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Legislative Update - March 31, 2022

Louisiana REALTORS • March 31, 2022

Your state legislators and LR Advocacy Team have been hard at work during the 2022 Regular Legislative Session but will get a short opportunity to regroup when the legislature goes into a veto session between Wednesday, March 29th and Sunday, April 3rd. No bills filed in the 2022 Regular Session will be considered during this time.


A few items of note that will be taken up the week of April 4th include Representative Polly Thomas’ bill to require wholesalers to have a real estate license, homeowners’ association disclosures and bills to improve Louisiana’s property insurance rates.  Please be sure to check back late next week for updates.



Legislative Bill Tracker

  • PROPERTY

    HB No.  293 by Representative Stephanie Hilferty - UPDATE 3/29/2022


    What:  Beginning January 1, 2023, this bill would require all existing  one- or two-family dwellings to have a carbon monoxide detector with a long-life, sealed battery at the time the dwelling is sold or leased.  It would apply to all one- or two-family dwellings including those without gas service due to the prevalent use of portable gas run generators.


    The bill has passed the House and will now be heard by the Senate.


    Position: Support


    Why: Following Hurricane Ida, Louisiana lost six citizens due to carbon monoxide poisoning from improper generator use.  In 2020, nine died from carbon monoxide poisoning.  The presence of a carbon monoxide detector may have prevented these 15 deaths.


    The failure to comply with the proposed requirement would not be a reason for nonpayment of any insurance claim, would not cause a delay or stoppage in the transfer of property, and the real estate agent would not be liable for the seller’s failure to comply with the proposed requirement.



    HB No. 549 by Representative Delisha Boyd - Updated 3/29/2022


    What: This bill would prohibit restrictive covenants based upon religion or race and prohibit the enforcement of existing restrictive covenants based upon religion or race.  The proposed law would apply to property covenants in general and those included in documents pertaining to condominiums, homeowner associations, and timeshares.  The House Committee on Civil Law and Procedure passed the bill onto the House floor unanimously with your support.


    Position:  Support


    Why:  Unfortunately, in the past race or religion based restrictive covenants were recorded against properties. Some covenants would single out particular races of people that were excluded from owning or occupying the property. Others would limit ownership or occupation to one particular race. Sometimes, these restrictions would be based on religion.


    In 1948, the United States Supreme Court ruled these covenants could not be enforced. In 1968, the United States Congress passed the Fair Housing Act, which banned covenants discriminating on the basis of race, color, religion, or national origin.  


    Amending Louisiana law to prohibit enforcement of race or religion-based covenants reinforces the REALTOR® Party value of equal opportunity in housing.

  • LEASE

    HB No. 160 by Representative Mandie Landry - Updated 3/29/2022


    What: In parishes subject to a federal disaster declaration, a residential tenant’s prolonged absence would not be used as proof of abandonment for thirty days following the initial declaration of a federally declared disaster thereby assuring tenants’ that their absence after a natural disaster would not be cited as a reason to evict them. 


    Position: Neutral


    Why:  Louisiana REALTORS® shared your concerns about the bill as filed with Representative Landry and she addressed each and every concern that was raised in amendments adopted by the committee.  We thank her for her willingness to work together on this important issue.

Consumer Guide Update: Preparing for Homeownership

By Louisiana REALTORS® • February 19, 2025
As previewed last week, NAR is pleased to share the latest consumer guide focused on preparing for homeownership. This guide covers what prospective buyers should consider as they kick off the home purchase process, including the importance of credit scores, mortgage pre-approval, down payments, budgeting, and educational resources. As a reminder, all guides in this series are available for download—in both English and Spanish—on facts.realtor . Please allow a few days for the Spanish version of the latest resource to be translated and uploaded. For ease of reference, below is a list of the most recent guides: NEW: Preparing for Homeownership Escrow and Earnest Money Pricing Your Home Preparing to Sell Your Home Fire Damage and Policy Coverage Thank you for your continued engagement with the “Consumer Guide” series and for sharing the resources with potential clients to ensure they have the information they need to be successful in their homebuying or selling journey. Remember that these guides are for informational purposes only and are not meant to enact or change any existing NAR policy. Be on the lookout for next week’s guide on Wednesday, which will cover property taxes.

Consumer Guide Update: Escrow and Earnest Money

By Louisiana REALTORS® • February 14, 2025
As previewed last week, NAR is pleased to share the latest consumer guide focused on escrow. This guide covers what homebuyers should know about earnest money deposits, including the general terms and use cases in real estate transactions. As a reminder, all guides in this series are available for download—in both English and Spanish—on facts.realtor . Please allow a few days for the Spanish version of the latest resource to be translated and uploaded. For ease of reference, below is a list of the most recent guides: NEW: Escrow and Earnest Money Pricing Your Home Preparing to Sell Your Home Fire Damage and Policy Coverage Flood Insurance Thank you for your continued engagement with the “Consumer Guide” series and for sharing the resources with prospective clients to ensure they have the information they need to find success in their homebuying or selling journey. Remember that these guides are for informational purposes only and are not meant to enact or change any existing NAR policy. Be on the lookout for next week’s guide on Wednesday, which will cover preparing prospective buyers for homeownership.

2026 LR Officer Elections, RVPs & NAR Director Applications

By Louisiana REALTORS® • February 12, 2025
The Louisiana REALTORS® Board of Directors will conduct several elections this Spring. Interested candidates that meet the qualification who are looking to serve at either the state association level or the national association level are encouraged to view the criteria and submit an application. An application that is not submitted on the appropriate form or not submitted pursuant to the instructions shall not be considered as submitted timely.
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