Legislative Session Update
LOUISIANA REALTORS • April 24, 2017
Legislative session is well underway in the state's capitall! Last Tuesday, Louisiana REALTORS® was prepared to testify against House Bill 562, which proposes a professional services tax on immovable property, but that legislation was not heard in committee.
LR was successful in moving its sponsored legislation out of the Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday. Senate Bill 108 by Senator Bodi White will be voted on this week by the full Senate. A full recap of Senate Bill 108 is noted below:
This legislation will require out-of-state licensees doing business in Louisiana to either become licensed in the state or co-broke with a Louisiana licensee when conducting business. The legislation provides for a misdemeanor penalty for those who violate this section of the law.
LR will continue working with many other business groups and lobbying against the Commercial Business Activities Tax (House Bill 628) which is scheduled for the House Ways & Means Committee on Monday, April 24th.
For information or clarification on any issues during the legislative session please contact Norman Morris.

From the Louisiana Department of Insurance: Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple announced today that the Louisiana Department of Insurance (LDI) continues its work to develop a regulation creating benchmark discounts for Fortified roofs in Louisiana. The LDI is working with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) to develop the benchmark discounts using Louisiana-specific data, hurricane modeling and actuarial considerations. “With over 11,000 Fortified roofs in Louisiana and two years-worth of insurer experience with rating for those roofs in our state, now is an appropriate time for the LDI to establish benchmark discounts for homeowners insurance companies operating in our market,” said Commissioner Temple. “These benchmarks are being thoughtfully developed to help consumers receive the discounts they deserve for fortifying their homes while making sure insurers know the benchmarks reflect how much Fortified roofs actually mitigate their exposure to risk across Louisiana.” Like in Alabama’s Fortified benchmark discount structure, the LDI regulation would require Louisiana insurance companies to either meet the minimum benchmark discount established by the LDI or provide actuarial justification for why the company’s discount does not meet the benchmark. Louisiana is the fastest growing state for Fortified roofs in America. To date, over 11,000 Fortified roofs have been installed in Louisiana, including over 4,100 through the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program.





