2018 Legislative Session (Week 3)
LOUISIANA REALTORS • March 29, 2018
This was a busy week at the Capitol and lots of bills are in various phases of the legislative process. The following provides an update on key pieces of legislation that the LR Lobbying Team is following and actively monitoring. For questions contact: Kim Callaway, Director of Legal & Government Affairs.
HOUSE BILL NO. 659, REPRESENTATIVE KENNY HAVARD –LIMITATIONS ON NON-CONSENSUAL TOWING
This bill would require sign off from law enforcement prior to any vehicle being towed by property owner. Current law allows a property owner to have a vehicle towed without permission of the vehicle owner or law enforcement as long the owner of the property or authorized representative signs off on the tow or there are signs posted on the property warning that a vehicle may be towed if improperly or illegally parked.
Louisiana REALTORS® is monitoring this bill as it progresses to ensure that property owners will be represented.
HOUSE BILL NO. 617, REPRESENTATIVE STEPHANIE HILFERTY – RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY DISCLOSURE
Louisiana REALTORS® had this legislation filed to clarify existing law following the Valobra v. Nelson case
and the subsequent changes to the residential property disclosure form.
The bill now heads to the House floor for further debate.
HOUSE BILL NO. 748, REPRESENTATIVE JULIE EMERSON – ESTABLISHES REVIEW OF OCCUPATIONAL LICENSES
This bill seeks to interject additional processes by which law and regulations regarding occupations and professions are established and modified.
Louisiana REALTORS® believes the bill is too vague as written and creates unnecessary problems for the real estate industry. We will discuss amendments with the author and if she is not amendable we will continue with our opposition.
SENATE BILL NO. 462, SENATOR DANNY MARTINY – INCLUSIONARY ZONING
The passage of Senate Bill No. 462 would allow property developers to build more units and protect private property rights. Louisiana REALTORS® will be putting out a Call for Action for you to encourage your Senator to support this legislation very soon.
HOUSE BILL NO. 383, REPRESENTATIVE PAULA DAVIS –FIRST TIME HOMEBUYER REBATE
This is Louisiana REALTORS’® initiative to establish a first-time home buyer rebate. This bill will be set for hearing by House Committee on Appropriations in the coming days. There remains an uphill battle to get this bill passed. Members of the House of Representatives remain open to the idea despite the budget deficit, but members of the Senate have expressed more resistance to the bill because of the budget deficit. Members should continue efforts to educate their legislators on the benefits this rebate could provide for future homeowners.
Please join us in congratulating the Louisiana REALTORS® who have been appointed to NAR committees for 2027. A total of 26 Louisiana REALTORS® members and staff have been selected to serve on NAR committees for the upcoming year. Bill Boyd - Insurance Committee; Member: Regional Representative Luke Bullock - Broker Engagement Committee; Member: Government Affairs Director Donna Chandler - Membership Policy and Board Jurisdiction Committee; Member: At-Large Keary Coffin - Multiple Listing Issues and Policies Committee; Member: At-Large Tony Cornner - Housing Opportunities Committee; Member: State Representative Beth Cristina - Commercial Federal Policy Committee; Member: At-Large Deneka Desroches - Commitment to Excellence Committee; Member: At-Large Cindy Dyer - RPAC Participation Council; Member: State Representative David Favret - Meeting and Conference Committee; Member: Immediate Past Chair Jennifer Hebert - Professional Standards Committee; Member: At-Large Carole Horn - RPAC Trustees Federal Disbursement Committee; Member: Regional Representative Misty Ingersoll - Multiple Listing Issues and Policies Committee; Member: State Representative Angela Lavalais - AEC/Association IDEAS Advisory Board (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Support); Member: At-Large Trish Leleux - FPC Advisory Committee; Member: State Representative Marbury Little - Public Policy Coordinating Committee; Member: At-Large ; Consumer Advocacy Outreach Advisory Board; Member: Committee Representative Ginger Maulden - RPAC Major Investor Council; Member: State Representative Andrea McKey - Strategic Planning Committee; Member: At-Large David McKey - Insurance Committee; Member: At-Large Joe Mier - Real Property Valuation Committee; Member: At-Large Norman Morris - Meeting and Conference Committee; AEC Representative Danette O'Neal - Land Use Property Rights and Environment Committee; Member: Affiliate Representative Austin Polk - Business Issues Policy Committee; Member: At-Large Rhonda Reap-Curiel - Data Strategies Committee; Vice Chair Matt Ritchie - Finance Committee; Member: At-Large Erika Sluss - Membership Policy and Board Jurisdiction Committee; Member: State Representative Evelyn Wolford - Professional Standards Committee; Member: State Representative
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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