May 30, 2025

This Week's Big News:

MULTIPLE LEGAL REFORM BILLS SIGNED INTO LAW AS CRUNCH TIME ARRIVES FOR LAWMAKERS

This past week brought a wave of momentum for legal reform. Energy policy also took center stage.

TUESDAY

BUDGET TRANSPARENCY MEASURES CONTINUE TO MOVE

Two key government transparency measures were approved by the House, both by Rep. Phillip Tarver (R-Lake Charles). The House Appropriations Committee advanced HB 309, which requires any funds allocated by the legislature to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to be appropriated through a standalone bill dedicated solely to NGO funding.

On the Floor, the full House also cleared Rep. Tarver’s HCR 15, a resolution that defines the process for submitting funding requests by NGOs and setting limitations on such funding during the appropriations cycle. The resolution was adopted by a vote of 74-24.

WEDNESDAY

GOV. LANDRY SIGNS TRIO OF REFORM BILLS TO REIN IN LAWSUIT ABUSE

Gov. Jeff Landry signed the first group of civil justice reform bills to come across his desk. A few measures are still awaiting hearings on both sides of the Capitol, but this was a step toward rebalancing the scales of Louisiana’s legal system to promote fairness, accountability and predictability. 

The bills signed into law change Louisiana’s fault system to modified comparative fault (HB 431), expand our state’s No Pay, No Play law (HB 434), and eliminate the Housley Presumption of causation (HB 450).

REGULATION MEASURE ALSO GETS GOVERNOR'S SIGNATURE

While enactment of HBs 431, 434,​and 450 signals real progress toward tackling lawsuit abuse in Louisiana, the implications of another measure signed by the governor— HB 148 by Rep. Jeff Wiley (R-Maurepas)—will merit careful attention to ensure the momentum from the other bills isn’t diminished.

HB 148 brings harmful California-style insurance rate regulation to Louisiana, which could deter insurance investment in our state just after we’ve passed landmark legal reforms to attract insurers to the market.

SENATE JUD A WRAPS WITH KEY REFORM BILLS DEFERRED

Also on Wednesday, the Senate Judiciary A Committee deferred three legal reform measures when their authors were unable to be in Committee once it reconvened upon the full Senate's adjournment. Committee Chairman Sen. Greg Miller (R-Norco) stated that the measures would not be rescheduled for consideration.

The following bills were individually called up and formally deferred before the committee adjourned:

HB 435 by Rep. Peter Egan (R-Covington), which would have limited general damage awards in civil cases to $5 million.

HB 440 by Rep. Chance Henry (R-Crowley), which sought to establish a rebuttable presumption that a plaintiff’s refusal to use available health insurance following an injury constitutes a failure to mitigate damages.



HB 443, also by Rep. Henry, which would have required attorneys in civil lawsuits to notify defendants of their intent to file suit within 10 days of being retained.

THURSDAY

M.J. FOSTER EXPANSION BILL SIGNIFICANTLY PARED DOWN IN SENATE COMMITTEE

Legislation to broaden access to the M.J. Foster Promise Program advanced, with HB 558 by Rep. Paula Davis (R-Baton Rouge) moving another step toward Governor Landry’s desk following its approval by the Senate Education Committee. Designed to expand scholarship opportunities for certain formerly incarcerated individuals, the bill was once again revised to narrow its scope.

Amendments introduced by Sen. Blake Miguez (R-New Iberia) were adopted without opposition, now limiting eligibility exclusively to those previously imprisoned for offenses such as purse snatching or simple robbery.

MEMBERS TAKE NO ACTION ON LEGACY LAWSUIT BILL AFTER SWEEPING CHANGES

Wednesday, the Senate Natural Resources Committee took up HB 694 by Rep. Jacob Landry (R-Erath), with the intent of addressing long-standing concerns from Act 312 of 2006​ for both industry and landowners. However, the bill got an eleventh-hour reboot with amendments that drew skepticism from both the author and Committee members because the amendments went back on a hard-won agreement made by all stakeholders.

These changes prompted LABI and other industry partners to oppose the bill, which as amended undermines the serious work and negotiation to find an agreeable solution for all parties. Louisiana’s oil and gas sector can’t afford more uncertainty—it needs a stable, fair remediation system to restart production and draw back vital investment.

Additionally, such sweeping changes should not be made without proper scrutiny, which Rep. Landry rightly pointed out in his closing. His call for continued work was echoed by the Committee’s inaction—no motion was made, and the bill remains in Committee. Their decision to hit pause reflects a real commitment to getting this right—for the industry, and for Louisiana’s future.

AMENDED REQUIREMENTS FOR CCS OPERATORS STILL FAIL TO GARNER MAJORITY VOTE

Rep. Shane Mack’s (R-Livingston) HB 696 was heard on the House Floor yesterday, and even after another substantial rewrite to narrow the scope, the bill failed to advance from the House by a vote of 47-39—though it can still be reconsidered at a later date.

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