Proposes change to property insurance policies in Louisiana, specifically regarding mandatory binding arbitration.

Key Provisions:

1.    Mandatory Binding Arbitration Conditions:

o  Insurers can include mandatory binding arbitration clauses only if:

• The arbitration clause is in a separate endorsement attached to the policy.
• The policy includes an actuarially sound credit or premium discount for this endorsement.
• The policyholder signs a form, prescribed by the commissioner, acknowledging the rights forfeited, including the right to a jury trial.

2.    Arbitration Requirements:

o  Arbitration must occur within the judicial district where the insured property is located.

o  The arbitrator must be a licensed Louisiana attorney meeting specific qualifications set by the commissioner.

o  The arbitrator has the authority to award penalties, attorney fees, and other damages as permitted by law.

This bill aims to regulate the inclusion of arbitration clauses in property insurance policies, ensuring policyholders are fully informed and compensated for agreeing to such provisions.

Titled the "Asbestos Trust Claims Transparency and Over-Naming Act."

This proposed legislation aims to enhance transparency in asbestos-related lawsuits and prevent the over-naming of defendants.

Key Provisions of the Bill:

1.    Definitions:

o  The bill defines several terms, including:

§ Asbestos Action: A civil claim for damages related to health effects of asbestos exposure, including derivative claims by family members.

§ Asbestos Trust: A fund established to compensate individuals for asbestos-related health issues, often resulting from legal or bankruptcy proceedings.

§ Asbestos Trust Claim: A compensation claim filed against an asbestos trust by or on behalf of an exposed person.

§ Exposed Person: An individual whose asbestos exposure forms the basis of an asbestos action.

§ Trust Claim Materials: Documents submitted to or received from an asbestos trust, such as claim forms, affidavits, and medical records.

§ Trust Governance Document: Documents outlining eligibility and payment levels of an asbestos trust, including claims payment matrices and trust distribution procedures.

2.    Required Disclosures by Asbestos Claimants:

o  Within 30 days of filing an asbestos action, claimants must:

§ Provide the court and all parties with a sworn statement confirming that all possible asbestos trust claims have been filed. This statement must detail any requests to defer, delay, suspend, toll, withdraw, or alter the status of any asbestos trust claim, including their current status and outcomes.

§ Supply all parties with trust claim materials related to the claimant's asbestos exposure, even those concerning conditions not central to the current lawsuit.

§ Produce available trust claims filed by others if the claimant's case is based on secondary exposure through that individual, provided these materials are accessible to the claimant or their counsel.

§ File a sworn statement including specific information (the excerpt provided does not detail this information).

The bill's intent is to ensure full disclosure of all related claims and prevent the inclusion of defendants who may not be directly connected to the claimant's asbestos exposure. By mandating these disclosures, the legislation seeks to streamline asbestos litigation and promote fairness in the adjudication process.

HOUSE floor amendment technical

HOUSE committee amendment [LINK] requir4es virtual currency kiosk operators to use blockchain analytics software to detect fraud, adopt a written anti-fraud policy with specific internal controls, and implement an Enhanced Due Diligence Policy targeting individuals at higher risk of fraud due to age or mental capacity. It also adds new statutory provisions outlining these obligations and gives the commissioner authority to request compliance evidence.

Introduces a regulatory framework for virtual currency kiosks in Louisiana. It defines relevant terms, clarifies that kiosk operators are engaged in virtual currency business activity, and requires them to be licensed. The bill also includes basic consumer protection standards.

 Key Provisions: 

- Defines “fiat currency,” “virtual currency kiosk,” “virtual currency kiosk operator,” and “virtual currency kiosk transaction” 

- Recognizes virtual currency kiosk operators as part of Louisiana’s broader virtual currency ecosystem 

- Requires licensure, creating a clear path for compliant operation in the state 

- Sets a $3,000 daily transaction cap per user to deter misuse without overly restricting access 

- Allows a 72-hour transaction delay or cancellation window to protect users from scams 

- Requires kiosks to post a clear anti-fraud warning for consumer awareness

Proposes revisions to Louisiana’s Campaign Finance Disclosure Act.

1. Committee Registration Thresholds 

Current Law: Committees must register if they receive or spend over $500 in a calendar year. 

Proposed Law: Increases the threshold to $1,000.

2. Contribution and Expenditure Thresholds for Disclosure 

Current Law: 

- Contributions or expenditures over $25 must be itemized. 

- Affidavit exemption is allowed if contributions are under $200 and expenditures under $5,000. 

Proposed Law: 

- Increases itemization threshold to $50. 

- Raises affidavit exemption thresholds to $500 in contributions and $10,000 in expenditures.

3. Campaign Committee Participation Thresholds 

Current Law: A committee is considered participating in an election if activity exceeds $500. 

Proposed Law: Raises this threshold to $1,000.

4. Leadership Committees 

Current Law: No explicit provision. 

Proposed Law: 

- Establishes leadership committees affiliated with elected officials. 

- These committees cannot support or oppose the official’s own campaign. 

- May support other candidates, engage in issue advocacy, and cover administrative expenses.

5. Joint Fundraising Agreements 

Current Law: Louisiana's campaign finance laws do not explicitly define or regulate joint fundraising committees as distinct entities. The proposed legislation aims to formalize and regulate joint fundraising efforts by establishing clear guidelines and definitions within the state's campaign finance framework.

Proposed Law: 

- Allows joint fundraising between committees and other entities. 

- Requires written agreements and allocation formulas. 

- Sets rules for collecting and distributing funds and disclosing donor information.

6. Contribution Limits 

Current Law: Limits vary by office and donor type. 

Proposed Law: 

- Raises certain caps (e.g., cash contribution limit increases from $100 to $200). 

- Clarifies and formalizes limits for joint fundraising and leadership committee contributions.

7. Prohibited Personal Use of Campaign Funds 

Current Law: Campaign funds cannot be used for personal expenses, but the definition is vague. 

Proposed Law: 

- Adds specific prohibited uses (e.g., clothing, household food, dues, mortgage payments). 

- Lists permitted uses (e.g., political travel, event attendance, security expenses).

8. Supervisory Committee Powers and Enforcement 

Current Law: Committee can investigate and enforce violations, with limited process detail. 

Proposed Law: 

- Requires a two-thirds vote for investigations and subpoenas. 

- Adds due process protections and specific standards for launching and managing investigations. 

- Requires more transparency and justification for enforcement actions.

9. Foreign Contributions 

Current Law: Foreign contributions are generally prohibited. 

Proposed Law: 

- Expands and clarifies the definition of “foreign national.” 

- References federal laws and regulations for alignment.

10. Proposition/Question Elections 

Current Law: Contributions and expenditures for or against ballot propositions are regulated similarly to candidate campaigns. 

Proposed Law: Removes or narrows this regulation in many parts of the law.

Authorizes the Port of New Orleans to enter into public-private partnerships (P3s) for the development of the Louisiana International Terminal and the St. Bernard Transportation Corridor to support economic growth and improve freight connectivity.

Key Provisions:

- Declares the development of the Louisiana International Terminal and an elevated St. Bernard Transportation Corridor as matters of public necessity.

- Authorizes the Port of New Orleans to develop, construct, operate, and maintain the corridor and terminal, and to use P3s to fund the project.

- Grants the board authority to determine the corridor’s route, which may connect to Paris Road and I-510.

- Designates the corridor as a limited-access roadway and authorizes regulation of access and toll collection.

- Permits cooperation and agreements with local, state, and federal entities, including property transfers and shared responsibilities with the Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD).

- Allows the board to acquire land through donation, purchase, lease, or expropriation without competitive bidding, and to enter land for surveys with prior notice.

- Establishes board authority to relocate utilities and enter agreements for use of right-of-way for infrastructure like pipelines and cables.

- Permits the board to set and collect tolls without oversight from state or local regulatory bodies and exempts toll revenue and project assets from state taxes.

- Authorizes the eventual transfer of the corridor to DOTD, which would assume maintenance, contracts, and debt obligations.

Extends the existing sales and use tax exemption for ships and ships' supplies to include digital products attached to or used in the operation or maintenance of vessels over 50 tons.

Key Provisions: 

- Expands the current exemption to cover digital products, including prewritten computer software access services and information services. 

- Applies to digital products that are incorporated into, attached to, or used in the operation or maintenance of vessels over 50 tons operating in foreign or interstate coastwise commerce. 

- Updates statutory language to replace "materials and supplies" with "tangible personal property or digital products." 

- Effective July 1, 2025.

Continues statutory cigarette tax rate and authorizes reduced rates for certain tobacco products.

Key Provisions:

• Codifies the 4¢ per cigarette excise tax (previously constitutional) in statute, maintaining total cigarette tax at $1.08 per pack.
• Authorizes a 60% excise tax reduction for "modified risk tobacco products" with FDA risk modification orders under 21 U.S.C. 387k(g)(1).
• Authorizes a 25% reduction for those with FDA exposure modification orders under 21 U.S.C. 387k(g)(2).
• Adds and revises definitions for invoice pricing, promotional incentives, and cigarettes to support tax administration.
• Applies to taxable periods beginning July 1, 2025.
• Effective upon governor's signature.

Authorizes the Port of New Orleans to use public-private partnerships (P3s) for the St. Bernard Transportation Corridor roadway, intended as a commercial route connecting the Louisiana International Terminal to the interstate system, a local traffic alternative, and an evacuation route.

KEY PROVISIONS:

• Grants the Port of New Orleans board authority to enter into P3 agreements for design, construction, financing, operation, and maintenance of the roadway.
• Allows tolls/user fees and grants powers similar to DOTD for toll enforcement and collection.
• Requires coordination and approvals from the Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD), but does not require approval from the Louisiana Transportation Authority.
• Permits acquisition of necessary property, including through expropriation.
• Provides tax exemption for the roadway and associated properties.
• Ensures compliance with all state and federal laws regarding highway safety and infrastructure.

The act supplements existing powers of the Port without limiting other authorities.

HOUSE floor amendment [LINK] update references and definitions, including excluding certain divested entities from the "foreign adversary" definition. They revise reporting requirements, replace vague terms like "two or more persons" with "a committee," and clarify that some political committees are not subject to certain restrictions. They allow spending on Mardi Gras events in D.C., require detailed annual reports from the Supervisory Committee, and mandate updated reporting forms by January 15, 2026. No penalties apply for missing new data until forms are updated.

THIS IS AN 87-PAGE REPLACEMENT BILL FOR HB596--ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE LEADERSHIP COMMITTEES AND OTHER COMMITTEES

Proposes comprehensive revisions to the state's Campaign Finance Disclosure Act. The bill aims to enhance transparency, accountability, and oversight in campaign finance by introducing new structures, clarifying definitions, and updating reporting and enforcement mechanisms. Seeks to modernize Louisiana's campaign finance laws by introducing structured committees, clarifying legal definitions, enforcing contribution limits, enhancing transparency through rigorous reporting, and strengthening enforcement to uphold the integrity of the state's electoral system.

Key Provisions:

Establishment of Leadership Committees:

• HB 693 introduces "leadership committees," which are authorized to support multiple candidates and engage in fundraising activities.
• These committees are subject to specific contribution limits and reporting requirements to prevent undue influence and ensure transparency.

Clarification of Committee Types and Responsibilities:

• The bill delineates various committee types, including political committees, principal campaign committees, subsidiary committees, and independent expenditure-only committees.
• Each committee type has defined roles, permissible activities, and obligations, aiming to streamline campaign operations and compliance.

Updated Contribution and Expenditure Regulations:

• HB 693 sets clear limits on contributions from individuals, political parties, and other entities to candidates and committees.
• It also outlines permissible expenditures, aiming to curb excessive spending and promote fair competition.

Enhanced Reporting Requirements:

• The bill mandates timely and detailed reporting of contributions and expenditures, including those related to closed party primary elections and joint fundraising efforts.
• These measures are designed to provide the public with real-time access to campaign finance information.

Regulation of Foreign Nationals:

• HB 693 prohibits contributions and expenditures by foreign nationals, aligning state law with federal regulations to safeguard the electoral process from foreign interference.

Strengthened Enforcement Mechanisms:

• The supervisory committee on campaign finance is granted expanded powers to investigate violations, impose penalties, and ensure compliance with the law.
• The bill also repeals outdated provisions related to proposition elections, reflecting a modernization of the campaign finance framework