Session Scoop: March 22, 2024

Louisiana REALTORS® • March 23, 2024

Bill Tracking Report as of 3/22/2024

Week 2 Report


Real Estate Licensing

HB 155, by Representative Thomas

Status: Pending Senate referral

Position: Support

 

Clarifies that a salesperson or broker who fails to renew their license by January 1st does not have to complete the pre-licensing or post-licensing education hours required of a first-time applicant to return their license status to active status. It also clarifies that a broker who fails to renew their license by January 1st can renew their broker license without having to spend five years requalifying as a salesperson.


Property Insurance Bills

This week, the House and Senate Insurance Committees moved forward bills that would make Louisiana's insurance laws more like those in other coastal states. The goal of these bills is to attract more property insurers to Louisiana. While the bills are not guaranteed to accomplish this goal, we know the status quo is unsustainable.


SB 295 by Senator Heather Cloud and HB 613 by Representative Gabe Firment

Status: Pending Senate/House Floor Action

Position: Support

 

These bills would change Louisiana from requiring "prior approval" of proposed insurance rates to a "file & use" system of approving insurance rates, thereby allowing insurers to begin using an actuarily sound market rate subject to receiving the approval of the Commissioner of Insurance within 30 days. This would allow insurers to manage their business better and have more flexibility to price their products.


SB 323 by Senator Kirk Talbot

Status: Pending Senate Floor Action

Position: Support

 

This bill would establish and clarify the rights, duties, and timelines imposed on both the policyholder and insurer to ensure swift resolution of an insured’s claims, including offering insurance companies cure periods to make things right. It would retain the insured's ability to file a bad faith claim and receive damages and attorney fees.


SB 370 by Senator Adam Bass and HB 611 by Representative Gabe Firment

Status: Pending Senate/House Floor Action

Position: Support

 

With a few exceptions, Louisiana’s 3-year rule essentially prohibits an insurer from canceling or non-renewing a property insurance policy if it is in place for three years. Louisiana is the only place on the planet with this type of law giving us a notorious reputation in the insurance industry worldwide.


These bills would allow insurers to slowly remove policies held under this law and provide that any policies written after August 1st would not be subject to the 3-year rule. It would also allow insurance companies to non-renew up to 5% of their property policies currently protected by the law annually subject to certain conditions.


HB 611 does differ from SB 370 in that it prohibits an insurer from charging a homeowners' policy deductible exceeding 5% of a dwelling's replacement cost value unless the insured requests otherwise.


HB 120, by Representative Willard

Status: Pending House Floor Action

Status: Support

 

The Louisiana Fortify Homes Program is scheduled to expire on June 30, 2025. This bill would remove the expiration date and allow the program to continue. It is important to note that even if the program is not allowed to expire, it will still need to be funded for future years.


Lawsuit Reform

HB 336, by Representative Chenevert

Litigation financing is when a third party provides money to a party or lawyer involved in a civil lawsuit to pay expenses related to pursuing the claim – court fees, experts, etc. However, litigation lenders are not bound to the same ethical rules as attorneys, so there is little stopping funders from interfering like pressuring clients to settle – or not.



This bill requires a plaintiff's attorney to disclose third-party litigation financing to the defendant and the court. The bills also prohibit the third-party financier from being involved in decisions related to the strategy and settlement of the case.





               



Bill Tracking Report by Numerical Order (as of 3/22/24) Bill Tracking Report by Position (as of 3/22/24)

2026 Legislative Session Scoop - Week 8 Recap

By Louisiana REALTORS® • May 1, 2026
Week 8 was one of the most consequential weeks of the session so far for Louisiana REALTORS® and the real estate industry. Two of the association’s flagship bills moved to the brink of final Senate action, rent stabilization was stopped again in committee, major insurance legislation continued to advance, and several bills affecting property rights, tort reform and transaction practice saw meaningful movement. The biggest developments of the week came on HB 468 and HB 1027 , both by Rep. Troy Hebert . HB 468 , the residential wholesaling bill, cleared the Senate Commerce Committee on April 28, had its amendments adopted on April 29, and was referred to the Legislative Bureau putting it one step away from the Senate floor. HB 1027 , the appraiser liability bill, followed the same path after its overwhelming House passage earlier this month and is also now pending Legislative Bureau review before final Senate consideration. Louisiana REALTORS® strongly supports both measures, which are designed to strengthen consumer protection, improve market clarity and reinforce confidence in the real estate transaction process. On the rent-control front, HB 472 by Rep. Alonzo Knox was brought back before the House Municipal, Local and Parochial Affairs Committee this week. Louisiana REALTORS® testified in opposition, and the committee voted 8-5 to defer the bill involuntarily. That is a meaningful win for property owners, housing providers, and the long-term health of Louisiana’s housing market. Louisiana REALTORS® remains firmly opposed to rent stabilization proposals, which may sound politically attractive, but have consistently been tied to reduced housing supply, deterioration in rental stock and long-term affordability problems in markets where they are adopted. Insurance remained one of the session’s most active and important policy areas. HB 1187, Rep. Paul Sawyer , dealing with Louisiana Citizens for emergency assessments, passed the full House 87-9 on April 29, and now heads to the Senate. Because Citizens' assessments can ultimately affect policyholders across the state, this bill has clear relevance for affordability and homeownership costs. HB 408, Rep. Edmond Jordan was heard in House Insurance Committee this week and remains pending. This bill would prohibit insurers from non-renewing residential policies when homeowners have taken documented steps to reduce risk, an issue with direct implications for insurability and failed closings in vulnerable markets. In addition, SB 241 by Sen. Valarie Hodges , which requires insurance adjusters and appraisers to include their license numbers in written communications, cleared House Insurance unanimously and is now headed to the House floor. Taken together, these measures reflect the legislature’s continued focus on insurance stability, transparency and accountability, all of which remain central to real estate activity in Louisiana. Week 8 also brought movement on broader tort reform and property-rights-related legislation. HB 437 , addressing expert witness fees, and HB 1089 , creating structured CARE Accounts for tort damages, both cleared House Civil Law and are now set for House floor debate next week. Meanwhile, SB 180 by Sen. Franklin Foil , allowing surviving spouses of disabled veterans to transfer a property tax exemption, is nearing final House passage after advancing to third reading. While not all of these bills directly regulate licensees, they reflect the broader civil liability and property tax environment that affects the cost and accessibility of owning property in Louisiana. Another key bill for the industry, HB 1166 by Rep. Kim Carver , remains very much alive and is now positioned for House floor debate on Tuesday, May 5 . The bill would require disclosures for vacant residential property, and it would close an existing gap in Louisiana law that currently exempts many vacant homes from standard seller disclosure rules. After being called and returned to the calendar earlier in the week, the bill is now finally set for debate. Louisiana REALTORS® also intends to use the bill as a vehicle for a structural amendment to the Louisiana Real Estate Commission that would move toward a more geographically balanced appointment process, with one member appointed from each congressional district and the remaining members appointed at large. That change would better ensure regional representation across Louisiana’s diverse real estate markets and help modernize the commission’s structure. Taken together, week 8 was a strong and consequential week for Louisiana REALTORS®. The association’s two flagship bills are now within reach of Senate floor passage, rent stabilization was turned back in committee, important insurance legislation continued moving, and HB 1166 remains positioned as both a major disclosure bill and a possible vehicle for meaningful LREC reform. Louisiana REALTORS® remains fully engaged at every stage of the process to protect private property rights, support practical regulation and advance policies that strengthen Louisiana’s real estate market. Lastly, this week, Louisiana REALTORS® wants to extend sincere thanks to Rep. Delisha Boyd — a real estate broker herself — for her tireless work shepherding HB 292 through the legislative process. The security deposit fairness bill, which allows landlords and tenants to mutually agree in writing to extend the timeline for returning a security deposit when damage is found, has passed to third reading and final passage in the Senate and is nearly on its way to the Governor's desk. This has been a meaningful win for both property owners and renters across Louisiana. Please view the weekly bill tracking report provided by our lobbying team over at Harris, DeVille and Associates.
Compliant advertising under the Fair Housing Act

Navigating Fair Housing Advertising Standards: A Guide for Real Estate Professionals

By Louisiana REALTORS® • April 24, 2026
Avoid costly fair housing violations with expert tips on compliant real estate advertising, from listing language to social media targeting strategies.

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.
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