Recap NAR 2019 Legislative Meetings in Washington, D.C.

Louisiana REALTORS • May 29, 2019
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Louisiana had a number of representatives attend legislative meetings in Washington, D.C. during the month of May. Several members serve on national committees and brought back reports of activities and items covered. Valuable information regarding issues are covered in the various meetings and the attendees also took time to hear from Louisiana’s congressional delegation. The following provides a recap of some key items to note:

National Association of REALTORS Board of Directors

NAR Directors: Beth Cristina, Amanda Hanemann, Connie Kyle, LaTanya Labranch, Marbury Little, Logan Morris, Andrea McKey, Matt Ritchie, Rick Roberts, Jeffrey Welsh, and Curtis Wright

The National Association of REALTORS® Board of Directors approved a three-year extension of the $35-per-member annual special assessment to fund its national ad campaign through 2022. The vote comes as the power of NAR’s campaign message, “

The board also approved the 2020 NAR budget with no dues increase and a Finance Committee recommendation that NAR return to a more prudent 50% reserve requirement of gross operating expense (from the current 40%) and target a 75% reserve. The 2019 budget adds $11.5 million back to NAR’s reserves. For 2020, membership is budgeted at 1,340,000, and annual dues remain at $150.

Federal Priority Issues Briefing

NAR’s head of lobbying along with a panel of subject experts gave a very clear picture of what NAR is focused on regarding our lobbying efforts and shared similar positive feedback that NAR is having a positive impact on the Hill.  Flood insurance, Opportunity zones, data privacy, expanded access to association health plans, GSE reform, Federal taxation and fair housing were all discussed.

Federal Finance & Housing Policy Committee

The Federal Finance & Housing Policy Committee is focused on key issues such as FHA and VA underwriting. There was great discussion regarding encouraging our elected officials to soften rules on how FHA excess reserves should be used in the future. The committee believes the reserves should be used to improve FHA’s operations for borrowers and lenders and not swept into the general treasury. The committee discussed their continued push for rule changes regarding Condos, FHA technology and Rural Housing.

Federal Housing Visit - recap provided by committee member, Scott Friestad

Members heard from Tracy Kasper, VP of Advocacy for NAR; HUD Deputy Secretary Brain Montgomery; Gisele Roget, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Single Family Housing; John Bell III, Deputy Director of VA Loan Guaranty Service and Cathy Glover, Assistant Deputy Administrator, USDA Single Family Housing.

The leadership from HUD and FHA stated that we would see new Condo Rules released in the next few months, in line with NAR’s guidance.  They also shared FHA Underwriting changes that have been enacted but are on a 90 day hold period.  They include new rules that will require manual underwriting for those with less than a 620 score and a DTI greater than 43%.  Recent studies show that these individuals pose a risk of loan default with credit scores under 620 and DTI greater than 43%.  Currently 25% of FHA’s loan portfolio is made up of loans with DTI over 50%, the highest since 2000.  The average credit scores have also decreased in the same time period.  Ideally, FHA would like to see credit scores higher than 680 and DTI lower than 43%.  HUD has also changed down payment Assistance rules through government entities.  This rule change is on hold pending ongoing litigation between HUD and a Native American entity.  FHA has also released proposed revisions to the FHA Loan-Level certifications creating an easier to read format with the end goal of the change to provide additional clarity and streamline FHA requirements while maintaining the financial footing of the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund.

Broker Risk Reduction- Risk Management Committee Chaired by Lynda Nugent Smith

Wire Fraud

During this meeting, different ways of protecting yourself from wire fraud and violating TCPA and DNC laws (laws regarding texting and calling) were discussed.

NAR provides an excellent video to help reduce the risk of wire fraud: Wire Fraud Alert for Buyers. Always use good security practices and encourage your clients to do the same. A few other great tips discussed were to avoid sending sensitive financial information or wiring instructions via email, use a secure platform to share documents and information, and immediately report suspected fraud to the bank from which the funds were transferred. In addition to notifying a bank, you should report fraud incidents on the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at http://www.ic3.gov.

Other great security resources include:

Telephone Consumer Protection Act and Do Not Call Laws

To reduce the risk of violating TCPA:

·       Obtain written consent before using an auto dialer to send a commercial message

·       Include language on consent forms stating that recipients who submit wireless numbers agree to receive text messages from on behalf of the sender.

·       Allow recipients to easily cancel or opt-out (e.g., by responding with “STOP” or UNSUBSCRIBE”

·       Set email alerts to document when subscribers opt-out.

·       Upon receiving an aopt-out request, promptly remove the person from your message lists.

·       Record the opt-out date and date when the person was removed.

·       Talk to your vendor about compliance and indemnification

To reduce risk of violating DNC

·       Create an office policy for compliance with Do Not Call rules

·       Obtain and updated DNC list monthly and cross reference with your company CRM

2026 Legislative Session Scoop - Week 7 Recap

By Louisiana REALTORS® • April 24, 2026
Week seven of the 2026 Regular Session was one of the most active weeks yet for legislation affecting the real estate industry. Louisiana REALTORS® remained heavily engaged as lawmakers advanced bills dealing with property disclosures, appraiser liability, rent regulation, insurance, blight, redevelopment and other issues that directly affect real estate professionals, property owners and consumers across the state. One of the most important bills this week was HB 1166 by Rep. Kim Carver , which would require disclosures for vacant residential property. The bill was reported from House Commerce with amendments on a 14-0 vote and then amended on the House floor, ordered engrossed, and passed to third reading. Louisiana REALTORS® testified on the bill in committee and worked closely with the author to better posture the legislation. Amendments advanced by our team were accepted by the author, helping improve the bill while preserving a practical disclosure framework that increases transparency without creating unnecessary confusion in the transaction process. Another closely watched issue this week was consumer-fee disclosure legislation. HB 617 by Rep. Mandie Landry moved this week, advancing from House Commerce and then the House floor, while HB 580 , another hidden-fee disclosure bill touching real estate transactions, remains pending. Louisiana REALTORS® is opposed to these measures in their current form to the extent they apply to real estate professionals because they are not well-tailored to the realities of real estate transactions, where many costs are negotiated, variable or controlled by third parties. Louisiana REALTORS® testified in opposition to the bills we oppose and is actively working with the author to better posture the legislation and remove real estate professionals from its scope altogether. On HB 472 by Rep. Alonzo Knox , the rent stabilization bill, the author is expected to try to bring the measure back before the committee next week with amendments. Even so, Louisiana REALTORS® remain opposed to the bill on principle. Price gouging is already illegal under existing law, and government-imposed rent regulation is not the right answer to housing affordability challenges. Louisiana REALTORS® testified in opposition to the bill and continues to oppose the measure because policies like this risk discouraging investment, reducing housing supply, and creating further market distortions rather than solving the underlying problem. HB 468 by Rep. Troy Hebert , which regulates the wholesale of residential real property, remains pending in the Senate Commerce Committee and continues to be an important bill for the industry. Likewise, HB 1027 by Rep. Troy Hebert , dealing with appraiser liability, had a strong week, passing the House 90-0 and moving to the Senate. Both measures are significant because they promote greater clarity, consumer protection and confidence in the real estate marketplace. Blight and redevelopment issues also remained active. HB 284 by Rep. John Wyble , which would allow certain local governments to expropriate blighted property through a declaration-of-taking process, remains subject to call and continues to raise serious concerns about private property rights. By contrast, HB 214 and HB 217 by Rep. Chance Henry , which create tax incentives for the rehabilitation of blighted property, represent a more constructive redevelopment approach by encouraging reinvestment rather than expanding government taking authority. Insurance legislation also remained a major focus this week, with multiple bills heard that could affect homeownership costs, market stability and post-storm recovery. Measures dealing with Louisiana Citizens assessments, pre-suit insurance claim review, the Fortified Homes Program and insurance market transparency all carry real implications for affordability and transaction viability. In Louisiana, insurance remains one of the most important issues affecting the real estate market, and Louisiana REALTORS® continues to closely track that legislation. Taken together, week seven showed that Louisiana REALTORS® remains actively engaged where it matters most: supporting practical transaction standards, protecting private property rights, testifying for and against legislation when necessary, pushing back on unworkable regulation and rent-control-style policies, and advancing policies that strengthen housing opportunity and market stability across Louisiana. Please view the weekly bill tracking report provided by our lobbying team over at Harris, DeVille and Associates.

Consumer Guide Update: Navigating Interest Rates Shifts

By Louisiana REALTORS® • April 23, 2026
NAR is pleased to share the latest consumer guide helping buyers navigate shifting interest rates. The one-page guide covers how lenders set rates, the impact of small shifts on monthly payments and strategies to get the lowest rate possible. As a reminder, all guides in this series are available for download—in both English and Spanish—on facts.realtor . Please allow up to two weeks for the Spanish version of the latest resource to be translated and uploaded. For ease of reference, below is a list of the most recent guides: NEW: Navigating Interest Rate Shifts Financing a Renovation When You Buy Staging Your House for a Sale Spotting Deepfake Scams in Real Estate Are You Ready to Invest in Real Estate? 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. Be on the lookout for the next consumer guide, which looks at how solar installations may impact home sales transactions.

2026 Legislative Session Scoop - Week 6 Recap

By Louisiana REALTORS® • April 17, 2026
Louisiana REALTORS® spent week six of the Legislative Session actively engaged on several bills at the Capitol impacting core industry priorities, including private property rights, affordability, redevelopment and transaction-related regulations. Most of the meaningful activity remained in the House, where lawmakers continued advancing measures with direct implications for the real estate market. HB 284 by Rep. John Wyble , which would authorize certain local governments to expropriate blighted property by declaration-of-taking, failed on final passage in the House Tuesday by a 48-47 vote, and remains subject to reconsideration. Meanwhile, HB 472 by Rep. Alonzo Knox , which would authorize rent stabilization at the local level, was voluntarily deferred in committee following testimony from Louisiana REALTORS® and our partners at the Louisiana Apartment Association effectively ending its path this session. This marks a significant win, as rent control policies do not address housing supply challenges and instead risk further market distortion. In House Commerce, several key bills moved forward. HB 1027 by Rep. Troy Hebert , which clarifies that appraisers are not liable for a seller’s failure to meet smoke and carbon monoxide detector requirements, passed committee unanimously and is now slated for a House floor vote. This common-sense measure protects appraisers and helps preserve efficiency in the transaction process. HB 673 by Rep. Tammy Phelps , which would have imposed new security camera mandates on certain blighted properties, was also voluntarily deferred following industry opposition. Additionally, HB 426 by Rep. Phelps , which addresses criminal blighting and expands enforcement liability, remains under consideration. Louisiana REALTORS® is monitoring this bill closely to ensure efforts to address blight do not unintentionally discourage investment or redevelopment. We continue to track broader market integrity and redevelopment efforts. HB 468 by Rep. Hebert , addressing residential wholesaling, has now moved to the Senate after unanimous House passage. HB 217 by Rep. Chance Henry , which provides tax incentives for the rehabilitation of blighted property, also remains active in the Senate and represents a constructive approach to redevelopment. Looking ahead, the House Commerce Committee will consider HB 1166 by Rep. Kim Carver next week, which addresses disclosure requirements for vacant residential property. Louisiana REALTORS® supports clear, consistent consumer disclosures and have been working closely with the author and the Louisiana Real Estate Commission to ensure the bill is structured to promote transparency while maintaining practical standards and avoiding unintended liability for real estate professionals. Overall, the House carried the bulk of real estate activity this week, while the Senate saw limited movement on major REALTOR® priorities. As the session continues, Louisiana REALTORS® remains focused on protecting private property rights, opposing harmful market interventions, supporting responsible redevelopment and advancing policies that strengthen real estate transactions for both consumers and our members. Please view the weekly bill tracking report provided by our lobbying team over at Harris, DeVille and Associates.
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