LR Session Scoop: Week 4

Louisiana REALTORS • May 10, 2021

Updated on 5/10/2021 at 11:00 AM


As the session reaches its mid-point, lawmakers continue to wheel and deal about contentious issues such as centralized sales tax collections, legalization of recreational marijuana, and others. However, your team at Louisiana REALTORS® is on track with the legislation it is tracking or supporting. 


Since our last update, Louisiana REALTORS® came to a compromise with Representative Royce Duplessis and the Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center regarding House Bill No. 374 and had House Bill No. 258 by Representative Kathy Edmonston fine-tuned with amendments adopted in the House Commerce Committee.


Efforts continue to bring changes to partition laws so that co-owners receive the most value for their property in court ordered sales. It looks like the issue will be sent to the Louisiana Law Institute to study. This area of law is complex and far reaching, and a study may be the best approach in this instance. However, there is still room for it to be worked out in legislation this year. Only time will tell.


Below, you will find highlights on the key bills we are monitoring as well as a complete bill tracking report. We will continue to update you as new information becomes available.

View Bill Tracking Report

REAL ESTATE LICENSE RENEWAL

House Bill No. 258 by Representative Kathy Edmonston (updated 5/10/21)

What Would Change: This bill would move the renewal date of a real estate license up to September 30th. This change would take place in 2022 for your 2023 license renewal. Rather than a license renewal being “delinquent” after the license expires, the renewal would be delinquent three months prior to the license’s expiration.

What Would Stay the Same: License expiration and errors and omissions insurance expiration would remain December 31st. The deadline for completion of continuing education would remain December 31st. All renewal and delinquency fees would remain the same.

Status: Pending Legislative Bureau

Position: Support

Why:  Passage of this bill would help ensure that all REALTORS® were properly licensed and insured as of January 1st.


Currently, licensees have the first quarter of the following year to delinquently renew their licenses leaving those who do not renew before December 31st technically unlicensed and uninsured as of January 1st.


LREC states that licensees who currently renew delinquently after the December 31st license expiration generally have a “lapse in coverage” of their E & O insurance. On “Claims Made” E & O policies, any lapse in coverage forfeits coverage for prior acts of licensees and potential consumer recoveries.


This change would ensure that renewals occur timely and that licensees are properly licensed and insured by the beginning of the year rather than a fourth of the way into it. Amendments were adopted in the House Commerce Committee that would also give a one-month grace period in 2023 to renew in January and to clarify that continuing education requirements would remain on a calendar year. 


PROPERTY

House Bill No. 400 by Representative Jean-Paul Coussan (updated 5/10/21)

House Bill No. 521 by Representative Alan Seabaugh (updated 5/10/21)

What: Both bills seek to make changes in Louisiana law (one in the Civil Code, the other in the Code of Civil Procedure) regarding partition of co-owned property. These laws have often led to co-owners of property losing their family property or receiving less than the fair market value for it and it is past time for change. 

Status: HB No. 521 Pending State Judiciary A Committee, HB No. 400 Pending Senate Final Passage

Position: Monitor. The bills were originally filed to do far less but are evolving daily. Therefore, the position will remain as monitor.

Why:  Louisiana REALTORS® supports efforts to change our partition laws to see that those who co-own property receive maximum value for their property in sales that are open and transparent. Louisiana REALTORS® is working to bring together Louisiana Appleseed, the Louisiana Farm Bureau and the Louisiana Land Title Association on this issue to make improvements.


The Senate Judiciary A Committee felt that HB No. 400 took more of laser approach to fix immediate problems with recent changes and that the Law Institute should study what HB No. 521 attempted to do as it would be a major departure from current law that had not been examined.

House Bill No. 348 by Representative Mary DuBuisson (updated 5/10/21)

What: This bill would require that the reading aloud of the description of a piece of property at a sheriff’s sale be done so in such sufficiency to reasonably provide notice to the public of the property being offered for sale.

Status: Pending House Floor Action

Position: Support

Why:  The average property owner or purchaser does not know the lot number, lot lines, filing number, etc. of property, but they do know the address and neighborhood where the property is located. If adopted, this would assist property owners and purchasers to know with greater certainty what property is being sold at a sheriff’s sale.

HOUSING

House Bill No. 673 by Representative Gary Carter (updated 5/10/21)

What: This bill would create the Home Ownership and Personal Equity Fund and direct the treasurer to deposit $50 million of federal monies allocated to Louisiana to the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund of the American Rescue Plan of 2021 into the fund.

Status: Pending House Appropriations; considered 5/10/21

Position: Support

Why:  The monies in the fund would be used to provide grants for financial and educational assistance for homebuyers in Louisiana who are currently receiving affordable housing or other rental assistance thereby further promoting and helping people attain the dream of home ownership.

Senate Bill No. 188 by Senator Glen Womack (updated 5/10/21)

What: This bill would allow for two additional Senate President appointees and two additional House Speaker appointees to be seated on the board of the Louisiana Housing Corporation.

Status: Pending Senate Local and Municipal Affairs; considered 5/5/21

Position: Support

Why:  Additional voices and different points of view would strengthen the mission of the Louisiana Housing Corporation to ensure that every Louisiana resident is granted an opportunity to obtain safe, affordable, energy-efficient housing.

GENERAL

House Bill No. 451 by Representative Paula Davis (updated 5/10/21)

What: Beginning in 2022, insurers would be required to give discounts and insurance rate reductions for residential and commercial building insurance policies if the structure is certified as in conformance with the fortified home or commercial standards after inspection and certification by an Institute for Business and Home Safety certified inspector.

Status: Pending Senate Referral

Position: Support

Why:  Retrofitting one’s property to these standards is costly but may help reduce repair costs following wind events. Insurance companies should recognize the costs incurred by property owners in taking these steps to protect their insured property and provide discounts and credits for doing so.

House Bill No. 619 by Representative Stephanie Hilferty

What: Authorizes parish governing authorities to create commercial property assessed clean energy resilient programs in federally designated opportunity zones.

Status: Pending House Municipal, Parochial, and Cultural Affairs

Position: Support

Why:  The use of commercial property assessed clean energy resiliency programs within local jurisdictions across the state will increase economic development, lower insurance costs, and lower disaster and emergency response and aid costs to local governments. These programs will also decrease energy and water costs and encourage energy and water sustainability. 

House Bill No. 437 by Representative Foy Gadberry (updated 5/10/21)

What: This bill would require a properly registered certified building inspector to conduct all inspections of any commercial or residential structure and shall be present on site for such inspections. Therefore, this would prohibit virtual code inspections.

Status: Pending Senate Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs

Position: Support

Why:  The Louisiana Uniform Construction Code was put in place to ensure that structures are built and remodeled in a safe and structurally sound manner. To ensure this continues, it is imperative that code inspectors be able to physically inspect a structure. Virtual inspections do not provide for the same level of scrutiny as physical inspections do.

House Bill No. 199 by Speaker Schexnayder (updated 5/10/21)

 louisiana realtors bill review report louisiana realtors bill review report

What: Louisiana’s current legal structure permits multiple entities to collect sales and use taxes from businesses. This requires businesses to remit these taxes to multiple entities all with their unique systems and quirks. This legislation would create the State and Local Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Commission, comprised of equal representation of local and state appointees to act as the single collector for Louisiana and to simplify processes for businesses.


The change would require a constitutional amendment meaning that 2/3’s of the legislature would have to agree on the new Centralized Sales Tax Collection system and then the change would have to be approved by a statewide vote of the citizens.

Status: Pending Senate Final Passage

Position: Support

Why: 

louisiana realtors bill review report

In almost every other state, sales and use taxes are collected at the state level and then remitted to local government. Louisiana does this the other way around. Our system is burdensome for businesses because taxes are collected at multiple points all with unique policies and procedures that then expose businesses to multiple annual business audits.


This leaves companies working and paying more to implement systems to pay their taxes in Louisiana than they do in other states.  It is important that we transition our system of sales and use tax collection to be more compatible with the way business is done in the twenty-first century if we want our economy and real estate markets to expand.

LEASE

House Bill No. 374 by Representative Royce Duplessis (updated 5/10/21)

What: This would require landlords to allow for statements to be submitted regarding financial hardships following a declared disaster and require that the language on the application reference COVID-19 and hurricanes.

Status: Pending Senate Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs

Position: Monitor

Update: Louisiana REALTORS® met with Representative Duplessis and other interested stakeholders on Thursday, April 29th in an effort reach a consensus on how to reach the author and proponent’s goal of allowing applicants who have been adversely impacted by disasters to inform potential landlords of this through the application process. Amendments were adopted on the House floor to reflect discussions and Louisiana REALTORS® thanks Representative Duplessis for working with all stakeholders.

Why:  The bill will allow prospective tenants to inform landlords of hardships they may have suffered during COVID-19 and after storms. The hope is that landlords will take a second look at prospective tenants’ applications and maybe give them a second chance. All requirements to adopt and post application screening processes, disclose the amount of “screening charges”, and inform applicants of credit reporting rights were removed from the bill.

BROADBAND

House Bill No.476 by Representative Rodney Schamerhorn (updated 5/10/21)

House Bill No. 648 by Daryl Deshotel (updated 5/10/21)

 louisiana realtors bill review report louisiana realtors bill review report

What:

louisiana realtors bill review report louisiana realtors bill review report

House Bill No. 476 would allow parishes and municipalities to partner and accept monies for the purposes of expanding broadband and high-speed data infrastructure that is desperately needed as we depend on internet services more each day. This is pending in House Commerce.


House Bill No. 648 would establish the "Granting Unserved Municipalities Broadband Opportunities" grant program for areas with low internet connectivity to be able to access dollars to improve connectivity.


There is discussion about project qualifications and who and who should not be eligible for partnerships and grant dollars. However, the purpose of both bills is to improve internet service to Louisiana residents.

Status: HB No. 476 is pending House Commerce, HB No. 648 is pending House Final Passage

Position: Support

Why:  Louisiana REALTORS® now more than ever rely on streaming video and virtual tours to assist clients in buying and selling property. REALTORS® need high-speed internet to do this and their clients need high-speed internet to telework, access virtual classrooms, and access telemedicine. REALTORS® know that affordable high-speed broadband is almost as necessary as water and electricity because their clients are demanding it. This is why Louisiana REALTORS® supports efforts to improve internet service in Louisiana.

Affordable housing information for Louisiana real estate professionals

Understanding Affordable Housing Options in Louisiana: A Guide for Real Estate Professionals

By Louisiana REALTORS® • May 21, 2026
What qualifies as affordable housing in Louisiana? Learn about AMI, HUD income tiers, and housing support programs for clients.
Affordable housing resources for real estate agents in Louisiana

How Louisiana Real Estate Professionals Can Support Affordable Housing

By Louisiana REALTORS® • May 18, 2026
Learn how Louisiana real estate agents can support affordable housing through LHC programs, buyer education, and housing advocacy efforts.

2026 Legislative Session Scoop - Week 10 Recap

By Louisiana REALTORS® • May 15, 2026
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. 
Show More