HR 217 Louisiana House · 2026 Regular Session

HOUSING: Requests the Louisiana State Law Institute to conduct a comprehensive study on the implications of rent stabilization policies

This legislative resolution requests the Louisiana State Law Institute to conduct a comprehensive study on rent stabilization policies, which are laws that limit how much landlords can increase rents. The bill directly affects renters, landlords, and housing developers by mandating an analysis of how such policies impact housing supply, pricing, maintenance, and disaster recovery. The study is required to evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of rent control measures used in other states while considering factors like construction costs, insurance, and tax obligations. If completed, the findings and recommendations must be submitted to state legislative committees by March 1, 2027. Although the resolution was ultimately rejected by the House of Representatives, it outlines a specific framework for investigating housing affordability issues in Louisiana.

Bill status failed 2 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Apr 2026

Committee Review

May 2026

House Failed

May 2026

Governor

Introduced Apr 28, 2026 Last action May 11, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

HR217 Original → HR217 Engrossed · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to add multiple co-sponsors and significantly expanded the study's scope to address the root causes of housing unaffordability. The original text focused narrowly on cost-burdened households, while the new version explicitly links high costs to a lack of affordable units and disaster impacts. The study requirements now mandate an analysis of rent stabilization policies in other states, including their effects on supply, pricing, maintenance, and disaster recovery, alongside a review of construction and insurance costs.

Scope change

The bill's scope broadened from a general request for a study on housing costs to a specific mandate for evaluating rent stabilization policies and the availability of affordable rental units across all income levels.

SCOPE

Added co-sponsors Cox, Dana Henry, and Murray to the list of representatives introducing the resolution.

Revised the background section to explicitly state that the lack of affordable and available rental units is the primary driver of cost-burdened households, rather than just noting that cost-burdened households exist at all income levels.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new requirement for the study to include a balanced review of rent stabilization policies in other states, specifically analyzing their impact on affordable supply, pricing, maintenance, disaster recovery, and long-term market behavior.

Expanded the study topics to include an evaluation of construction costs, insurance costs, property taxes, and financing costs for rental housing developments.

Added a requirement to identify and evaluate alternatives to rent stabilization, such as consumer protection policies and rental assistance programs.

Floor votes · House May 11, 2026

How they voted

38–50

Failed · 17 other

Total votes 105

May 11, 2026

D Democratic33

31 Yea 2

93% Yea

R Republican72

7 Yea 50 Nay 15

69% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 11, 2026

Vote failed

House Vote: fail (38-50-17)

house

May 5, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported favorably (12-0).

lower

Apr 28, 2026

Committee

Read by title, rules suspended, referred to the Committee on Municipal, Parochial and Cultural Affairs.

lower

1 primary · 4 co-sponsors