labor, or furnishing labor together with materials or equipment, or the installation of materials or equipment for any phase of roofing specific to a residential structure for which the project value is seven thousand five hundred dollars or more.
- Adds definition: (21) "Residential roofing contractor" means any person who undertakes to, attempts to, or submits a price or bid, or offers to construct, supervise, superintend, oversee, direct, perform, or in any manner assume charge of a residential roofing project for which the project value is seven thousand five hundred dollars or more.
- Removes “triplexes and fourplexes” from “residential structure” definition.
- Adds that a residential structure more than three floors in height may be built by a person holding a building construction and residential construction license.
Additional Licensing requirements for Contractors:
§2156. Applications; licenses; fees; renewals
- Now states that a person licensed or registered by the board shall bid, contract, conduct all business transactions, and perform work in the name as it appears on the current license or registration and the official records of the State Licensing Board for Contractors.
- Now states that licenses dependent on insurance requirements or certifications shall not be eligible for multiple-year renewal.
- Gets rid of the board’s discretion in charging delinquent fees following the expiration date of a license.
- Now states that licenses or classifications issued based on certifications or credentials shall expire upon the expiration date of the credential or certification.
- Now states that all applications are considered active for a period of one year after the date of submission. Applications not completed for any reason shall be considered invalid after that time.
- No longer treats applications for renewal as a new application after one year from date of its expiration. An application for a new license must be submitted and upon approval, a new license shall be issued.
- Applicants shall state the classifications for which he is applying from the list of major classifications. This list was expanded to include “mold remediation” and home improvement”.
- An applicant for a license or registration is now required to submit a financial statement.
- New minimum net worth requirements:
- Residential and commercial licenses, their subclassifications, and all specialty classifications with the exception of labor only specialty, shall have a net worth of fifty thousand dollars or more.
- Home improvement, mold remediation, and labor only specialties shall have a net worth of twenty-five thousand dollars or more.
- Each applicant, principal, and designated qualifying party is now required to complete their own application and pass a background check. There is a list of what the investigation will relate to.
§2156.3. Installation of solar energy equipment and systems
- A Solar Energy Equipment license is now required to install solar energy equipment or systems if the project value is $10,000 or more.
- An applicant for this license must hold one or more or the following licenses: building construction, electrical, mechanical, or residential construction.
Adds §2156.4 Residential Roofing: which states,
- Starting January 1, 2026, any person who advertises bid, quote or estimate to construct, supervise, direct, oversee, or perform any construction, modification, repair, or maintenance, etc. of any portion of a roofing system on a residential structure for which the project value is $7,500 or more shall hold the classification of Residential Roofing or Residential Construction.
- A residential roofing contractor shall pass the residential roofing trade examination and meet all other licensure requirements of a residential contractor.
§2157. Exemptions
- Now requires an affidavit of exemption to obtain a building permit to perform any work on a legally established church.
- Similar exemption requirement for owners of a property who supervise home projects, when they do not build more than one residence per year.
§2158. Revocation and suspension of licenses; issuance of cease and desist orders; debarment; violations; penalty; criminal penalty
- License may be revoked for any misrepresentation or fraudulent use of a license for any purpose by any person other than whom the license was issued.
- Allows for revocation of license for failure to notify board within 30 days of any change to the information provided in original application.
Also allows revocation of license for failure to notify board of a criminal, civil, or administrative action within 30 days. This applies to the licensee or a principal. - License may also be revoked for failure to obtain permit to perform or begin work, misrepresenting the value or scope of work, failure to obtain inspections, failure to have written contract signed and dated by all parties, failure to bid, contract, or perform in the name as appears on license or registration, failure to maintain or provide board with requested docs and info within 5 business days of request.
Louisiana REALTORS® spent week six of the Legislative Session actively engaged on several bills at the Capitol impacting core industry priorities, including private property rights, affordability, redevelopment and transaction-related regulations. Most of the meaningful activity remained in the House, where lawmakers continued advancing measures with direct implications for the real estate market. HB 284 by Rep. John Wyble , which would authorize certain local governments to expropriate blighted property by declaration-of-taking, failed on final passage in the House Tuesday by a 48-47 vote, and remains subject to reconsideration. Meanwhile, HB 472 by Rep. Alonzo Knox , which would authorize rent stabilization at the local level, was voluntarily deferred in committee following testimony from Louisiana REALTORS® and our partners at the Louisiana Apartment Association effectively ending its path this session. This marks a significant win, as rent control policies do not address housing supply challenges and instead risk further market distortion. In House Commerce, several key bills moved forward. HB 1027 by Rep. Troy Hebert , which clarifies that appraisers are not liable for a seller’s failure to meet smoke and carbon monoxide detector requirements, passed committee unanimously and is now slated for a House floor vote. This common-sense measure protects appraisers and helps preserve efficiency in the transaction process. HB 673 by Rep. Tammy Phelps , which would have imposed new security camera mandates on certain blighted properties, was also voluntarily deferred following industry opposition. Additionally, HB 426 by Rep. Phelps , which addresses criminal blighting and expands enforcement liability, remains under consideration. Louisiana REALTORS® is monitoring this bill closely to ensure efforts to address blight do not unintentionally discourage investment or redevelopment. We continue to track broader market integrity and redevelopment efforts. HB 468 by Rep. Hebert , addressing residential wholesaling, has now moved to the Senate after unanimous House passage. HB 217 by Rep. Chance Henry , which provides tax incentives for the rehabilitation of blighted property, also remains active in the Senate and represents a constructive approach to redevelopment. Looking ahead, the House Commerce Committee will consider HB 1166 by Rep. Kim Carver next week, which addresses disclosure requirements for vacant residential property. Louisiana REALTORS® supports clear, consistent consumer disclosures and have been working closely with the author and the Louisiana Real Estate Commission to ensure the bill is structured to promote transparency while maintaining practical standards and avoiding unintended liability for real estate professionals. Overall, the House carried the bulk of real estate activity this week, while the Senate saw limited movement on major REALTOR® priorities. As the session continues, Louisiana REALTORS® remains focused on protecting private property rights, opposing harmful market interventions, supporting responsible redevelopment and advancing policies that strengthen real estate transactions for both consumers and our members. Please view the weekly bill tracking report provided by our lobbying team over at Harris, DeVille and Associates.
This week at the Capitol, Louisiana REALTORS® saw meaningful movement on several issues that directly impact the real estate industry. Most notably, HB 468 by Representative Troy Hebert, a key part of our legislative agenda, passed the House unanimously, 96–0, and now heads to the Senate. The bill creates a clear framework for regulating residential real estate wholesaling, strengthens disclosure requirements and gives the Louisiana Real Estate Commission enforcement authority, including penalties for violations. That vote margin speaks for itself and reflects strong bipartisan support for greater transparency and accountability in this market segment. We are also closely engaged on legislation tied to blight, redevelopment and property rights. HB 217 by Representative Chance Henry, which authorizes an optional property tax exemption for blighted or derelict properties that have been rehabilitated, and ties that exemption to local redevelopment plans, passed the House floor by an 84–12 vote. It is now moving through the Senate process. Louisiana REALTORS® supports HB 217 because it creates another tool to encourage redevelopment, return distressed property to productive use and strengthen communities when implemented responsibly. Louisiana REALTORS® also support Representative John Wyble’s HB 284 , which would authorize certain parishes and municipalities to address blighted property through a declaration-of-taking process in limited jurisdictions. HB 284 is currently subject to a call on House final passage. While any proposal involving expropriation deserves careful attention, we support the goal of giving communities practical tools to deal with truly blighted and abandoned property that drags down surrounding neighborhoods, depresses property values and slows local recovery. Insurance remains one of the biggest issues of the session and continues to affect housing affordability and market stability across Louisiana. Lawmakers are working on proposals to reduce premiums, increase competition and improve the overall insurance climate. The Fortified Roof Program continues to generate significant discussion and, candidly, a fair amount of noise, but Louisiana REALTORS® and our coalition partners are actively monitoring all avenues to ensure the final result is practical and beneficial for homeowners, and the broader real estate market. These conversations remain closely tied to tort reform, which continues to be a major part of the effort to address insurance costs and availability. We are also monitoring HB 673 by Representative Phelps , which would authorize the state fire marshal to require owners or lessees of abandoned or blighted structures to install and maintain exterior security cameras and retain footage for at least 30 days. Louisiana REALTORS® opposes this bill because it creates a costly new mandate on property owners without addressing the root causes of blight, and it could create additional liability and compliance burdens for property owners, property managers and others involved in distressed property. At this time, the bill remains pending in the House Commerce Committee and is slated to be heard next week. We also remain actively engaged on several other priorities within our legislative agenda including ongoing work on vacant property disclosure and efforts to provide greater clarity on appraiser liability related to carbon monoxide detector requirements. In particular, we are working closely with the Louisiana Real Estate Commission and Representative Carver to position HB 1166 in the strongest and most workable posture possible, with a clear focus on protecting Louisiana real estate agents and their clients from unnecessary liability, reducing confusion in the transaction process, and ensuring that any new disclosure requirements are practical, fair and clearly defined. Our goal is to ensure the final product supports consumer transparency without imposing undue burdens on our members and not exposing agents across Louisiana to unintended risk. As the session continues, Louisiana REALTORS® will remain focused on protecting consumers, supporting responsible redevelopment, defending private property rights and advancing sound policy that strengthens the real estate market for our members and the clients they serve. Please view the weekly bill tracking report provided by our lobbying team over at Harris, DeVille and Associates.
This week, the Legislature remained in high gear, and several items relevant to Louisiana’s real estate market moved into focus. The biggest headline for our industry this week was HB 468 by Rep. Troy Hebert , our wholesaling/consumer-protection bill, was slated to be heard on the House floor, however was bumped due to floor congestion and out-of-order bills. It is now expected to be reset for next Tuesday. This bill remains one of the clearest “market integrity” efforts on the board with clearer rules for non-traditional transactions, stronger transparency and better consumer protections. We also continued substantive policy work behind the scenes. We are actively engaging with Rep. Carver on a vacant land disclosure bill he has authored, and we appreciate that he is welcoming our input and guidance as the language is refined. Our goal is straightforward: ensure any vacant land disclosure framework is practical, reduces confusion and avoids unintentionally shifting liability or enforcement burdens onto real estate professionals. In addition, we were pleased to deepen our relationships at the Capitol this week. We had the privilege of hosting a lunch for the Governor’s Office, enjoyed meeting Governor Landry’s team, and look forward to working with them in a constructive, solutions-oriented manner as the session continues. Finally, Rep. Hebert also filed an additional measure that aligns with our legislative agenda and speaks directly to transaction risk management: HB 1027 , which would limit liability for licensed real estate appraisers in situations involving smoke and carbon monoxide detector compliance. The current law already provides that real estate agents are not liable for a seller’s failure to comply with Louisiana’s detector requirements in one- or two-family dwellings. HB 1027 would extend that same liability protection to licensed appraisers by amending R.S. 40:1581(F). This is a clean, common-sense clarification that helps prevent appraisers from being pulled into compliance disputes that properly belong with the seller’s statutory obligations. Next week, committees are scheduled to hear multiple bills relevant to real estate, including measures involving construction and roofing standards (often tied to insurance and mitigation), property rights/expropriation, and property tax and adjudicated property issues that can influence housing supply and neighborhood reinvestment. We will stay closely engaged and will flag any bills or amendments that materially affect transactions, homeownership costs or private property rights. Please view the weekly bill tracking report provided by our lobbying team over at Harris, DeVille and Associates.
