Amends Code of Civil Procedure Articles 4843(E) and (G) to adjust the jurisdictional limit of the City Court of Hammond. Currently, under present law, the City Court of Hammond has civil jurisdiction concurrent with the district court for cases where the amount in dispute or the value of property involved does not exceed $30,000, as listed in Article 4843(E). The proposed law removes the City Court of Hammond from this category and adds it to Article 4843(G), increasing its jurisdictional limit to $50,000, aligning it with other specified city courts like Alexandria and Lake Charles. This change expands the court’s authority to handle higher-value civil disputes concurrently with the district court. The bill takes effect on August 1, 2025.

HOUSE committee amendments [LINK] increase continuing education requirements from 22 to 24 hours for insurance producers, consultants, adjusters, and public adjusters. They require life, accident, and health producers and consultants to include three hours on ethics and two hours on legislative updates. Those licensed in property, casualty, or personal lines must include three hours on ethics, three hours on flood insurance, and two hours on legislative updates. Adjusters and public adjusters must now complete 24 hours, including two hours on legislative updates in insurance law.

SENATE committee and floor amendments technical

Proposes updates to licensure requirements for individuals regulated by the Louisiana Department of Insurance.

Key changes include:

• Continuing Education: The bill reduces required continuing education hours for insurance producers and consultants from 24 to 22 hours per renewal period. This includes at least three hours each in ethics and flood insurance. Additionally, it mandates an annual one-hour instruction provided by the Department of Insurance on recent insurance law changes.
• Adjuster Licensing Exemption: The bill increases the threshold for claims that can be adjusted by unlicensed individuals employed by insurers from $500 to $2,000.

If enacted, these changes would take effect on August 1, 2025.

Proposes amendments to laws concerning the operation of watercraft, particularly regarding the establishment and enforcement of no-wake zones on state waterways.

Key Provisions:

1. Careless Operation Definition Update: The bill revises the definition of careless operation of a watercraft to include operating a vessel in excess of established speed limits or within a no-wake zone.
2. Emergency Waterway Closures: It grants the secretary authority to close waterways or impose no-wake zones during emergencies or disasters, with these restrictions lasting until seven days after the next Wildlife and Fisheries Commission meeting.
3. Local Authority on No-Wake Zones: The bill allows parish or municipal governing authorities to establish and post speed limits and no-wake zones within their jurisdiction, excluding the Mississippi River, Mississippi River Gulf Outlet, and Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. These local regulations must be posted along affected waterways and do not preempt state regulations.
4. Enforcement: Enforcement responsibility for speed limits and no-wake zones is assigned to sheriffs, local law enforcement officers, state police, and commissioned wildlife agents.
5. Bayou Lafourche Fresh Water District Powers: The bill authorizes the Bayou Lafourche Fresh Water District's board to implement and enforce no-wake zones during declared emergencies to protect waterway banks from erosion or instability.

The legislation clarifies operational definitions, expands local authority, and specifies enforcement mechanisms for no-wake zones.

SENATE committee amendments mostly technical except setting the date for vote during statewide elections on November 2, 2026 or on April 18, 2026, if an Act is passed to provide for a statewide election on that date.

Proposes an amendment to Louisiana’s constitution regarding legislative sessions held in odd-numbered years. The amendment seeks to increase the number of general, nonfiscal bills that legislators may prefile from five to seven. Additionally, it expands the scope of fiscal legislation allowed in these sessions by including measures that repurpose or restrict the use of proceeds from existing taxes or fees. If approved, the amendment will be presented to voters in the statewide election on November 15, 2025.

AMENDMENT adds "and veterinary staff"

Seeks to amend Louisiana law to include veterinarians and veterinary clinics under the definitions of "healthcare professional" and "healthcare facility." This change would apply to laws governing assault and battery offenses against emergency room personnel, emergency services personnel, or healthcare professionals, as well as laws related to the unlawful disruption of healthcare facilities.

By incorporating veterinarians into the legal definition of "healthcare professional," the bill extends protections against battery to those working in veterinary medicine. Similarly, the inclusion of veterinary clinics within the definition of "healthcare facility" ensures that disruptions at such locations are treated under the same legal framework as other medical establishments.

If enacted, these changes would take effect on August 1, 2025.

Urges Congress to reform the H-2A visa program to address unsustainable wage hikes and regulatory burdens that threaten Louisiana agriculture.

Key Provisions:

• Calls for the repeal of the current Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) and a freeze at January 2023 levels.
• Requests that all H-2A wage obligations be based solely on the USDA’s Farm Labor Survey, not the broader Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
• Highlights that AEWR increases—now at $14.83/hour in Louisiana—create heavy cost burdens on farmers, particularly for specialty crops.
• Warns that rising labor costs threaten farm viability and contribute to higher consumer prices.
• Declares the H-2A program essential for U.S. agriculture and calls for regulatory relief to ensure its continued use.