National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Extended Until September 30, 2021
Louisiana REALTORS • October 1, 2020
“This is the second year in a row we have secured a full fiscal year extension for flood insurance. It is a victory for REALTORS® and something we fought for very hard,” says Shannon McGahn, the incoming chief advocacy officer for NAR.
Also included in the continuing resolution is a similar extension of surface transportation funding.
“Transportation projects take years from concept to completion, and any lapse in funding is especially disruptive,” McGahn says. “This is a big win, especially for our commercial members who are eagerly looking toward a post-coronavirus market."
While this extension provides some relief for homebuyers and sellers, it is far from a permanent fix. NAR continues to urge Congress to work toward a consensus on the NFIP Reauthorization Act.
"As the 116th Congress nears its end, the House and Senate are missing a golden, bipartisan opportunity to move meaningful NFIP reform legislation authored by Chairwoman Maxine Waters and Ranking Member Patrick McHenry, which addresses the program’s viability and affordability," said NAR President Vince Malta. "NAR urges Congress to make long-term reform a priority moving forward."
Louisiana REALTORS® is regularly in communication with the Louisiana Congressional delegation on this very important topic.
Louisiana’s 2026 Regular Session opened this week with several developments that matter directly to REALTORS ®, property managers and housing providers, alongside some broader political shifts worth watching. HB 292: Security Deposit Return Timelines Rep. Delisha Boyd’s HB 292, which addresses procedures for returning residential security deposits, was deferred to next week. This provides additional time for stakeholders to engage with members on practical impacts for lease administration, move out inspections and documentation standards. We’ll continue working to ensure any changes to deposit law are clear, workable and do not expose housing providers to unreasonable liability. Land Use and Development: St. James Parish Decision The Louisiana Supreme Court’s recent St. James Parish decision significantly tightens the standards for overturning local land use decisions, reinforcing that zoning and permitting authority rests with parish and municipal governments as long as their decisions are not arbitrary or capricious. For real estate and development, that means more predictability if projects are aligned with adopted plans and ordinances, but also higher stakes in local elections, planning processes and parish-level negotiations. Governor’s State of the State In his State of the State address, Governor Jeff Landry reiterated his push to phase out the state income tax, expand the LA GATOR and MJ Foster scholarship and workforce programs, and replace vehicle inspection stickers with a QR code system. These programs frame a debate around long-term competitiveness, workforce readiness and household cost of living which are all key drivers of housing demand and migration patterns. Business & Market Trends The business community is focusing the session on insurance, workforce and energy. Commercial and property insurance costs remain a top concern for employers and property owners, and we are monitoring civil justice and insurance reform proposals that could affect market stability and availability. At the same time, Louisiana is seeing more than $100 billion in announced industrial and data center projects, which could reshape local markets, labor conditions and housing needs in multiple regions of the state. Please view the weekly bill tracking report at the link below provided by our lobbying team over at Harris, DeVille and Associates.
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