(The Center Square) − Six new Louisiana laws went into effect on Friday that are a part of the state’s push to lower the cost of insurance. The laws make significant changes across the state’s construction, insurance, contractor regulation, and traffic enforcement policies.
Under Act 239, parishes and municipalities that issue building permits are now required to inspect roofing work as part of the permitting process.
Local governments must enforce Chapter 15 of the International Building Code for commercial buildings and Chapters 8 and 9 of the International Residential Code for one- and two-family dwellings, as adopted by the Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code Council.
This aims to ensure uniform code compliance and reduce unpermitted or substandard roofing work in both residential and commercial construction.
New restrictions in Act 144 now prohibit public adjusters — those hired by policyholders to help file claims — from acting as contractors or offering construction or roofing services related to the same insurance claim. The change seeks to eliminate conflicts of interest and protect consumers from potential abuse following disasters.
The law also bars home improvement contractors from providing agreements to insured homeowners without a clear itemized cost estimate, advertising themselves as “insurance claim specialists,” and offering policy interpretation or insurance consulting services as part of their sales pitch.
Under Act 29, all adjusters and producers must complete more educational and training sessions on ethics, flood insurance and insurance law.
Also, the threshold for when an insurer-employed adjuster must be licensed has increased — from $500 to $2,000 in claim value.
Act 62 creates the Louisiana Roof Registry, a voluntary state-run database within the Department of Insurance. The registry will allow property owners and local governments to submit building permit information related to roof work.
The registry is designed to help streamline roof claim verifications and post-disaster inspections. The Insurance Commissioner is expected to develop administrative rules detailing what information can be submitted and how it may be used.
With Act 288, Louisiana has enacted a comprehensive ban on the use of handheld wireless devices while driving — including texting, accessing apps, using social media, or watching videos. Drivers can only use phones in hands-free mode, and exceptions are carved out for emergency calls or law enforcement duties.
Violations in school zones or construction zones are considered primary offenses and carry a $250 fine, or $500 if the violation contributed to a crash. Elsewhere, it is a secondary offense carrying a $100 fine — or $200 with a crash involved.
First-time violators will receive a written warning through the end of 2025.
Law enforcement cannot seize or search devices during a stop, and a statewide preemption clause prohibits local governments from passing their own ordinances on phone use while driving.
Lastly, Act 500 increases transparency and accountability in property insurance claims.
Insurers may now require proof that a policyholder has paid their deductible before releasing recoverable depreciation payments. Insurers must also provide clear timelines and maintain approved proof-of-loss forms on their websites.
Penalties for late or unreasonable denials of rental car coverage have been strengthened — up to $2,500 or 50% of the expenses incurred, whichever is greater. Claimants may now challenge auto total-loss valuations with two independent appraisals if the market value is higher than the insurer’s offer.
