The Louisiana Senate Judiciary A Committee deferred four proposed insurance bills after none of the authors appeared to present them.
Committee Chair Sen. Gregory Miller stated that the committee would not reschedule the bills, noting the absence of their sponsors.
The deferred bills include:
- HB 336: Restricts uninsured and underinsured motorists from changing trial venues in auto claims.
- HB 435: Caps general damage awards at $5mn.
- HB 440: Shortens the time allowed for reporting covered injuries from three years to two.
- HB 443: Requires plaintiffs to notify defendants within 20 days if legal representation has been retained for part of the damages.
I’ve given the opportunity for the members to be here to present their bills. I don’t intend to reschedule them if they didn’t show up for this committee.
Committee Chair Sen. Gregory Miller
On the same day, Governor Jeff Landry signed a set of measures described as the most extensive tort reform in Louisiana’s history.
The legislation aims to reduce auto insurance costs by limiting litigation and increasing regulatory oversight.
Included in the signed reforms is HB 148, which authorizes the insurance commissioner to revise rate filings considered excessively profitable relative to the service provided.
Landry noted that states such as Texas, Mississippi, South Carolina, Florida, and Alabama already provide similar authority to their insurance regulators.
Additionally, the legislation mandates that insurers clearly show the current premium and renewal rate side by side on policy documents when renewing coverage.
