Protecting the real estate industry and your livelihood

Louisiana REALTORS® closed out Week 12 of the 2026 Regular Session in the final push toward sine die, with several priority bills either crossing the finish line, landing on the Governor’s desk, or moving through the last major stage of session. The headline for the association is a major win on HB 468 by Rep. Troy Hebert, the residential wholesaling bill, which cleared conference committee with the fixes Louisiana REALTORS® was seeking and was scheduled for final House action on May 29. With the constitutional deadline for third reading and final passage falling on Friday, May 29, and sine die adjournment set for Monday, June 1, the last hours of session became decisive for the remaining bills still in motion. The lead priority remained HB 468 , which is the flagship Louisiana REALTORS® package bill on residential wholesaling. After the House rejected Senate amendments 91-0 on May 20, the bill moved into conference committee rather than dying. House conferees were named as Rep. Troy Hebert, Rep. Phillip Deshotel, and Rep. Jacob Landry, while Senate conferees were named as Sen. Miller, Sen. Allain, and Sen. Connick. The conference committee report was received by both chambers on May 27, and the bill was then scheduled for final House action on May 29. This remains one of the most important bills of the session for the real estate industry because it creates a clearer regulatory framework for residential wholesaling, strengthens consumer protections, and gives the Louisiana Real Estate Commission enforcement authority over the practice. The session also produced a strong slate of enacted real estate, housing, and property-management wins. HB 1027 , the appraiser liability bill, was signed by the Governor as Act No. 187 on May 15 and becomes effective August 1, 2026. HB 292 , dealing with security deposits, was signed as Act No. 63 on May 11 and also becomes effective August 1, 2026. HB 297, expanding lease termination protections for stalking and cyberstalking victims, was signed as Act No. 64 on May 11. HB 300 , dealing with appraisal thresholds for bank-owned property, was signed as Act No. 149 on May 15. Taken together, these measures represent meaningful wins for appraisal certainty, leasing, property management, and transaction stability. Several additional REALTOR®-relevant measures cleared the Legislature and moved to the Governor’s desk by the close of Week 12. HB 1166 by Rep. Kim Carver, the vacant residential property disclosure bill, passed the Senate 38-0 on May 25 and was sent to the Governor on May 27. This is one of the most important real estate bills of the session because it closes an existing gap in Louisiana law for vacant residential properties and should help reduce late-stage surprises involving condition issues, access, utility status, and other material facts that can derail transactions. HB 1187 , dealing with Louisiana Citizens emergency assessments, was sent to the Governor on May 26 and remains an important insurance-affordability measure for homeowners across the state. HB 217 , the optional blight rehabilitation tax exemption bill, was sent to the Governor on May 21 and, together with HB 214 , strengthens the redevelopment toolkit for returning derelict property to commerce. On the constitutional amendment side, Louisiana REALTORS® also saw meaningful progress on broader property-tax and redevelopment issues. HB 214 , authorizing a property tax exemption for rehabilitated blighted or derelict properties, became Act No. 272 and was sent to the Secretary of State for placement on the ballot. SB 180, allowing the surviving spouse of a deceased veteran with a service-connected disability to transfer an expanded property tax exemption, became Act No. 39 and was likewise sent to the Secretary of State for ballot placement. These measures remain relevant to neighborhood revitalization, property-tax fairness, and broader housing stability across Louisiana. Insurance and mitigation policy continued to matter through the final days of session. HB 759 , relating to fortified roof endorsement offers, remained alive on the Senate floor subject to call and needed final Senate passage by the May 29 deadline to survive. That bill remained important because fortified roof policy sits directly at the intersection of mitigation, homeowner resilience, and insurance affordability. At the same time, slower-moving insurance measures such as HB 408 on non-renewal protections for homeowners who timely mitigate and HB 1210 on pre-suit claim review for residential property insurance did not advance this session, but both remain relevant to the longer-term insurance affordability discussion. Week 12 also highlighted the value of Louisiana REALTORS®’s defensive work. HB 617, the hidden-fees bill, stalled in Senate Commerce and effectively ran out of time. That was a meaningful defensive win, as the concern throughout was that broad fee-disclosure language could have unfairly placed liability on real estate professionals for charges they do not control, including fees set by lenders, title companies, insurers, government entities, and other third parties. HB 472 , the rent stabilization bill, remained dead after being involuntarily deferred, which is another meaningful win from a property-rights and housing-supply standpoint, though similar language always remains worth watching late in session. HB 750, dealing with automatic renewal contracts, remained alive on the Senate floor subject to call and continued to require defensive monitoring so that broad subscription language would not bleed into leases, property management agreements, association dues, or nonprofit and association activity. The broader civil justice and cost environment also remained part of the policy picture, even where bills stalled. HB 437 , dealing with expert witness fees, and HB 1089 , dealing with CARE Accounts, both passed the House but stalled in Senate Judiciary A. While they did not advance this session, they remain part of the larger conversation around litigation costs, insurance affordability, and the long-term cost structure affecting property owners, housing providers, and small businesses. The bottom line for the 2026 session is that it was a strong one for Louisiana REALTORS®. The association’s flagship wholesaling bill, HB 468 , cleared conference committee with the fixes we wanted and moved to final House action. Four major REALTOR®-relevant bills were already enacted into law: HB 1027, HB 292, HB 297, and HB 300 . Two property-tax constitutional amendments, HB 214 and SB 180 , are headed to the ballot. Three additional bills, HB 1166, HB 1187, and HB 217 , reached the Governor’s desk. On defense, rent stabilization was stopped, the hidden-fees bill stalled, and problematic consumer language in other measures was monitored closely through the final days of session. Louisiana REALTORS® remained engaged through the end on every issue affecting real estate transactions, mortgages and lending, insurance affordability, property management, private property rights, blight and redevelopment, property taxes, and housing supply across Louisiana.

Louisiana REALTORS® remained deeply engaged during Week 11 of the 2026 Regular Session as several priority bills moved into the final stretch of the session. With adjournment approaching, the focus has shifted from early-stage committee positioning to Senate floor votes, conference committee negotiations, and final action at the Governor’s desk. This week, the biggest development was HB 468 by Rep. Troy Hebert moving into conference committee after the House rejected Senate amendments by a 91-0 vote on May 20. At the same time, HB 1027 and HB 292 remain positioned for the Governor’s signature, HB 1166 and HB 1187 moved into Senate floor posture, and Louisiana REALTORS® continued defensive work on HB 617 and HB 750 to keep real estate, property management, and nonprofit activity from being swept into overly broad consumer-protection language. The most immediate priority now is HB 468 , the residential wholesaling bill, which remains the last major Louisiana REALTORS® package bill in active negotiation. The bill passed both chambers unanimously on the underlying policy, including House final passage 96-0 and Senate final passage 34-0 , but differences in amendment language still have to be resolved before adjournment. The House's rejection of Senate amendments did not kill the bill; it simply sent it to a conference committee, where conferees must now reconcile the two versions. This remains a critical measure for the industry because it brings greater transparency and accountability to residential wholesaling, strengthens consumer protections, and gives the Louisiana Real Estate Commission enforcement authority over the new framework. Another major win for the industry is HB 1027 , also by Rep. Troy Hebert , which has now completed the legislative process and is awaiting the Governor’s signature. The bill passed the House 90-0 , passed the Senate 35-0 , and was sent to the Governor on May 14. This measure provides important liability protections for real estate appraisers in certain circumstances and represents a strong legislative win for transaction certainty, appraisal professionalism, and fairness in the marketplace. On disclosure and property management issues, HB 1166 by Rep. Kim Carver remains one of the most important real estate bills still moving. The bill, which requires disclosures for vacant residential property, cleared the Legislative Bureau without amendment and was scheduled for final passage in the Senate on May 21. If passed by the Senate without amendment, it can go directly to the Governor. This bill remains important because it closes an existing gap in Louisiana law regarding vacant residential properties and should help reduce late-stage surprises related to condition issues, access problems, utility status, and other material facts that can derail transactions. HB 292 by Rep. Delisha Boyd , dealing with the return of security deposits, is already at the Governor’s desk and remains another meaningful property-management bill nearing final enactment. Insurance remained front and center in Week 11 as well. HB 1187 by Rep. Paul Sawyer , dealing with Louisiana Citizens for emergency assessments, cleared the Senate Legislative Bureau and was scheduled for Senate final passage on May 21. HB 759 by Rep. Gabe Firment , relating to fortified roof endorsement offers, was also in Senate floor posture. These measures continue to matter because insurance affordability, mitigation incentives, and policy stability remain central to homeownership, transaction viability, and broader housing-market confidence across Louisiana. Other insurance-related bills, including HB 408 on nonrenewal protections for homeowners who timely mitigate risks and HB 1210 on pre-suit claim review for residential property insurance, remain low-movement items but remain relevant to the broader insurance affordability discussion. Week 11 also required continued defensive work by Louisiana REALTORS®. HB 750 , dealing with automatic renewal subscriptions, remained on the Senate floor subject to call, and HB 617 , dealing with hidden fees, remained in a posture requiring close monitoring. Louisiana REALTORS® has worked to prevent both bills from being interpreted or applied in ways that would improperly include leases, property management agreements, association activity, nonprofit operations, or real estate professionals within frameworks that do not fit the realities of housing and real estate transactions. On HB 617 , the concern remains that broad fee-disclosure language can unfairly place liability on real estate professionals for charges they do not control, including fees set by lenders, title companies, insurers, government entities, or other third parties. However, our governmental affairs team successfully negotiated an amendment on the House side that exempted real estate transactions from this legislation. The bill died in the Senate Commerce Committee this week. On HB 750 , another bill that includes an exempting clause for real estate and property managers, the concern is that broad automatic-renewal language could bleed into leases, property management, and nonprofit or association activities if not carefully limited. This defensive block-and-tackle work has mattered because late-session consumer bills can create real unintended consequences if left unchecked. Broader property rights, housing, and tort reform bills also continued moving. HB 214 and HB 217 , both dealing with tax exemptions for rehabilitated blighted or derelict property, advanced through the Senate and remain part of the broader redevelopment and neighborhood revitalization conversation. HB 472 , the rent stabilization bill, remains stopped after being involuntarily deferred earlier in the session, but it stays on the watch list for any attempt to revive similar language through another vehicle before adjournment. On the civil justice side, HB 437 on expert witness fees and HB 1089 on CARE Accounts remain active and relevant to the broader insurance-cost and litigation environment affecting property owners and small businesses. Additional housing-related bills, including HB 297 on early lease termination for stalking and cyberstalking victims and HB 300 on appraisal thresholds for bank-owned property, are also near the finish line and remain part of the broader policy picture. The bottom line for Week 11 is straightforward: the session is now in its final stretch, and several Louisiana REALTORS® priorities are either on the Governor’s desk, on the Senate floor, or in late-stage negotiations. HB 468 is now the top late-session advocacy priority because it must emerge from the conference committee and receive final approval from both chambers before adjournment. At the same time, HB 1166 , HB 1187 , and HB 759 were all in Senate floor posture, while HB 1027 , HB 292 , HB 297 , and HB 300 remain in executive-approval posture. Louisiana REALTORS® will remain ready for fast movement, late-session amendment strategy, and defensive monitoring through final adjournment, especially on bills affecting real estate transactions, insurance affordability, property management, private property rights, and housing supply across Louisiana. Please view the weekly bill tracking report provided by our lobbying team over at Harris, DeVille and Associates.

Week 10 brought meaningful movement on several Louisiana REALTORS® priorities affecting real estate, property rights and insurance. And Week 11 is shaping up to be one of the most important stretches of the session. The biggest developments last week were the final Senate passage of HB 468 by Rep. Troy Hebert with amendments, movement of HB 1027 by Rep. Hebert to the Governor for executive approval, continued Senate progress on HB 1187 and HB 1166 , and final legislative action on SB 180 . REALTOR® Day at the Capitol also came at an important time, giving members the opportunity to reinforce industry priorities with legislators as several key bills neared final passage or awaited committee, concurrence or floor action. Just as importantly, the Louisiana REALTORS® legislative package has now cleared most of its major hurdles, and barring any late-session surprises, the remaining package’s bills should be headed to the Governor’s desk shortly. On the core real estate package, HB 468 , the wholesale regulation bill, remains the most immediate priority. The Senate passed the bill 34-0 on May 12 with amendments, and it now returns to the House for concurrence. That places it in a fast-moving posture, and members should be prepared for quick House action once concurrence is called. HB 1027 , the appraiser liability bill, has now moved into final executive posture after passing the Senate 35-0 without amendments and being sent to the Governor. Together, those two bills represent major wins for consumer protection, market integrity and greater certainty in the real estate transaction process. Insurance remains one of the busiest and most important policy areas as we head into Week 11. HB 1187 , dealing with Louisiana Citizens for emergency assessments, was reported favorably by the Senate Insurance Committee and is now pending Legislative Bureau for review in the Senate. HB 759 , addressing fortified roof endorsement offers, remains one of the more important insurance and mitigation bills still in play and is positioned for Senate floor action. HB 408 , which would prohibit insurers from non-renewing residential policies when homeowners timely mitigate risks, remains pending in House Insurance, as does HB 1210 , which would create a mandatory pre-suit claim review process for residential property insurance. Additional insurance measures, including HB 850 on Standard Fire Policy cancellation notices, HB 1162 on contractor verification in insurance claims, and SB 241 on adjuster and appraiser license-number disclosure, also remain active. These bills continue to matter because insurance affordability, mitigation, claims handling and policy stability remain central to property ownership and transaction viability across Louisiana. On disclosure and regulatory matters, HB 1166 by Rep. Kim Carver , requiring disclosures for vacant residential property and carrying out the adopted LREC reform amendment, was reported favorably by the Senate Commerce Committee and is now pending with the Legislative Bureau for review in the Senate. That keeps the bill in a strong position for Senate floor movement and makes it one of the key bills to watch in Week 11. SB 180 , allowing a surviving spouse of a deceased disabled veteran to transfer an expanded property tax exemption under certain circumstances, has completed legislative action and is now in final processing. Week 10 and the run into Week 11 also reflected an important defensive win for Louisiana REALTORS®. Our team successfully worked to block and tackle HB 617 and HB 750 to ensure real estate and nonprofit activity were not swept into overly broad consumer protection frameworks. On HB 617 , Louisiana REALTORS® opposed the bill as drafted and worked to posture it so that real estate professionals would not be caught up in a fee-disclosure framework that does not fit the realities of real estate transactions. On HB 750 , we worked to ensure the bill would not be interpreted to reach real estate or nonprofit operations in a way that could create unintended compliance burdens for leases, property management arrangements, association activity, or recurring charges authorized under those structures. That effort helped keep broad subscription-style language from bleeding into housing and nonprofit operations where it plainly does not belong. Civil justice and broader property rights measures also remain active entering Week 11. HB 437 , dealing with expert witness fees, and HB 1089 , creating CARE Accounts for certain damages arising from delictual actions, remain pending in Senate Judiciary A and remain high-priority tort reform measures to watch. HB 472, the rent stabilization bill, remains involuntarily deferred and stays on the watch list for any attempted revival through another vehicle or amendment. Additional redevelopment and tax-related measures, such as HB 214 and HB 217, also remain relevant to the broader conversation on blight, reinvestment and neighborhood stabilization. A few additional housing and valuation bills are also worth noting HB 292 on security deposits, HB 297 on early lease termination in stalking and cyberstalking situations, and HB 300 on appraisal thresholds for bank-owned property have all advanced and remain part of the broader housing policy landscape. The practical takeaway is straightforward: Week 11 will likely move fast, and late-session maneuvering can matter as much as headline floor votes. Louisiana REALTORS® should be prepared for House concurrence on HB 468 , further Senate movement on HB 1166 and HB 1187 , continued action on insurance and tort reform, and the possibility of late amendments or procedural pivots on bills affecting real estate transactions, private property rights, housing affordability, nonprofits, property managers and the broader real estate industry. The package is in strong shape, but this is the point in the session when the finish line comes into view and traffic gets thick. Please view the weekly bill tracking report provided by our lobbying team over at Harris, DeVille and Associates. 

Week 9 brought several major Louisiana REALTORS® priorities into posture as the Legislature moved deeper into the final stretch of the session. Two of our top priority bills, HB 468 and HB 1027 both by Representative Troy Hebert , cleared the Legislative Bureau and advanced to the Senate floor calendar for third reading and final passage. HB 468, our residential wholesaling regulation bill, remains one of the most important consumer protection measures of the session. The bill brings transparency, accountability, and clear rules of the road to residential real estate wholesaling in Louisiana. HB 468 previously passed the House by a vote of 96–0 and is now positioned for final Senate consideration. HB 1027, which clarifies that licensed real estate appraisers are not liable for a seller’s failure to comply with carbon monoxide detector requirements, also advanced to the Senate floor calendar after previously passing the House by a vote of 90–0. Both bills remain in strong posture, and Louisiana REALTORS® will continue working for final passage as they move through the Senate. Another major development this week was the House passage of HB 1166 by Representative Kim Carver , which passed unanimously on May 5, 103–0. HB 1166 creates a practical disclosure framework for vacant residential property transactions and is designed to help buyers, sellers and real estate professionals avoid late-stage surprises involving access, utilities, drainage, flood risk, prior use and other material property conditions. This bill has been a key part of Louisiana REALTORS®’ consumer protection and transactional clarity agenda. HB 1166 was received in the Senate on May 7 and now moves into the Senate side of the process, where Louisiana REALTORS® will continue working closely with the author and stakeholders as the bill advances. Tort reform and civil justice issues also moved forward this week. HB 437 by Representative Michael Melerine , which addresses the award of expert witness fees in civil litigation, passed the House by a vote of 75–18 and was received in the Senate on May 7. HB 1089 by Representative Dennis Bamburg Jr. , which creates structured CARE Accounts for certain categories of tort damages, passed the House by a vote of 67–29 and was also received in the Senate. Louisiana REALTORS® continue to support meaningful tort reform as part of the broader effort to improve Louisiana’s legal environment, reduce litigation-driven costs, and help stabilize the property insurance market. A more predictable civil justice system directly supports property owners, consumers, businesses and the long-term health of Louisiana’s real estate market. Property insurance remains one of the most important issues facing homeowners and property owners across the state. HB 1187 by Representative Paul Sawyer , dealing with Citizens Property Insurance emergency assessments, has been received in the Senate and referred to the Senate Insurance Committee after previously passing the House by a vote of 87–9. Several additional insurance-related measures remain active, including bills addressing fortified roof endorsements, stated-value homeowner policies, insurance notice requirements, nonrenewal restrictions, and pre-suit claim review. HB 408 , which addresses insurance nonrenewal prohibitions, and HB 1210 , which addresses mandatory pre-suit claim review, remain pending in the House Insurance Committee. Louisiana REALTORS® will continue to closely monitor these measures because insurance affordability, availability and market stability remain central to housing affordability and private property ownership in Louisiana. Several Senate bills also continued moving through the House processes this week. SB 241 by Senator Valarie Hodges , which requires insurance adjusters and appraisers to include their license numbers in written communications, cleared the Legislative Bureau on May 6 and returned to the House floor calendar. This measure remains relevant to transparency, accountability, and consumer confidence in the insurance claims process. SB 180 by Senator Franklin Foil , which allows surviving spouses of deceased disabled veterans to transfer their expanded property tax exemption, was scheduled for House floor debate this week and remains a positive homeowner protection and property tax fairness measure. Louisiana REALTORS® also continues to monitor legislation dealing with blight, redevelopment and rent stabilization. HB 284 by Representative John Wyble , which would authorize certain parishes and municipalities to expropriate blighted property by declaration of taking, remained on the House calendar this week as a notice-given, subject-to-call bill. The bill previously failed on the House floor by a narrow vote of 48–47 and remains under active reconsideration. Blight policy is important, but redevelopment tools must be balanced with private property rights, due process, and protections for property owners. HB 472 by Representative Alonzo Knox , which would authorize municipalities to implement rent stabilization programs, remains involuntarily deferred in committee. Louisiana REALTORS® continues to oppose rent control and rent stabilization proposals in any form because these policies reduce housing supply, discourage investment, and ultimately worsen affordability challenges over time. As we move into Week 10, Louisiana REALTORS® will remain focused on securing final Senate passage of HB 468 and HB 1027, advancing HB 1166 through the Senate, and continuing to engage on the tort reform and insurance measures that directly affect property owners, housing affordability and the real estate profession. With REALTOR® Day at the Capitol taking place during this critical stretch of the session, member engagement will be especially important as legislators continue to make decisions on real estate, insurance, liability, redevelopment and private property rights issues. Please view the weekly bill tracking report provided by our lobbying team over at Harris, DeVille and Associates.

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.

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.

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.

This week at the Capitol, Louisiana REALTORS® saw meaningful movement on several issues that directly impact the real estate industry. Most notably, HB 468 by Representative Troy Hebert, a key part of our legislative agenda, passed the House unanimously, 96–0, and now heads to the Senate. The bill creates a clear framework for regulating residential real estate wholesaling, strengthens disclosure requirements and gives the Louisiana Real Estate Commission enforcement authority, including penalties for violations. That vote margin speaks for itself and reflects strong bipartisan support for greater transparency and accountability in this market segment. We are also closely engaged on legislation tied to blight, redevelopment and property rights. HB 217 by Representative Chance Henry, which authorizes an optional property tax exemption for blighted or derelict properties that have been rehabilitated, and ties that exemption to local redevelopment plans, passed the House floor by an 84–12 vote. It is now moving through the Senate process. Louisiana REALTORS® supports HB 217 because it creates another tool to encourage redevelopment, return distressed property to productive use and strengthen communities when implemented responsibly. Louisiana REALTORS® also support Representative John Wyble’s HB 284 , which would authorize certain parishes and municipalities to address blighted property through a declaration-of-taking process in limited jurisdictions. HB 284 is currently subject to a call on House final passage. While any proposal involving expropriation deserves careful attention, we support the goal of giving communities practical tools to deal with truly blighted and abandoned property that drags down surrounding neighborhoods, depresses property values and slows local recovery. Insurance remains one of the biggest issues of the session and continues to affect housing affordability and market stability across Louisiana. Lawmakers are working on proposals to reduce premiums, increase competition and improve the overall insurance climate. The Fortified Roof Program continues to generate significant discussion and, candidly, a fair amount of noise, but Louisiana REALTORS® and our coalition partners are actively monitoring all avenues to ensure the final result is practical and beneficial for homeowners, and the broader real estate market. These conversations remain closely tied to tort reform, which continues to be a major part of the effort to address insurance costs and availability. We are also monitoring HB 673 by Representative Phelps , which would authorize the state fire marshal to require owners or lessees of abandoned or blighted structures to install and maintain exterior security cameras and retain footage for at least 30 days. Louisiana REALTORS® opposes this bill because it creates a costly new mandate on property owners without addressing the root causes of blight, and it could create additional liability and compliance burdens for property owners, property managers and others involved in distressed property. At this time, the bill remains pending in the House Commerce Committee and is slated to be heard next week. We also remain actively engaged on several other priorities within our legislative agenda including ongoing work on vacant property disclosure and efforts to provide greater clarity on appraiser liability related to carbon monoxide detector requirements. In particular, we are working closely with the Louisiana Real Estate Commission and Representative Carver to position HB 1166 in the strongest and most workable posture possible, with a clear focus on protecting Louisiana real estate agents and their clients from unnecessary liability, reducing confusion in the transaction process, and ensuring that any new disclosure requirements are practical, fair and clearly defined. Our goal is to ensure the final product supports consumer transparency without imposing undue burdens on our members and not exposing agents across Louisiana to unintended risk. As the session continues, Louisiana REALTORS® will remain focused on protecting consumers, supporting responsible redevelopment, defending private property rights and advancing sound policy that strengthens the real estate market for our members and the clients they serve. Please view the weekly bill tracking report provided by our lobbying team over at Harris, DeVille and Associates.

This week, the Legislature remained in high gear, and several items relevant to Louisiana’s real estate market moved into focus. The biggest headline for our industry this week was HB 468 by Rep. Troy Hebert , our wholesaling/consumer-protection bill, was slated to be heard on the House floor, however was bumped due to floor congestion and out-of-order bills. It is now expected to be reset for next Tuesday. This bill remains one of the clearest “market integrity” efforts on the board with clearer rules for non-traditional transactions, stronger transparency and better consumer protections. We also continued substantive policy work behind the scenes. We are actively engaging with Rep. Carver on a vacant land disclosure bill he has authored, and we appreciate that he is welcoming our input and guidance as the language is refined. Our goal is straightforward: ensure any vacant land disclosure framework is practical, reduces confusion and avoids unintentionally shifting liability or enforcement burdens onto real estate professionals. In addition, we were pleased to deepen our relationships at the Capitol this week. We had the privilege of hosting a lunch for the Governor’s Office, enjoyed meeting Governor Landry’s team, and look forward to working with them in a constructive, solutions-oriented manner as the session continues. Finally, Rep. Hebert also filed an additional measure that aligns with our legislative agenda and speaks directly to transaction risk management: HB 1027 , which would limit liability for licensed real estate appraisers in situations involving smoke and carbon monoxide detector compliance. The current law already provides that real estate agents are not liable for a seller’s failure to comply with Louisiana’s detector requirements in one- or two-family dwellings. HB 1027 would extend that same liability protection to licensed appraisers by amending R.S. 40:1581(F). This is a clean, common-sense clarification that helps prevent appraisers from being pulled into compliance disputes that properly belong with the seller’s statutory obligations. Next week, committees are scheduled to hear multiple bills relevant to real estate, including measures involving construction and roofing standards (often tied to insurance and mitigation), property rights/expropriation, and property tax and adjudicated property issues that can influence housing supply and neighborhood reinvestment. We will stay closely engaged and will flag any bills or amendments that materially affect transactions, homeownership costs or private property rights. Please view the weekly bill tracking report provided by our lobbying team over at Harris, DeVille and Associates.