HB 331 creates a special "Louisiana GOP" license plate for Louisiana residents who apply for it. To be issued, the bill requires at least 1,000 applicants, and the plate can only be used on passenger cars, pickup trucks, recreational vehicles, or vans. The bill mandates a $25 annual fee (plus a $3.50 handling fee) that goes directly to the Republican Party of Louisiana, with the plate design including "Louisiana GOP" and approved by the party chair. The fee is separate from standard vehicle taxes and is intended to fund the party's activities.
HB 292 clarifies Louisiana's security deposit return rules for residential tenants. It requires landlords to return all or part of a security deposit within one month after a lease ends, or up to two months if both parties agree in writing. Landlords may only keep funds to cover legitimate costs like repairs for tenant-caused damage or unreasonable wear, and must provide a detailed written explanation for any retained amount. This directly affects residential tenants and landlords across Louisiana by standardizing deposit return timelines and requiring transparent accounting.
HB 587 would create a "PANS/PANDAS" specialty license plate for Louisiana vehicle owners, requiring at least 1,000 applicants before issuance. Owners would pay a $25 annual fee (plus a $3.50 handling fee) to the state general fund, with the plate design including the phrase "PANS/PANDAS" and supporting awareness of Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome. The plate would be available for passenger cars, trucks, motorcycles, and vans. This is a voluntary program focused on raising awareness through license plate sales, not a policy change affecting healthcare or funding for the condition.
HB 297 expands Louisiana tenants' right to early lease termination to include victims of stalking and cyberstalking, in addition to domestic abuse. It directly affects residential tenants who are victims of these crimes and need to leave their rental properties for safety. The bill requires tenants to provide documentation from a qualified third party (like a social worker, police officer, or prosecutor) and complete a specific certification form detailing the incident and why remaining on the premises is unsafe. This creates a formal process for tenants to terminate leases early without penalty, while requiring lessors to follow defined procedures for approval.
HB 629 creates a special Louisiana license plate for the Krewe of Athena Carnival Club, available to any Louisiana resident who applies and pays fees. The plate requires a minimum of 1,000 applicants to be issued, with an annual $25 fee (plus a $3.50 handling fee) collected by the state. All $25 fees go directly to the Krewe of Athena to fund scholarships for debutantes, with the plate design including the words "Krewe of Athena" and following state plate regulations.
HB 553 increases the size of Louisiana's Assessors' Certification Program Committee from five to eleven members, with specific appointments from the Louisiana Assessors Association, Tax Commission, and certified assessors. It expands the list of approved courses for both initial certification (e.g., IAAO courses 101 and 2, Appraisal Institute 400) and recertification, requiring 59-74 hours of continuing education including USPAP training. The bill mandates that all certified assessors and deputy assessors must meet these updated education requirements to maintain their certification, with recertification needed every five years. The changes take effect January 1, 2027.
HB 697 re-creates Louisiana's Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) with a specific end date, effective June 30, 2026, and requires it to terminate on July 1, 2031. The bill directly affects the DEQ and all agencies currently operating under it, as their statutory authority will end by the 2031 termination date. Key provisions include repealing an existing statute (R.S. 49:191(1)(j)) and enacting new language (R.S. 49:191(3)(b)) to set the 2031 deadline for the DEQ’s operations. The department may be re-established before 2031 under existing procedures, but this bill establishes a fixed 5-year timeframe for its current structure. This is a procedural sunset law, not a policy change to environmental regulations.
HB 344 adjusts Louisiana's Grain and Cotton Indemnity Fund rules to manage its financial balance. It requires the commission to stop collecting assessments from grain and cotton producers when the fund balance reaches $12.25 million, and to restart collections if the balance falls below $10.22 million. Any assessments collected after hitting $12.25 million but before suspension remain in the fund. The bill directly affects farmers who pay these assessments, ensuring the fund maintains sufficient reserves without ongoing fees during high balances.
HB 346 renames a specific section of U.S. Highway 171 in Florien, Louisiana (from Louisiana Highway 118 to Sandra Lane) as the "Speaker Joe Salter Memorial Highway." The bill directs the Louisiana Department of Transportation to install signage for this redesignation, provided local or private funds cover the department's actual costs (up to $750 per sign). This is a procedural naming bill with no substantive policy changes affecting residents, programs, or funding. It solely honors Speaker Joe Salter through a highway designation.
HB 356 designates the Bayou Dularge Bascule Bridge on Louisiana Highway 315 in Houma as the "Elward T. Brady, Jr. Memorial Bridge." The bill directly affects the bridge's official name and requires the Department of Transportation to install signage reflecting the new name, provided local or private funds cover costs up to $750 per sign. This is a commemorative bill with no substantive policy changes, solely honoring Elward T. Brady, Jr. through the bridge's name.
HB 758 amends Louisiana's environmental fee structure for the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), focusing on how fees are calculated and adjusted. It requires the DEQ to establish fees using a cost-based formula (covering activities like permitting, monitoring, and lab accreditation) and limits annual fee increases to 5% or the Consumer Price Index. Specific fee examples include $726 for lab accreditation applications and $363 per major test category, with adjustments needing department rulemaking. The bill directly affects environmental laboratories, businesses seeking permits, and entities requiring DEQ environmental reviews. It repeals outdated fee provisions and mandates that fee changes follow specific regulatory processes.
HB 539 repeals a Louisiana law (R.S. 3:1484(B)(5)) that previously prohibited the sale of consumable hemp products at certain locations. This change removes specific sales restrictions, allowing businesses to sell consumable hemp products (like edibles or beverages) in locations previously banned under that provision. The bill directly affects hemp product sellers and consumers by expanding where such products can legally be sold within Louisiana. It does not create new regulations or tax provisions, only eliminating an existing prohibition. The repeal takes effect upon the governor's signature or after the legislative session ends, as specified in the bill text.
