Summary of Legislative Events of Note
LOUISIANA REALTORS • May 4, 2018
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® supports this bill and has lobbied members of the House of Representatives to vote in favor of this bill. As of today, the bill is scheduled for debate by the House of Representatives, Monday, May 7th.
REGULATION OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS – HOUSE BILL NO. 372, REPRESENTATIVE PATRICK CONNICK
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 a review by a new commission to ensure that occupational licensing boards and their board members will avoid liability under federal antitrust laws.
If passed this legislation would ensure that if any of our members accept positions as LREC commissioners that they will not be personally liable for actions taken by LREC.
Representative Connick is working with Louisiana REALTORS® and other organizations to address any concerns with the bill.
REGULATION OF LAWS GOVERNING BOARDS AND COMMISSION – HOUSE BILL NO. 748, REPRESENTATIVE EMERSON
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Representative Emerson’s intent with this bill is to address the perceived overregulation of occupations and professions by the state, but Louisiana REALTORS® does not believe this bill accomplishes this in its current form. The bill is overregulation in an attempt to deregulate which Louisiana REALTORS® and a growing number of organizations oppose.
The Legislature already has oversight of the statutes, rules and regulations governing occupational boards and commissions such as the LREC. The additional requirements LREC would have to undertake due to this legislation becoming law could necessitate an increase in your state license fees which we would not support at this time.
We understand the need for the state to increase economic opportunities, promote competition and encourage innovation and will continue to ask Representative Emerson to please to study this issue prior to passing state law on the matter. However, should Representative Emerson not take this approach or significantly change the bill we will be asking that you take part in a call to action against the bill.
Want Your Teen to Own a Home Someday? Start Talking Money Now Teens may not be thinking about mortgage rates or down payments just yet, but the money habits they’re building now can follow them for years. And 88% of teens surveyed by Fannie Mae and Junior Achievement said they want to own a home someday. This week’s Consumer Guide: Talk to Your Teens About Money and Homeownership makes those conversations a little easier, covering everything from credit scores and budgeting to debt, renting versus owning and saving for that eventual down payment. So yes, you may have to interrupt the doomscrolling. But helping teens get smarter about money today could put them in a much better position to get the keys to a home of their own down the road. Download all of NAR’s Consumer Guides in English or Spanish at facts.realtor. For ease of reference, below is a list of the most recent guides: NEW: Teen Financial Literacy Fraud Red Flags Helping Family Members Become Homeowners Prepare Your Home for Hurricane Season Condominium Insurance Thank you for your continued engagement with the “Consumer Guide” series and for sharing the resources with prospective clients to ensure they have the information they need to find success in their home buying or selling journey. Remember that these guides are for informational purposes only and are not meant to enact or change any existing NAR policy. The next Consumer Guide, scheduled for publication on Oct. 21, will cover winter cold and storm preparedness.
Homeownership Is on Louisiana's November Ballot
After months of gathering recipes from across our Louisiana REALTORS® family, the cookbook is ready! This 200+ page collection is filled with Louisiana flavor, REALTOR® heart and recipes contributed by our members. We launched sales of the cookbook at the Fall Governance Meetings. You can now purchase your copy for $30 directly from the printer and shipped to you! Additionally, we will have copies available at the RRF booth at NXT . After NXT, we will carry a limited stock at the LR office for you to purchase through the LR Merch Shop and pick-up from the office or at an LR event, as stock is available. Even better, $15 from every cookbook sold will be donated to the REALTORS® Relief Foundation (RRF) to help provide housing-related assistance to REALTORS® and their families following disasters. Pick up a copy for yourself, grab one as a gift and enjoy a taste of Louisiana while supporting a great cause!
