CALL FOR ACTION: TAX REFORM
Amy Fennell • October 19, 2017
The National Association of REALTORS® and Louisiana REALTORS® strongly encourages REALTORS® to TAKE ACTION. Pending tax reform plans threaten to wipe out the tax benefits of owning a home for 95% of American families.
CONGRESSIONAL ACTION NEEDED
Congressional Republicans and President Trump have promised the first comprehensive tax reform bill in more than 30 years.
REALTORS® need to remind Members of Congress and their staffs that tax reform must not dilute the current real estate tax provisions vital to the housing market and the economy.
REALTORS® reject proposals that repeal or weaken tax incentives to encourage homeownership. We need tax reform, but it must first do no harm.
CONGRESSIONAL ACTIONS TO DATE
Pending proposals would lower tax rates (including for corporations) and raise the standard deduction but pay for these changes by scaling back existing real estate tax provisions.
Proposals that limit itemized deductions — even if not directly changing rules applicable to mortgage interest — could have serious negative consequences for homeowners.
From the Louisiana Department of Insurance: Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple joined Governor Jeff Landry and Senate Insurance Committee Chairman Kirk Talbot today to announce that Louisiana is investing an additional $20 million in Fortified homes, bringing the total amount invested in state Fortified projects this year to $100 million. Governor Landry announced that $20 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will be transferred to the Louisiana Office of Community Development Restore Resilient Opportunities for Overhead Fortification (Restore ROOF) program to strengthen residential structures and reduce long-term disaster risk. Earlier this year, the Legislature passed a bill that allows $50 million in additional Katrina and Rita bond money from Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation to be added to the Department of Insurance’s Louisiana Fortify Homes Program (LFHP). Also beginning this year, LFHP is projected to receive approximately $30 million annually from taxes and fees the Louisiana Department of Insurance collects from the insurance industry. “Building stronger homes is a vital part of making homeowners insurance affordable in Louisiana,” said Commissioner Temple. “I appreciate Governor Landry’s leadership and support as we work with legislators like Chairman Talbot to make Louisiana a national leader in the adoption of Fortified roofs.” The Louisiana Department of Insurance (LDI) has finalized its promulgation of Regulation 136—Fortify Homes Premium Discounts. The purpose of Regulation 136 is to implement the statutory provisions set forth in La. R.S. 22:1483, et seq. , which require that all Louisiana property and casualty insurers provide premium discounts or insurance rate reductions for homes constructed or upgraded in accordance with the fortified standards created by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety. View Regulation 136 here .
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