Louisiana REALTORS® Resource - (03-05-2018)
Amy P. Fennell • March 8, 2018
#1 SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION REPORT
While legislators are still not able to reach a consensus on how to resolve the budget deficit, one bright spot is that issues important to the REALTOR® family have so far been protected. Louisiana REALTORS® was once again successful in preventing sales taxes being placed on your services.
House Bill No. 19 was heard in the House Ways and Means Committee and did not move forward. THANK YOU to those members who responded to our Call for Action! Your voices were heard and gave Louisiana REALTORS a win on this issue.
A crucial bill regarding the renewal of 1/4th of the additional penny sales tax set to expire June 30th and the repeal of various exemptions to the state sales tax (HB No. 23, Representative Dwight) failed to pass the House of Representatives Sunday evening. If the legislature adjourns without passing any budget reform or revenue measures there will likely be a second special session following adjournment of the regular session. This leaves approximately three weeks before the beginning of the 2018-2019 state fiscal year to address the budget shortfall.
#2 SAVE THE DATE: REALTOR® DAY - APRIL 24, 2018
Save the Date and plan to join us on April 24, 2018 for REALTOR® Day an event in conjunction with the Spring Into Action Conference!
This event is a chance for members to rally together as an industry at the State Capitol and discuss issues and concerns that affect Louisiana's homeowners while elected officials are in a legislative session.
This year we will also celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Fair Housing Act and recognize the important role that has played in homeownership.
Watch the video for what last year's attendees had to say!
#3 LREC MANDATES REVISED PROPERTY DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT
The revised Property Disclosure Form is mandatory as of March 1, 2018. REALTORS® are encouraged to download the form from LREC's website to insure the proper version is used. Many members have asked whether this applies on active listings. While it is good risk management practice, the form is only mandated on listings taken on or after March 1.
To read more about how and why the changes came about, click here.
PLEASE NOTE: LREC has closed their P.O. Box. Any mail sent to P.O. Box address will be subject to at least a two-week delay due to post office sorting. In order to avoid this delay, send mail to the physical address: 9071 Interline Ave., Baton Rouge, LA 70809.
#4 NAR COMMITTEE APPLICATION OPENS MARCH 1
Louisiana REALTORS® encourages more of Louisiana's members to get involved and represent viewpoints at all levels of the organization! The National Association of REALTORS® is now accepting applications for members interested in serving on a committee in 2019.
Submissions are being taken through May 1. NAR’s committees are a great forum for debate and discussion. Being on a committee allows you to contribute to the decision-making process, and gain national experience beneficial for those seeking a leadership role and a great way to build contacts around the country. Applying to a committee is simple; visit the committee application webpage to get started: www.CommitteeApp.realtor.
#5 UPCOMING EDUCATION
New Home Construction & Buyer Representation
April 25, 2018 | Baton Rouge
8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Solid increases in single-family, still historically low interest rates, and high buyer demand point to healthy sales of new-home construction.
This one-day course provides buyer’s representatives with the product knowledge and increased confidence to make new-home construction a win-win transaction for buyer-clients. Earns 1 ABR elective credit, 1 GRI credit & 8 hours of CE credit. Early Bird Registration ends 3/25.
WEBINAR: Fair Housing Compliance
April 30, 2018
9:30 am - 11:30 am
Fair housing is more than a list of dos and don’ts, rights and penalties, and mandatory continuing education. As stewards of the right to own, use and transfer private property, fair housing protects our livelihood and business as REALTORS® and depends on a free, open market that embraces equal opportunity.
Louisiana REALTORS® is partnering with the Louisiana Attorney General's office to host an informative 2-hour webinar. Limited seating available. More information and link to register will be provided as the event is closer.
Selling a home in Louisiana? See how an experienced real estate agent helps keep your transaction on track from offer acceptance to closing.
Discover technology Louisiana real estate agents can use to keep buyers and sellers informed, educated, and confident throughout every transaction.
Candidate qualifying for Louisiana’s November 3 election began Wednesday, August 5, and concludes Friday, August 7. The three-day qualifying period will establish the candidates for all six U.S. House districts, as well as judicial, parish and municipal races across the state. This election cycle includes several changes to Louisiana’s congressional races and election calendar. The state’s U.S. House primaries, originally scheduled for May 16, were canceled following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Louisiana v. Callais. The Louisiana Legislature subsequently adopted a new congressional map that reduced the number of Black-majority congressional districts from two to one. Under the revised election calendar, the November 3 U.S. House contests will use an open primary system. All qualified candidates will appear on the November ballot, regardless of party affiliation. A candidate receiving more than 50% of the vote will be elected. If no candidate receives a majority, the two candidates receiving the most votes will advance to a December 12 runoff. U.S. Senate The November general election will feature Republican nominee U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow and Democratic nominee Jamie Davis. Letlow's Senate campaign has also created an open seat in Louisiana's 5th Congressional District. 5th Congressional District Several candidates have announced campaigns for the 5th Congressional District seat: State Sen. Stewart Cathey State Rep. Michael Echols Louisiana Board of Regents Chair Misti Cordell State Rep. Gabe Firment Cathey, Echols and Firment currently serve in the Louisiana Legislature. Additional candidates may qualify before the deadline on Friday. The 5th District covers portions of northeastern and central Louisiana and extends into the Florida Parishes. 6th Congressional District Congressman Cleo Fields has announced that he will not seek reelection in the newly redrawn 6th Congressional District. Instead, Fields is running in a special election for his former state Senate seat, which became vacant following the death of Sen. Larry Selders of Baton Rouge. The newly drawn 6th Congressional District extends around the Baton Rouge area and includes portions of rural communities surrounding the capital region. State Sen. Rick Edmonds has announced his candidacy. State Sen. Blake Miguez has also been discussed as a potential candidate, although the candidate field will not be finalized until qualifying closes Friday. Federal law requires congressional candidates to reside in the state they seek to represent but does not require them to reside within the specific congressional district. 2nd Congressional District Congressman Troy Carter currently represents the 2nd Congressional District, which extends from the Baton Rouge area toward New Orleans. Under the newly adopted congressional map, the 2nd District remains Louisiana's sole Black-majority congressional district. East Baton Rouge Parish Judiciary All 15 judgeships on the 19th Judicial District Court are scheduled for election following the Legislature's creation of two new judicial election subdistricts. Each subdistrict will elect seven judges, with an additional judgeship elected parishwide. Litigation challenging the new judicial map remains pending. Judicial races are among the contests being monitored by Louisiana REALTORS® and local Political Action Teams. Judicial decisions can have implications for property rights, business activity, litigation and the overall legal environment in Louisiana. Local Elections Voters across Louisiana will also consider candidates for mayors, city and parish councils, school boards, police chiefs and other local offices. While these races typically receive less statewide attention than congressional and statewide contests, local elected officials make decisions affecting land use, zoning, permitting, infrastructure, taxation and housing policy. These issues can directly affect real estate activity and development within local communities. Candidate Lists and Election Information The candidate field will not be final until qualifying closes Friday, August 7. The official list of qualified candidates is available through the Louisiana Secretary of State's Candidate Inquiry portal. The complete election schedule, including key dates for voting, registration and absentee ballots, is available through the Secretary of State's election calendar. For Louisiana REALTORS®, the qualifying period provides an early look at the candidates who will appear on the November ballot and the races that may affect real estate, property rights, development and local communities across the state.
