Throughout the 2025 Legislative Session, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry repeatedly pledged to sign every insurance reform bill the Legislature sent to his desk. But Wednesday, he broke that promise – vetoing Senate Bill 111 by U.S. Sen. Alan Seabaugh, a measure just passed by lawmakers in an effort to strengthen good faith standards and ensure fair claims processing.
So, who benefits from this unexpected veto, which will allow the status quo to continue? Certainly not the families and small businesses struggling under Louisiana’s sky-high insurance rates.
But one group did oppose the bill: trial lawyers, who donated over $700,000 to Landry’s gubernatorial campaign. Since the election, trial lawyers have given an additional $386,000 to Landry and the various committees he raises money for. This includes major gifts from Gordon McKernan, who donated $25,000 to the Louisiana Republican Party in October 2023, immediately after Landry won the primary election for governor, and $45,000 to Cajun PAC II in August 2024 shortly after the legislative session concluded.
This isn’t the first time the governor has sided with the trial bar over the people. In 2024, he vetoed House Bill 423, which was widely considered the most impactful reform of that session. That bill would have limited how much money plaintiffs can receive in court for medical bills. Despite receiving overwhelming support in both chambers, the bill was killed by Gov. Landry – again, to the benefit of trial lawyers. As a result of the governor’s veto of HB 423 last year, Louisiana law continues to allow plaintiffs to collect more money in damages than what they actually paid for medical bills.
Landry’s repeated vetoes raise serious concerns about where his priorities lie – particularly in light of the political witchcraft he had to do this session to cajole lawmakers into passing his insurance rate-setting bill, HB 148, which some have described as an “abominable mess.” At best, the governor’s efforts will do nothing to lower costs or improve conditions for consumers, workers, or small business owners who are desperately seeking relief. At worst, they could destabilize the market, discourage much-needed investments, reduce competition and, ultimately result in home and auto insurance that is less accessible and more expensive.
If Louisiana is ever going to break free from this cycle of unaffordable insurance and legal imbalance, Commissioner Tim Temple and legislative leaders must press forward – despite the governor’s obstruction. Veto-proof reforms are now essential to restore competition, attract insurers back to the market, and bring transparency and balance to our civil justice system.
Louisiana families can’t wait another year. The time for principled, courageous leadership is now.
