HB 898, the "Louisiana Income Tax Elimination Act" (LITE Act), would reduce Louisiana's individual income tax rate starting in 2027 under specific conditions. The reduction equals 50% of one-time state funds certified as nonrecurring revenue by the budget committee and confirmed by revenue estimators. If the calculated rate drop would be 0.05% or less, no change occurs. The Department of Revenue must publish the new rate online and in official tax tables. This applies directly to Louisiana residents filing individual income tax returns.
HB 544 creates a process for Louisiana parishes to hold advisory referendums on specific issues, directly affecting registered voters who wish to propose questions. It requires petitioners to gather signatures from at least 10% of the parish’s registered voters using a Secretary of State-approved form, with only one question per petition. The bill details procedures for filing petitions, verifying signatures, and processing results, while clarifying that outcomes are advisory only and not binding on elected officials. This procedural bill establishes a formalized system for citizen-initiated advisory votes but does not create new policy mandates.
HB 914 expands Louisiana's certified appraiser qualifications to include building consultants, who provide specialized advice on building design, construction, condition, and repair. This bill directly affects professionals who offer building consultation services, requiring them to pass a board-administered exam, pay fees, and comply with oversight starting January 1, 2026. Key provisions define "building consultant" as a subclassification of residential construction, mandate board oversight for compliance, and set new advertising and service requirements for those offering building-related advice. The bill does not change insurance policies but establishes new qualification standards for individuals who may perform appraisal-related work in the construction sector.
SB 381 (Louisiana) regulates pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) by requiring them to pass all drug manufacturer rebates directly to health plans as lower premiums or reduced patient costs, rather than keeping them. It prohibits PBMs from withholding rebates to exclude generic or cheaper drugs from formularies and bans requiring patients to use more expensive brand-name drugs when cheaper alternatives exist. The bill also mandates a 60-day transition period for patients when a drug is removed from a formulary, ensuring continuity of care during plan changes. These provisions directly affect PBMs, health insurers, pharmacies, and patients in Louisiana by increasing transparency and reducing out-of-pocket costs. The bill is pending legislative action as of its prefiling date.
HB 388 prohibits contractors from making unsolicited contact with homeowners, including door hangers, flyers, text messages, emails, or unscheduled sales visits. This directly affects residential contractors who market services to homeowners without prior consent. Violators face fines of up to 20% of the contract value, plus administrative costs and attorney fees, determined by the licensing board based on the violation's severity and the contractor's history. The bill aims to reduce aggressive or unwanted sales tactics in home improvement services.
HB 522 expands arrest and firearm authority for fire investigators in Louisiana. It grants the state fire marshal, deputies, certified local arson investigators, and municipal arson investigators the power to arrest individuals suspected of violating specific fire-related crimes (like arson, insurance fraud, or false fire alarms) while on duty. The bill requires local investigators to obtain P.O.S.T. certification for firearm carry and arrest powers, with fire department chiefs covering training costs. It also establishes a multi-jurisdictional arson task force under the fire marshal’s authority. This directly affects state and local fire investigation personnel who investigate fire-related offenses.
HB 293 amends Louisiana's employment discrimination law to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. It adds these categories to existing protected characteristics (like race, religion, and sex) in hiring, firing, compensation, and workplace conditions. The bill defines "gender identity" as a person's internal sense of gender regardless of assigned sex at birth, and "sexual orientation" as heterosexuality, homosexuality, or bisexuality. This law directly affects employers, employment agencies, labor organizations, and insurers across Louisiana by making it unlawful to discriminate against employees or applicants based on these newly protected traits.
HB 659 limits convenience fees businesses can charge customers for paying with credit or debit cards. It prohibits fees exceeding 2% of the transaction amount or $20 (whichever is lower) for most sales or leases. Businesses must clearly disclose any such fee at checkout points (in-store, online, or on receipts) but the law does not apply to state or local government entities. This directly affects retailers and service providers in Louisiana who accept card payments.
HB 724 amends Louisiana law to allow non-profit wildlife rehabilitation organizations to use photographs or videos of animals in promotional materials for fundraising. This change specifically permits these groups to solicit donations, gifts, or grants through advertisements featuring rehabilitated wildlife, which was previously prohibited under the law. The bill directly affects organizations dedicated to wildlife rehabilitation by expanding their allowable promotional activities while maintaining restrictions on commercial exploitation or pet trade use of wildlife.
HB 523, the "Hope For Redemption Act," creates new parole eligibility for individuals convicted of second-degree murder (R.S. 14:30.1) if they were aged 17-24 at the time of the offense. To qualify, they must have no prior felony convictions, have served at least 30 years of their life sentence, and not fall under specific exclusions (e.g., first-degree murder, sex offenses, or crimes against children under 13). The bill directly affects eligible life-sentenced individuals who committed second-degree murder as young adults, altering parole consideration criteria under Louisiana law. It does not change sentencing but establishes new pathways for parole review after lengthy incarceration. The law would apply only to those meeting all specified conditions, excluding certain high-risk offenses from eligibility.
HB 945 requires insurers to clearly inform policyholders they can choose any repair shop, not just insurer-recommended ones, and prohibits insurers from offering incentives or pressuring them to use specific shops. Repair shops must get written consent before using non-standard parts or procedures and disclose when Original Equipment Manufacturer parts aren't used. The bill also states that if an insurer pressures a customer into substandard repairs, the insurer bears liability for resulting safety issues. This directly affects policyholders (who gain clearer choice), insurers (who must disclose options), and repair shops (who must follow transparency rules).
HB 554 establishes a tiered system of civil fines for healthcare facilities in Louisiana that violate safety and operational standards. It categorizes violations by severity: Class A (causing death/serious harm) carries up to $2,500 for a first offense and $10,500 daily for repeats; Class B (high risk of harm) up to $2,500/$6,000; Class C (potential harm) up to $2,000/$4,000; and Class D (administrative issues) up to $200/$500. The bill also imposes separate daily penalties for late reporting of abuse, neglect, or deaths, and requires the Louisiana Department of Health to publish an annual report on penalties assessed and repeat offenders. This directly affects hospitals, nursing homes, and other licensed healthcare facilities by increasing accountability for safety lapses.
