2024 LA Regular Legislative Session

UPDATE

Monday, April 22, 2024, marked the half-way point for the 2024 Regular Legislative Session.

Have you contacted your legislator? Please call your State Representative and State Senator today to share your experience as an insurance professional and an insurance consumer, and invite them to contact you when they have questions on insurance legislation. If not now, when?

225-342-6945 HOUSE SWITCHBOARD

225-342-2040 SENATE SWITCHBOARD

Of course, PIA of Louisiana EVP Jody Boudreaux, staff Natalie Cooper and our Governmental Affairs Committee Chair Clyde Bohne are happy to talk with you about bills of interest to PIA of Louisiana.

Below please find update on:

1. Committee activity forthcoming this week on some bills of interest to PIA of Louisiana — it's a busy week of important bills for both Senate and House Insurance Committees;

2. An update on activity of the LDI bills — we hope to see some bills be debated soon; and

3. Legislative activity last week on some bills of interest to PIA of Louisiana.

FORTHCOMING THIS WEEK

SENATE COMMITTEES:

Senate Insurance (4/24/2024, 9:00 AM, Committee Room 3)

SB 484, Duplessis: Provides for changes to the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program. (gov sig)

HB 144, Glorioso: Prohibits issuance of property insurance policies relative to unimproved land and replacement costs of improvements on immovable property

HB 337, McFarland: Provides relative to direct action against an insurer

HB 375, Landry: Requires disclosure of available discounts relative to homeowners' and motor vehicle liability insurance policies

HB 510, Glorioso: Provides relative to mandatory binding arbitration with respect to property insurance policies

HB 609, Firment: Provides for the appraisal process and employment of umpires

HB 651, Braud: Provides relative to insurance fraud

HB 791, Braud: Repeals the termination provision of the Sledge Jeansonne Louisiana Insurance Fraud Prevention Act (EG SEE FISC NOTE SG EX See Note)

**Persons who do not feel comfortable giving testimony in person may submit a prepared statement in accordance with Senate Rule 13.79, in lieu of appearing before the committee. Statements may be emailed to russellc@legis.la.gov and must be received by the committee secretary at least four hours prior to the meeting to be included in the record for this committee meeting.**

Senate Transportation, Highways & Public Works (4/24/2024, 1:00 PM, Committee Room E)

HB 317, Schamerhorn: Removes the helmet requirement for certain motorcycle operators

HB 430, Owen: Requires the office of motor vehicles to accept proof of vehicle insurance from another state

SB 279, Fesi: Prohibits driving on Louisiana highways without lawful presence in the United States and without a motor vehicle liability insurance policy or other mandatory security

HOUSE COMMITTEES:

House Insurance (4/24/2024, 9:00 AM, Committee Room 3)

SB 242, Bouie: Provides for the use of satellite photos when inspecting a property that has been issued an insurance policy

SB 337, Boudreaux: Provides for a premium discount for certain military personnel

SB 344, Barrow: Requires an applicant or an existing insured regarding a homeowner's insurance policy to disclose to their insurer the property is to be used or is being used as a group home

SB 345, Barrow: Provides for an extension for premiums due for homeowners' policies

SB 367, Bass: Provides for the boards and commissions within the Department of Insurance

Pursuant to House Rule 14.33, any interested person or any committee member may file with the committee a prepared statement concerning a specific instrument or matter under consideration by the committee or concerning any matter within the committee's scope of authority, and the committee records shall reflect receipt of such statement and the date and time thereof. NOTE: Statements may be filed with the House Committee on Insurance via email at h-ins@legis.la.gov.

House Labor & Industrial Relations (4/25/2024, At Adjournment, Committee Room 5)

HB 703, Melerine: Provides relative to controversion of benefits, preliminary determination hearings, disputed claims, and penalties and attorney fees

TRACKED BILLS ON SENATE CALENDAR THIS WEEK:

SB 250, Allain: Provides for no right of direct action against insurer. (8/1/24). Subject to call — Senate final passage — Scheduled for 4/23/24

SB 355, Stine: Provides for regulation of litigation funding by a third party that is a foreign person, state, or wealth fund. Pending House Introduction

UPDATE ON LDI BILLS

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 LDI's Insurance Reform Package to be overlooked. Those bills and current status are outlined below:

HB-120 Rep. Willard LFHP Sunset Removal Pending Legislative Bureau

SB-295 Sen. Cloud File and Use Pending House final passage

HB-613 Rep. Firment File and Use Pending Legislative Bureau

SB-323 Sen. Talbot Fair Claims Process (1892 Reform) Pending House Final Passage

HB-678 Rep. Firment Fair Claims Process (TX Model) Pending House Insurance Committee

SB-370 Sen. Bass 3-Year Rule Pending House final passage

HB-611 Rep. Firment 3-Year Rule Pending Legislative Bureau

SB-113 Sen. Talbot Citizens Exemption Subject to call — Senate final passage — Sched. for 4/23/24

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

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

SB-250 Sen. Allain Direct Action Subject to call — Senate final passage — Sched. for 4/23/24

HB-337 Rep. McFarland Direct Action Pending Senate Insurance — Scheduled for 4/24/24

SB-20 Sen. Seabaugh Housley Presumption Pending Senate Judiciary A

HB-24 Rep. Melerine Housley Presumption Pending Senate Judiciary A

SB-84 Sen. Seabaugh Offer of Judgment Pending Senate Judiciary A

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

HB-423 Rep. Melerine Collateral Source/Actual Paid Medical Bills Pending Senate Judiciary A

SB-334 Sen. Talbot 2-Year Prescription Pending Senate Judiciary A

HB-315 Rep. Johnson 2-Year Prescription Pending Senate Judiciary A

As of Monday early afternoon, industry was anticipating Senate Judiciary A Committee taking up some of these very important bills this week, but an agenda without any of the LDI bills came out this afternoon. We hope to see Judiciary A take up these bills very soon. If your Senator sits on Judiciary A please contact them to urge they expedite these bills. 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.

AND FINALLY, LAST WEEK'S ACTIVITY ON SOME BILLS OF INTEREST

HB 75, Beaullieu: Provides qualifications for title insurance producers. Pending Legislative Bureau

HB 120, Willard: Repeals the termination date relative to the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program (EG NO IMPACT See Note). Pending Legislative Bureau

HB311, Hebert: Provides relative to examinations and certain adopted handbooks. Pending Legislative Bureau

HB 337, McFarland: Provides relative to direct action against an insurer. Pending Senate Insurance — Scheduled for 4/24/24

HB 399, Chance Henry: Provides for transmission of information relative to the Department of Insurance. Pending Legislative Bureau

HB 511, Illg: Provides relative to uninsured motorists and certain policy forms. Pending Legislative Bureau

HB 520, Firment: Provides for unfair or deceptive trade practices relative to reports of adjusters. Pending Legislative Bureau

HB 605, Chance Henry: Provides relative to hearings and delivery of notices. Pending Legislative Bureau

HB 611, Firment: Provides relative to homeowners' insurance and termination of certain policies. Pending Legislative Bureau

HB 613, Firment: Provides relative to the ratemaking system utilized by insurers and rating organizations relative to rate filings. Pending Legislative Bureau

HB 88, Melerine: Provides for venue for actions involving certain insurers. Pending Senate Referral

HCR 53, Glorioso: Requests the commissioner of insurance to investigate the potential for creating a Coastal Reinsurance Assistance Program. Pending House final passage

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. (8/1/24). Pending Legislative Bureau

SB 295, Cloud: Provides for rate filing procedures and requirements for rate making. (gov sig). Pending House final passage

SB 323, Talbot: Provides for fair claims processing. (7/1/24). Pending House final passage

SB 370, Bass: Provides for the termination of certain property, casualty, or liability policies. (See Act). Pending House final passage

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 for your support to PIA and our industry!