2018 Legislative Session Recap
LOUISIANA REALTORS • May 29, 2018
LOUISIANA REALTORS® RECAP OF THE 2018 REGULAR LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Louisiana REALTORS® is happy to report that the real estate industry came out of the 2018 Regular Legislative Session unscathed once again. In large part, the bills that Louisiana REALTORS® supported are awaiting action on the part of the governor and bills that Louisiana REALTORS® opposed were either heavily amended to remove our opposition or stalled in the legislative process.
Below is a summary of key bills tracked by Louisiana REALTORS® and where they stand in the process at of the time of this post. For further information on these or any other pieces of legislation, please contact Kim Callaway, kim@larealtors.org, (225) 923-2210.
HB NO. 383/ VOLUNTARILY DEFERRED IN HOUSE COMMITTEE
This bill was Louisiana REALTORS® first-time home buyer rebate proposition.
· While the bill did not reach the finish line due to budget constraints, it did allow Louisiana REALTORS® to promote the benefits of homeownership and highlight the struggles first-time home buyers face in today’s environment.
· These discussions with legislators will better position Louisiana REALTORS® with future legislation filed to help first-time home buyers pursue the American dream of home ownership.
HB NO. 372/SENT TO THE GOVERNOR
House Bill No. 372 would require administrative rules sought to be promulgated by boards and commissions, including but not limited to the Louisiana Real Estate Commission (LREC), to undergo additional review to ensure that members who sit on occupational licensing will avoid liability under federal antitrust laws.
· At the request of the author, Louisiana REALTORS® was at the table at every meeting where associations representatives negotiated committee amendments for the bill.
· Louisiana REALTORS® worked tirelessly with representatives of a coalition of 50+ national and state associations to ensure that amendments were adopted to put the bill in a posture that Louisiana REALTORS® and most associations accepted.
HB NO. 617/SENT TO THE GOVERNOR
Representative Hilferty filed this bill on behalf of Louisiana REALTORS® to clarify some matters following the Valobra v. Nelson case pertaining to the residential property disclosure form.
· The bill clarifies that the residential property disclosure form is required to be executed for all subsequent transfers following the property being transferred through a succession.
· The bill further clarifies that the seller must disclose whether there was a meth lab on the property to be sold that is still on the list of contaminated properties maintained by the Department of Environmental Quality.
HB NO. 659/INVOLUNTARILY DEFERRED IN HOUSE COMMITTEE
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 had amendments adopted to address those concerns.
· However, the bill still failed to pass due to opposition from the towing industry.
Louisiana REALTORS® is proud that we were able to convince the author and the committee of the need to preserve property rights and that the bill was changed to address our concerns.
HB NO. 748/SENT TO THE GOVERNOR
This bill would have potentially given the state authority over certifications and designations that REALTORS® are awarded by the National Association of REALTORS® and certifications issued by private organizations in other professions and occupations.
· The author stated that this was not her intent and had amendments adopted to remove this portion of the bill.
· However, the bill also sought to establish questionable policy regarding the standards by which the state could legitimately regulate any occupation or profession.
· Due to the concerns of Louisiana REALTORS® and almost 50 other organizations of professions and occupations, the bill was largely amended in the Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and International Affairs to only require a review of all agencies that issue professional and occupational licenses and a timeline for that review.
SB NO. 462/VETOED
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 have instead allowed municipalities and parishes to offer VOLUNTARY economic incentive policies to promote the development of affordable housing.
Governor Edwards vetoed this bill stating that it may jeopardize federal funding available to local governments for affordable housing programs. However, in his veto message Governor Edwards stated that he is not opposed to signing similar legislation next year if local governments do not actively pursue inclusionary zoning strategies within the next year.
SB NO. 466/ACT NO. 416
As filed, this legislation proposed a law change on security deposits for residential leases and potentially placed many additional burdens on residential lessors. Therefore Louisiana REALTORS® was initially opposed to the bill.
· However, after amendments were put on the bill it now only provides that a tenant would have the right to recover the amount of the portion of any security deposit wrongfully withheld and $300 or twice any portion of the security deposit wrongfully withheld, whichever is greater.
· Prior law allowed the tenant to recover actual damages or $200, whichever was greater.
· These amendments significantly altered the bill and removed not only Louisiana REALTORS® opposition but also the opposition of the Apartment Association of Louisiana.
Louisiana REALTORS® wraps up 2025 and looks forward to 2026! Louisiana REALTORS® gathered in Baton Rouge from October 7–8 for the 2025 Fall Governance Meetings, a dynamic two-day event filled with professional development, strategic planning and member engagement. The day before the conference offered the conclusion to the 2025 LR Leadership Program with participants graduated from the yearlong program after a half-day session. The 2025 graduates include: Torri Byrd, Shawn Carter, Bradley Cook, Stefany Deroche, Mignon Richard Díaz, Alfra Dixon, Thaddeus Dixon, Glen Elliott, Yvonne Graham, Charlotte Johnson, Michelle LaBanca, Slagle McGuffee, Ellen Monroe, Matt Noel, Ros Pack, Tiffany Pellerin, Latonia Riggs, Shannon Rodi Nash, Trish Skellham, Rebecca Slone and Charlotte St. Romain. Additionally, a sold-out, full-day AI-Powered Real Estate Professional Certification course led by industry expert Matthew Rathbun blew away attendees and had them leaving the session with such invigoration. The first official day of the conference held focus on professional development and networking. Tuesday opened with an informative session entitled Professional Liability 101 from Rice Insurance Services Center, offering critical insights into E&O and risk management. RPR's session brought a wealth information to attendees and offered a hands-on learning experience for the tools offered online. Targeted sessions like the Local AE Meeting and the YPN Advisory Council Open Meeting provided space for peer exchange and innovation. The day concluded with a festive Opening Reception sponsored by Louisiana YPN, bringing members together to celebrate and connect. The next day offered collaboration and celebration with Closing the Affordability Gap, presented by the Louisiana Housing Corporation, equipping REALTORS® with tools to better serve clients in today’s market. Regional caucuses followed, allowing members from across Louisiana to discuss local issues and share best practices. The Board of Directors Meeting brought the governance portion of the event to a close with strategic decisions for the year ahead. At the Board Meeting, Chris Brock, Northeast REALTORS® of Louisiana; Trish Leleux, Greater Central LA REALTORS® Association; Synde Devillier, Bayou Board of REALTORS®; Scott McCubbin, Bayou Board of REALTORS®; Amber Morrow, Greater Fort Polk Area REALTORS®; and David Moses, Greater Central LA REALTORS® Association; were elected as 2026 At-Large Directors. The grand finale? A spirited LSU Pregame Fan Experience and the highly anticipated Installation Ceremony, where new leadership was formally welcomed in a celebration of community and commitment. Louisiana REALTORS® looks forward to hosting REALTORS® from around the state at the Winter Leadership Conference, March 3-4, 2026, at the Live! Casino & Hotel in Bossier City. We would like to thank our sponsors Greater Baton Rouge Association of REALTORS® (GBRAR) , Zillow , Dax Roy Appraisals, Supra, American Home Shield, Guard Home Warranty fo r their generous support in helping make this conference happen!
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