Congress Extends NFIP through November 30
LOUISIANA REALTORS • August 6, 2018
Last week, the U.S. Senate passed legislation to extend flood insurance funding. The bill cleared the House previously and is expected to be signed into law by the President. More than 129,000 REALTORS® representing about 15% of NAR members sent letters to their members of Congress in support of the extension. REALTORS® in Louisiana posted a 34% response rate to the Call for Actions leading the country in overall responses. The responses are important to being sure that homeowners have a voice when it comes to policies that impact homeownership.
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) will remain in operation through November 30 though several issues remain to be addressed. More information will be made available as NAR continues its efforts for long-term authorization.
“We applaud lawmakers for taking this needed action to prevent disruptions to closings in thousands of communities across the country. Although the National Flood Insurance Program will be extended through November 30 when signed into law, the NFIP is in desperate need of reforms that will make it solvent and sustainable in the long term. The National Association of Realtors will continue fighting for these reforms as the next NFIP reauthorization discussions loom later this year,” said Elizabeth Mendenhall, NAR President.
In Louisiana, NFIP is the primary source of flood insurance with 500,000 policies. Real estate transactions would have been impacted had the extension not passed. "Over half a million people in Louisiana rely on this program, and I did everything in my power to keep it alive at least to get us through hurricane season," said U.S. Senator John Kennedy. "Going forward, I will continue to fight like hell to make sure that Louisianans and other NFIP users won’t have their insurance lapse due to absurd and unnecessary politics. Now that we have a little peace of mind and a short-term fix in place, we can turn our focus to working on long-term sustainable reforms to this program."
"If the program is not fundamentally reformed, it will continue to accumulate debt at an unsustainable rate," warns David Maurstad director of NFIP. “There isn’t any operation that can support a debt program that exceeds its ability to economically, efficiently and effectively use the funds that have to go towards interest payments," the NFIP's director said on a call discussing the scheme's 50th anniversary.
Louisiana REALTORS® will continue to update members as this issue moves forward.
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Louisiana REALTORS® wraps up 2025 and looks forward to 2026! Louisiana REALTORS® gathered in Baton Rouge from October 7–8 for the 2025 Fall Governance Meetings, a dynamic two-day event filled with professional development, strategic planning and member engagement. The day before the conference offered the conclusion to the 2025 LR Leadership Program with participants graduated from the yearlong program after a half-day session. The 2025 graduates include: Torri Byrd, Shawn Carter, Bradley Cook, Stefany Deroche, Mignon Richard Díaz, Alfra Dixon, Thaddeus Dixon, Glen Elliott, Yvonne Graham, Charlotte Johnson, Michelle LaBanca, Slagle McGuffee, Ellen Monroe, Matt Noel, Ros Pack, Tiffany Pellerin, Latonia Riggs, Shannon Rodi Nash, Trish Skellham, Rebecca Slone and Charlotte St. Romain. Additionally, a sold-out, full-day AI-Powered Real Estate Professional Certification course led by industry expert Matthew Rathbun blew away attendees and had them leaving the session with such invigoration. The first official day of the conference held focus on professional development and networking. Tuesday opened with an informative session entitled Professional Liability 101 from Rice Insurance Services Center, offering critical insights into E&O and risk management. RPR's session brought a wealth information to attendees and offered a hands-on learning experience for the tools offered online. Targeted sessions like the Local AE Meeting and the YPN Advisory Council Open Meeting provided space for peer exchange and innovation. The day concluded with a festive Opening Reception sponsored by Louisiana YPN, bringing members together to celebrate and connect. The next day offered collaboration and celebration with Closing the Affordability Gap, presented by the Louisiana Housing Corporation, equipping REALTORS® with tools to better serve clients in today’s market. Regional caucuses followed, allowing members from across Louisiana to discuss local issues and share best practices. The Board of Directors Meeting brought the governance portion of the event to a close with strategic decisions for the year ahead. At the Board Meeting, Chris Brock, Northeast REALTORS® of Louisiana; Trish Leleux, Greater Central LA REALTORS® Association; Synde Devillier, Bayou Board of REALTORS®; Scott McCubbin, Bayou Board of REALTORS®; Amber Morrow, Greater Fort Polk Area REALTORS®; and David Moses, Greater Central LA REALTORS® Association; were elected as 2026 At-Large Directors. The grand finale? A spirited LSU Pregame Fan Experience and the highly anticipated Installation Ceremony, where new leadership was formally welcomed in a celebration of community and commitment. Louisiana REALTORS® looks forward to hosting REALTORS® from around the state at the Winter Leadership Conference, March 3-4, 2026, at the Live! Casino & Hotel in Bossier City. We would like to thank our sponsors Greater Baton Rouge Association of REALTORS® (GBRAR) , Zillow , Dax Roy Appraisals, Supra, American Home Shield, Guard Home Warranty fo r their generous support in helping make this conference happen!
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