HB 431 Louisiana House · 2025 Regular Session

LIABILITY/TORTS: Provides relative to modified comparative fault

HB 431 requires motor vehicle insurers operating in Louisiana to reduce their combined bodily injury and property damage liability insurance rates by at least 2% in each service area. Insurers must file these adjusted rates with the Louisiana Insurance Commissioner within 60 days of the bill's effective date. These rate reductions apply to policyholders at the time of policy renewal or new policy issuance. The bill is currently in the legislative process (passed second reading with amendments) but has not yet become law.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Apr 2025

Committee Review

May 2025

House Passage

May 2025

Senate Passage

May 2025

Signed into Law

May 2025

Introduced Apr 4, 2025 Signed May 28, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB431 Original → HB431 Act · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill updates Louisiana's comparative fault laws by introducing a new provision (Article 2323(D)) that requires juries to be specifically instructed on these rules. It clarifies that a plaintiff cannot recover any damages if they are found to be 51% or more at fault, while still allowing recovery if their fault is less than 51% (though the amount is reduced by their percentage of fault). The bill also lists a new set of sponsors and sets the effective date for January 1, 2026.

Scope change

The bill adds a specific requirement for jury instructions regarding comparative fault, ensuring the legal standard is clearly communicated to jurors during trials.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new Civil Code Article 2323(D) mandating that juries be instructed on the effect of the comparative fault rules when the issue is submitted to them.

ELIGIBILITY

Clarified that a plaintiff is barred from recovering any damages if their fault is equal to or greater than 51%.

TECHNICAL

Updated the list of bill sponsors to reflect new representatives and removed the original pre-filed constitutional reference.

Floor votes · Senate May 21, 2025 · House Apr 28, 2025

How they voted

26–9

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 37

May 21, 2025

D Democratic11

9 Nay 2

81% Nay

R Republican26

26 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 27, 2025

Lower · Passed

Read by title, roll called, yeas 75, nays 22, Senate amendments concurred in.

lower

May 21, 2025

Upper · Passed

Rules suspended. Read by title, passed by a vote of 28 yeas and 9 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

upper

May 19, 2025

Committee

Committee amendments read and adopted. Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.

upper

May 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported with amendments.

upper

Apr 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 67, nays 26. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

lower

Apr 15, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported with amendments (11-4-1).

lower

Apr 14, 2025

Committee

Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Civil Law and Procedure.

lower

Apr 4, 2025

Committee

Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Civil Law and Procedure.

lower

1 primary · 40 co-sponsors