2018 Legislative Session (Week 4)
LOUISIANA REALTORS • April 9, 2018
UPDATES FROM BILLS DISCUSSED IN WEEK 3
HOUSE BILL NO. 659, REPRESENTATIVE KENNY HAVARD, LIMITATIONS ON NON-CONSENSUAL TOWING
This bill would have put additional requirements on property owners who have vehicles towed off their lots for parking violations. Louisiana REALTORS® raised several concerns and the bill’s author was agreeable to preserving current law and property rights by amending the bill to address those concerns.
However, the bill was defeated after much opposition from the towing industry.
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 subsequent changes to the residential property form.
The bill passed the House with unanimously and now heads to the Senate for further consideration.
SENATE BILL NO. 462, SENATOR DANNY MARTINY – INCLUSIONARY ZONING
Currently, Louisiana allows municipalities and parishes to pass inclusionary zoning ordinances to promote the development of affordable housing. Inclusionary zoning requires housing developers to sell or rent a proportion of their units below market rate, regardless of the economics of a project or whether the developer receives just compensation. Senate Bill 462 would instead allow municipalities and parishes to offer VOLUNTARY economic incentive policies to promote the development of affordable housing.
Louisiana REALTORS® will be resending a call to action next week to members who have not responded to the call to action on this important bill.
ADDITIONAL BILLS
HOUSE BILL NO. 386, REPRESENTATIVE KATRINA JACKSON, CHANGES TO SECURITY DEPOSITS FOR RESIDENTIAL LEASES
This bill proposed a law change on security deposits for residential leases and potentially placed additional burdens on residential lessors. Louisiana REALTORS® was opposed to certain components of this bill. The bill was defeated in the House Commerce Committee after much debate. There is a similar Senate bill that we will continue to monitor.
HOUSE BILL NO. 653, REPRESENTATIVE SIMON, INCLUDES ELEVATORS AND ESCALATORS AS LIFE SAFETY EQUIPMENT
This bill would require property owners to register elevators and escalators in their commercial buildings with the State Fire Marshal and to allow the state fire marshal to inspect these devices.
REALTOR® members expressed concerns that there are currently parishes and municipalities that already inspect these devices and the proposed law would have property owners in these areas subject to two inspections. An amendment was placed on the bill to exempt parishes and municipalities that are already inspecting these devices therefore only requiring property owners in these parishes and municipalities to have their elevators and escalators inspected by one entity.
REGULATION OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
Several bills are going through the legislature to modify how boards and commissions operate. Some of these bills would have an impact on real estate licensees and LR will continue to work with the authors of these bills and will update members on changes or impacts as session progresses.
ACCESS THE BILL TRACKER
Louisiana REALTORS® CEO Norman Morris issued the following statement after SpaceX announced plans to invest $100 billion in a new launch facility in Vermilion Parish. The project is expected to create 3,000 direct jobs and more than 8,100 indirect jobs across Acadiana. “SpaceX’s investment is an extraordinary economic win for Louisiana. We congratulate Governor Jeff Landry, Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan Bourgeois, Vermilion Parish leaders, and everyone who helped bring this historic project home. The housing and infrastructure improvements needed to support more than 11,000 new job opportunities should generate a huge economic boost to the Acadiana and Gulf Coast region. According to the National Association of REALTORS®, each typical Louisiana home sale generates approximately $88,600 in economic activity. Even if only half of the new SpaceX related jobs lead to a home purchase, the impact would generate nearly half a billion dollars across our state's economy. That improves our tax base and school systems, and ripples through our economy touching builders, bankers, hardware stores, appliance dealers, contractors and so many more. “Housing is not downstream of economic development; it is an essential infrastructure. Louisiana REALTORS® and our partners stand ready to help turn these new jobs into homes, stronger communities and lasting roots in Louisiana. Economic development creates jobs, but housing turns those jobs into homes. Let’s make Louisiana home again, together.” Economic-impact estimates are illustrative calculations by Louisiana REALTORS® using employment projections from Louisiana Economic Development and the National Association of REALTORS®’ estimated economic impact per typical Louisiana home sale. They are not forecasts or recurring annual-impact figures. Enjoy the video below from the Louisiana Department of Economic Development .
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