2024 LA Regular Legislative Session

UPDATE

Below please find update on 1) Legislative activity forthcoming this week on bills of interest to PIA of Louisiana; 2) Legislative activity last week on bills of interest to PIA of Louisiana; 3) an update on activity of the LDI bills.

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HOUSE AND SENATE COMMITTEES THIS WEEK:

HOUSE COMMITTEES

House Civil Law & Procedure (Monday, April 15, 2024 9:00 AM Committee Room 4)

HB 88, Melerine: Provides for venue for actions involving certain insurers (reported favorable in committee)

House Insurance Committee (Tuesday, April 16, 2024 9:00 AM Committee Room 3)

HCR 53, GLORIOSO: Requests the commissioner of insurance to investigate the potential for creating a Coastal Reinsurance Assistance Program

House Insurance Committee (Wednesday, April 17, 2024 9:00 AM Committee Room 3)

SB 295, CLOUD: Provides for rate filing procedures and requirements for rate making. (gov sig)

SB 323, TALBOT: Provides for fair claims processing. (7/1/24)

SB 370, BASS: Provides for the termination of certain property, casualty, or liability policies. (See Act)

SENATE COMMITTEES

Senate Insurance Committee (April 17, 2024 9:00 a.m. Committee Room A-B)

HB75 Beaullieu: INSURANCE — Provides qualifications for title insurance producers

HB120 Willard: INSURANCE — Repeals the termination date relative to the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program (EG NO IMPACT See Note)

HB311 Hebert: INSURANCE — Provides relative to examinations and certain adopted handbooks

HB337 McFarland: CIVIL/ACTIONS — Provides relative to direct action against an insurer

HB399 Chance Henry: INSURANCE — Provides for transmission of information relative to the Department of Insurance

HB511 Illg: INSURANCE/AUTOMOBILE — Provides relative to uninsured motorists and certain policy forms

HB520 Firment: INSURANCE — Provides for unfair or deceptive trade practices relative to reports of adjusters

HB605 Chance Henry: INSURANCE — Provides relative to hearings and delivery of notices

HB611 Firment: INSURANCE/PROPERTY — Provides relative to homeowners' insurance and termination of certain policies

HB613 Firment: INSURANCE/RATES — Provides relative to the ratemaking system utilized by insurers and rating organizations relative to rate filings

HOUSE AND SENATE COMMITTEES ACTIVITY LAST WEEK:

House Commerce (4/8/2024, 9:30 AM, Committee Room 1)

HB 459, Glorioso: Prohibits certain practices of contractors relative to the solicitation of residential property insurance claims.  Notice given subject to call — House final passage — Sched. for 4/16/24

HB 478, Glorioso: Provides certain limitations on the amount of property insurance required by mortgage lenders. Voluntarily deferred

House & Governmental Affairs (4/9/2024, 9:30 AM, Committee Room 2)

HB 658, Henry: Provides relative to notifications prior to administrative revocation of a license. Pending House final passage — Sched. for 4/16/24

House Insurance (4/9/2024, 9:30 AM, Committee Room 3)

HB 242, Carter, R.: Provides for a five percent insurance rate reduction for motor vehicles with a dashboard camera. Voluntarily deferred

HB 387, Carter, R.: Provides for the exclusion of advertising expenses in setting rates or making rate filings. Voluntarily deferred

House Insurance (4/10/2024, 9:30 AM, Committee Room 3).  The House Insurance Committee was scheduled to meet on April 10, 2024 but the meeting was cancelled due to weather. The instruments below are pending in HIC:

HB 665, Braud: Creates the Stated Value Homeowner's Policy Act

HB 678, Firment: Provides relative to fair claims settlement practices

SB 295, Cloud: Provides for certain processes relative to rate making

Scheduled for HIC 04/17/2024

SB 323, Talbot: Provides for fair claims processing.  Scheduled for HIC 04/17/2024

SB 370, Bass: Provides for the termination of certain property, casualty, or liability policies. Scheduled for HIC 04/17/2024

Senate Insurance (04/10/2024, 9:00 AM, Committee Room A-B).  The Senate Insurance Committee was scheduled to meet on April 10, 2024 but the meeting was cancelled due to weather.

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TRACKED BILLS ON SENATE CALENDAR LAST WEEK — STATUS

SB 98, McMath: Prohibits use of a handheld wireless telecommunications device by a person when operating a motor vehicle upon any public roadway in this state.  Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works.

SB 113, Talbot: Provides the Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation an exemption from liability for certain property insurance claims.  Subject to call — Senate final passage — Sched. for 4/15/24

SB 250, Allain: Provides for no right of direct action against insurer. (8/1/24).  Subject to call — Senate final passage — Sched. for 4/15/24

SB 355, Stine: Provides for regulation of litigation funding by a third party that is a foreign person, state, or wealth fund. Subject to call — Senate final passage — Sched. for 4/15/24

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REMINDER: Governmental Affairs Chair Clyde Bohne has been regularly attending House and Senate Insurance Committee meetings on behalf of PIA, and was recently able to catch up with Commissioner Temple, who urged the assistance of PIA of Louisiana members to advocate for the Department's current insurance reform legislative package. The worry is that amidst the 1400 other bills under consideration in this legislative session, the LDI's Insurance Reform Package might be overlooked in terms of priority. The bills and their current status are below:

HB-120 Rep. Willard LFHP Sunset Removal Scheduled for SIC 04/17/2024

SB-295 Sen. Cloud File and Use Scheduled for HIC 04/17/2024

HB-613 Rep. Firment File and Use Scheduled for SIC 04/17/2024

SB-323 Sen. Talbot Fair Claims Process (1892 Reform) Scheduled for HIC 04/17/2024

HB-678 Rep. Firment Fair Claims Process (TX Model) Scheduled for HIC 04/10/2024 — meeting cancelled due to weather

SB-370 Sen. Bass 3-Year Rule Scheduled for HIC 04/17/2024

HB-611 Rep. Firment 3-Year Rule Scheduled for SIC 04/17/2024

SB-113 Sen. Talbot Citizens Exemption Scheduled for 04/15/2024 Subject to call — Senate final passage

SB-8 Sen. Edmonds Third Party Litigation Financing Pending Jud A

HB-336 Rep. Chenevert Third Party Litigation Financing Pending Jud A

SB-250 Sen. Allain Direct Action Scheduled for 04/15/2024 Subject to call — Senate final passage

HB-337 Rep. McFarland Direct Action Pending Senate Insurance

SB-20 Sen. Seabaugh Housley Presumption Pending Jud A

HB-24 Rep. Melerine Housley Presumption Pending Jud A

SB-84 Sen. Seabaugh Offer of Judgment Pending Jud A

SB-244/SB-18 Sen. Talbot/Sen. Seabaugh: Collateral Source/Actual Paid Medical Bills Pending Jud A

HB-423 Rep. Melerine Collateral Source/Actual Paid Medical

Bills Pending Jud A

SB-334 Sen. Talbot:  2-Year Prescription Pending Jud A — deferred 03/26/2024 pending info from author

HB-315 Rep. Johnson 2-Year Prescription Pending Jud A

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We know that swift legislative action can lower future insurance costs, benefitting our community and bolstering economic stability.  Prioritizing these bills showcases our proactive approach to Louisiana insurance consumer needs. If you are so inclined, please contact committee chairs below to encourage them to bring the Department bills forth quickly as these are priority to improve the insurance industry in our state. Committee leaders to contact to urge the Department bills scheduled are:

Cameron Henry, President of the Senate

Kirk Talbot, Senate Insurance Committee Chair

Gregory Miller, Judiciary A Committee Chair

Phillip Devillier, Speaker of the House

Michael "Gabe" Firment, House Insurance Committee Chair

Nicholas Muscarello, Jr. House Civil Law and Procedure Chair

Please contact Jody Boudreaux or Natalie Cooper at the PIA of Louisiana office, or Governmental Affairs Committee Chair Clyde Bohne with any questions or concerns. Thank you!