SR 164 Louisiana Senate · 2026 Regular Session

AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE: Requests the Department of Insurance to study issues related to insurance coverage of motor vehicle damage claims, including steering and disputes regarding the adjustment of vehicle damages.

This resolution asks the Louisiana Department of Insurance to investigate how auto insurers handle vehicle damage claims, specifically looking into whether companies unfairly direct customers to preferred repair shops and how disputes over claim amounts are settled. The study aims to examine current laws that prohibit insurers from forcing repairs at specific locations while allowing them to recommend certain facilities, and to identify gaps in the existing dispute resolution process for non-total-loss claims. The department is instructed to gather input from repair shop owners, insurance companies, and consumer advocates before submitting a report with findings and potential legal changes by February 1, 2027.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

May 2026

Committee Review

Senate Passage

May 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced May 27, 2026 Last action Jun 1, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SR164 Original → SR164 Enrolled · 4 edits · Jun 1, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was converted from an original draft to an enrolled version, which involved significant substantive changes. The resolution was expanded to explicitly request a study on 'steering' (directing customers to preferred repair shops) and the lack of a formal dispute resolution process for vehicle damage claims. Additionally, the enrolled version added a specific directive to study the feasibility of creating a new statutory dispute resolution procedure and mandated that the Department of Insurance solicit input from repair facility owners, insurers, and consumer advocates.

Scope change

The scope expanded from a general request to study insurance coverage issues to a specific mandate addressing 'steering' practices and the absence of a formal dispute resolution framework for vehicle damage claims.

SCOPE

Added specific focus on 'steering' practices where insurers direct customers to preferred repair facilities.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement to study the feasibility of enacting a new statutory dispute resolution procedure between insurers and repair facilities.

Added a mandate for the Department of Insurance to solicit input from repair facility owners, insurers, and consumer advocates during the study.

TECHNICAL

Updated formatting and headers to reflect the bill's status as 'Enrolled' rather than 'Original'.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 28, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read by title and adopted.

upper

May 27, 2026

Introduced

Introduced in the Senate. Read by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors