Session Scoop: May 24, 2024

Louisiana REALTORS® • May 24, 2024

Bill Tracking Report as of 5/24/2024

Week 11 Report


The 2024 Regular Legislative Session is in the final stretch before adjourning sine die and things are looking good for real estate practitioners and property owners, buyers, and sellers. 

 

A few highlights from Week 11 include:   

  • Senate Bill No. 506 to reign in the practice of using liens or mortgages to secure rights under real estate service agreements is on the way to Governor Landry’s desk for signature.
  • House Bill No. 366 clarifying definitions in the Louisiana Real Estate Law and establishing a definition and requirements for buyer agreements was unanimously passed by the Senate and is on the way to the House for concurrence.
  • Senate Bill No. 113 was amended to eliminate the requirement that Louisiana Citizens' rates be at least 10% higher than private insurance companies in certain parishes and reduce the requirement to 5% in other parishes. If enacted as amended, these changes would be in place until December 31, 2027.


  • Property Insurance

    SB No.  113 by Senator Kirk Talbot

    Status: Pending House final passage

    Position: Support


    Among other things, this bill would adjust the requirement that Louisiana Citizens' rates must be at least 10% higher than private insurance companies.


    As amended, it would do the following: 

    1. Eliminate this requirement for properties within the parishes of Calcasieu, Cameron, Iberia, Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Terrebonne, and Vermilion until December 31, 2027.
    2. Reduce this requirement to 5% for all other parishes until December 31, 2027.

    HB No. 428 by Representative Delisha Boyd

    Status: Sent to the Governor

    Position: Support


    This bill would allow a Louisiana Citizens’ policyholder, through written request, to exclude coverage of personal or corporeal movable property.  If granted, Citizens would calculate an appropriate reduction in the premium.

  • Homeowner Associations

    HB No. 440 by Representative Stephanie Berault

    Status: Pending Senate final passage

    Position: Monitor


    House Bill No. 440 as it stands now would require the residential property disclosure statement to inform a purchaser that all association documents shall be provided to the purchaser no later than at the time of closing.


    Upon request of Louisiana REALTORS® and the Louisiana Land Title Association, the Senate Judiciary Committee A amended the bill to instead permit the purchaser to request certain documents from an association governing the property and recorded documents governing the property from the person providing title closing or title settlement services upon the seller’s acceptance of an offer and at the expense of the purchaser.


    However, upon further discussions with Representative Berault, she has decided to not proceed with the bill at this time and to work with the industry in the interim to improve disclosures about homeowner associations and building restrictions for buyers of both new and existing residential properties.


    SB No. 23 by Senator Greg Miller

    Status: Sent to Governor

    Position: Monitor


    Senate Bill No. 23 is a comprehensive rewrite of Louisiana laws governing homeowner associations, which the bill renames “planned communities”.  


    Generally, the new law would be effective as of January 1, 2025, for any new planned communities filed for registry on or after that date, and on January 1, 2026, for planned communities filed for registry on or before December 31, 2024.


    Louisiana REALTORS® will provide in-depth information about this bill in the coming months should it become law.

  • Agricultural Land

    HB No. 238 by Representative Michael Echols

    Status: Signed by the President

    Position: Monitor


    House Bill No. 238 would restrict any foreign adversary or prohibited foreign actor from directly or indirectly, owning, acquiring, leasing, or otherwise obtaining any interest, in agricultural land should it become law.


    The bill defines “agricultural land”, “foreign adversary”, and “prohibited foreign actor” and provides an exception from the definition of “foreign adversary” for a person who is a legal permanent resident with lawful presence in the United States.


    The bill specifies that the failure to identify a buyer, etc. as a foreign adversary or prohibited foreign actor does not create liability for real estate brokers or agents, or any other person involved in the consummation of a real estate transaction.

  • Buyer Agreements

    HB No. 366 by Representative Paula Davis

    Status: Passed the Senate; amendments waiting to be concurred in or rejected by the House 

    Position: Support

    Effective Date for Buyer Agreements:  Monday, August 19, 2024

    Note: There has been no change in the substance of the bill or amendments since the May 17, 2024, Session Scoop.


    House Bill No. 366 was amended to require all real estate licensees to execute buyer agreements.  


    If enacted, the buyer agreement would be required:

    1. To include the services the broker would provide the buyer.
    2. To include the amount of compensation due to the broker or how the amount would be calculated.
    3. To be executed when a buyer purchases or seeks to purchase a home.

    The requirement for a buyer agreement would NOT apply when a buyer purchases or seeks to purchase commercial property, vacant property, industrial property, retail property, etc.


    Should the proposal become law, it is important to note two things:

    1. Buyer agreements in compliance with NAR buyer agreement requirements would always comply with the proposed state law requirements for a buyer agreement.
    2. Buyer agreements only in compliance with the proposed state law would NEVER meet all the NAR buyer agreement requirements.  

  • Real Estate Service Agreements Secured by Liens or Mortgages Prohibition

    SB No. 506 by Senator Rick Edmonds 

    Status: Signed by the Speaker

    Position: Support

    Note: There has been no change in the substance of the bill or amendments since the May 17, 2024, Session Scoop.


    Louisiana REALTORS® requested this legislation be filed to curb the predatory practice of what is commonly called the “40-year listing agreement”.  


    The bill would do this by making it an unfair trade practice to secure a right in a “real estate service agreement” with a mortgage or other encumbrance on a home. Additionally, the bill would provide a simple mechanism for individuals to petition courts to remove these encumbrances from a property title.

  • Public Records Bills

    SB No. 502 by Senator Blake Miquez

    Status: Pending House and Governmental Affairs Committee

    Position: Monitor


    This bill was heavily amended on the Senate floor to provide that any record of the office of the governor about the schedule of the governor, his spouse, or his child that contains security details that if made public may impair the safety of the governor or the governor's spouse or child may be held confidential.


    Therefore, as amended, the bill would not impact any records pertaining to real estate transactions.

  • Property Management

    HB No. 407 by Representative Stagni

    Status: Passed the Senate; amendments waiting to be concurred in or rejected by the House

    Position: Support

    Note: There has been no change in the substance of the bill or amendments since the May 17, 2024, Session Scoop.


    The bill would create “The Louisiana Support and Service Animal Integrity Act”.

      

    If enacted, it would prohibit healthcare providers from producing documentation relating to an individual's need for a support animal unless they satisfy certain requirements.


     It would also prohibit the misrepresentations of service dogs and require written notices for individuals and businesses that sell support animals. 


    The part of the bill that would have limited liability for owners and lessors for damages caused by a service dog or support animal was removed, however.


    HB No. 913 by Representative Larry Selders

    Status: Passed the Senate; amendments waiting to be concurred in or rejected by the House

    Position: Monitor

    Note: There has been no change in the substance of the bill or amendments since the May 17, 2024, Session Scoop.


    House Bill No. 913 would require housing providers to provide copies of tenant’s original utility bills within thirty days of receipt of request only if the housing provider utilizes third-party billing services to manage utility billing for a residential unit with an individual meter.  The request and response may be made by electronic means.


    If a housing provider does not comply, the tenant or the Louisiana Attorney General may bring suit for penalties and/or seek an injunction.


    *Information current as of Friday, May 24, 2024.

Bill Tracking Report by Numerical Order (as of 5/24/24) Bill Tracking Report by Position (as of 5/24/24)
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2026 Legislative Session Scoop - Week 7 Recap

By Louisiana REALTORS® • April 24, 2026
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.

Consumer Guide Update: Navigating Interest Rates Shifts

By Louisiana REALTORS® • April 23, 2026
NAR is pleased to share the latest consumer guide helping buyers navigate shifting interest rates. The one-page guide covers how lenders set rates, the impact of small shifts on monthly payments and strategies to get the lowest rate possible. As a reminder, all guides in this series are available for download—in both English and Spanish—on facts.realtor . Please allow up to two weeks 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: Navigating Interest Rate Shifts Financing a Renovation When You Buy Staging Your House for a Sale Spotting Deepfake Scams in Real Estate Are You Ready to Invest in Real Estate? 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 home buying 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 the next consumer guide, which looks at how solar installations may impact home sales transactions.
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