SB 56 proposes a constitutional amendment allowing Louisiana parishes to approve an additional $22,500 homestead property tax exemption (beyond the existing $7,500 exemption), totaling up to $30,000 in tax relief for qualifying homeowners. This exemption requires specific approval by a parish governing authority and mandates that taxing authorities absorb any resulting revenue loss without increasing taxes for other residents. The amendment must be approved by Louisiana voters in the November 2025 election to take effect. It directly affects homeowners in parishes that adopt the additional exemption, with no impact on property reappraisals or millage adjustments.
HB 503 amends Louisiana laws governing horse racing to clarify legislative intent and commission authority. It emphasizes the economic role of horse racing tracks in supporting agriculture and state revenue, while updating the Louisiana State Racing Commission's duties to include appointing stewards (race officials) and regulating pari-mutuel betting. The bill also requires sports wagering licensees operating at racetracks to follow a commission-approved plan for betting operations. This directly affects licensed horse racing tracks, the Racing Commission, and businesses offering pari-mutuel wagering in Louisiana.
SB 197 requires that celebrity endorsements in Louisiana elections clearly disclose who paid for the endorsement and whether it was authorized by a candidate or their committee. It defines a "celebrity" as a widely recognized public figure and mandates that any endorsement communication must state: (1) if paid by the candidate's committee, (2) if paid by another party but authorized by the candidate, or (3) if not authorized, including the payer's contact details. Candidates must report these expenditures in campaign finance filings, specifying the celebrity's name, payment date, amount, and nature of the endorsement. This bill directly affects political candidates, their committees, and celebrities who provide paid election endorsements.
SB 194 regulates pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in Louisiana by prohibiting them from charging fees tied to drug prices, savings, or patient costs. It requires PBMs to charge fixed "pharmacy benefit management fees" for services like drug pricing negotiations and claims processing, and mandates annual compliance certifications to the insurance commissioner. The bill also grants insurers and the commissioner annual audit rights to review PBM reimbursement data, including differences between payments to affiliated and unaffiliated pharmacies. This directly affects PBMs operating in Louisiana and the insurers/health plans they contract with, aiming to increase transparency in PBM compensation practices.
HB 417 prevents credit card companies from charging processing fees on state or local taxes and tips (gratuities) for transactions in Louisiana. It requires payment networks to either exclude these amounts from fee calculations at settlement or provide merchants with a rebate for fees incorrectly applied to tax or tip portions. The law specifically applies when tax and tips are listed separately on customer receipts, directly affecting restaurants, retailers, and other businesses that accept credit cards. This change aims to reduce costs for merchants by ensuring they aren't charged fees on legally mandated taxes or customer tips.
This bill (SCR 2) requires the Louisiana legislature to formally approve the funding formula developed by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) for the 2025-2026 school year. It directly affects all public schools in Louisiana, including city/parish school systems, charter schools (Type 2 and 3B), special schools like LSMSA and NOCCA, and university lab schools. The formula uses four key calculations to allocate funds: Level 1 bases funding on student needs (with weighted counts for low-income, English Language Learner, and special education students), Level 2 offers incentives for local funding beyond minimums, Level 3 covers specific pay raises and mandated costs, and Level 4 provides supplementary funds for programs like career training and mid-year enrollment changes. The approval ensures the state’s education funding mechanism for the upcoming school year is legally authorized.
HB 422, the "Patient Overpayment Refund Act," requires healthcare providers (like clinics and hospitals) to refund patients who overpaid for medical services within 90 days of identifying the error. Overpayments include billing mistakes or insurance adjustments, and providers must notify patients in writing and keep records for three years. Providers who fail to refund on time face fines of $500 or the overpayment amount, whichever is greater. Patients with outstanding balances may also consent to apply overpayments as credit toward future costs.
HB 612 amends Louisiana law governing the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans, focusing on employee hiring and staffing rules. It requires most board employees (excluding unskilled laborers) to pass New Orleans civil service exams before appointment, with a 90-day residency hiring window for local residents before non-residents may be hired. The bill mandates the board maintain employment lists of eligible candidates for open positions and exempts executive roles (like the director) from civil service rules. This directly affects the board’s hiring process for its water and sewer system workforce. The law takes effect only if a related constitutional amendment is approved by voters.
HB 413 would expand Louisiana's Public Service Commission from five to seven members, adding two statewide-appointed commissioners to the existing five elected from single-member districts. The bill changes election terms for elected members to six-year overlapping terms, requires three commissioners (out of seven) to form a quorum, and mandates 37 full-time staff positions for district operations. It directly affects how the commission is structured and staffed, influencing its oversight of public utilities like electricity and gas. The changes aim to adjust governance and operational capacity without altering the commission's regulatory responsibilities.
HB 306 regulates how non-licensed individuals or entities can refer customers to insurance providers. It allows referrals via phone, email, website, or direct contact with insurers (including affiliates), but prohibits referral compensation from being a sales commission or tied to whether the customer ultimately purchases insurance. The bill directly affects non-licensed referrers (e.g., financial advisors, healthcare providers) who connect clients to insurers, ensuring their payment cannot depend on a sale. Key provisions mandate fixed compensation for referrals, preventing conflicts of interest where referrals might be incentivized by potential sales. This is a substantive policy change focused on transparency in insurance referral practices.
SB 188 requires all event tickets (for sports, concerts, etc.) in Louisiana to display the base price on the ticket face, excluding fees. It prohibits reselling tickets above this printed price and bans selling tickets before the seller possesses them ("speculative tickets"). Secondary ticket platforms must guarantee refunds for cancellations, denied entry (unless due to the buyer), or delivery failures, and can charge no more than 10% in fees. The law applies to most ticket buyers and resellers, with limited exceptions for university sports tickets allocated to Louisiana legislators.
HB 488 establishes the new district boundaries for Louisiana's 105-member House of Representatives by defining specific precincts for each of the 105 districts across the state. It directly affects Louisiana voters by determining which legislative district they are represented in for elections. This procedural bill replaces previous redistricting language and sets the geographic scope for all House election districts without introducing new policy provisions.
