ATTORNEYS: Provides for limitations on recovery of attorney fees and costs in occupational licensing board disciplinary hearings. (8/1/26) (EN SEE FISC NOTE SG RV)

New time limits were added requiring boards to notify licensees of complaints within six months and hold hearings within six months of notice.

Statutes of limitations were added, restricting when boards can initiate proceedings based on whether the complaint involves negligence, fraud, or license violations.

The list of professional boards exempt from certain attorney fee recovery rules was expanded to include engineering and architectural boards.

Removed the Louisiana Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board from the list of boards exempt from attorney fee limitations.

Removed the State Board of Architectural Examiners from the list of boards exempt from attorney fee limitations.

Removed the Louisiana Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors from the list of boards exempt from attorney fee limitations.

Changed the trigger for fee protection from 'final disposition' to 'final resolution,' potentially broadening the circumstances under which a board cannot collect fees.

Added a strict five-year maximum time limit to initiate disciplinary proceedings from the date of the act or omission, even if the violation was discovered later.

Reorganized and updated the list of specific professional boards and individuals (such as CPAs and funeral directors) that are exempt from certain time limits and fee collection rules.

Expanded the definition of when a licensee is considered the 'prevailing party' to include scenarios where the final penalty is less severe than what the licensee originally offered.

Removed the original digest and summary sections that explained the bill's purpose, as these are replaced in the enrolled version.

Added explicit exemptions for the State Board of Medical Examiners and the Board of Dentistry, allowing them to proceed with negligence claims despite the general restrictions in the bill.

Added a new requirement that the six-month hearing deadline does not apply to the Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board and the State Board of Architectural Examiners.

Reorganized the bill's structure and renumbered sections to improve clarity and readability.