Louisiana – Governor Jeff Landry held a press conference at the Governor’s Mansion to sign a comprehensive tort reform effort, described as the largest in Louisiana’s history. The new laws aim to protect residents from what officials characterize as frivolous lawsuits and to increase accountability among insurance companies.
“Today, we’ve taken steps to shield Louisianans from frivolous lawsuits driven by trial lawyers—using a data-driven strategy,” Landry said. “And we made it clear to insurance companies that they must answer to their policyholders. Over the past fifty days, I am proud to say that the only side I’ve stood with is the people of Louisiana.”
The legislative package includes several key bills:
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HB 148: Insurance Commissioner Authority
This bill grants the Louisiana Insurance Commissioner enhanced powers to regulate and hold down insurance rates, aligning the state with others such as Texas, Mississippi, South Carolina, Florida, and Alabama. -
HB 450: Housley Presumption
Requires plaintiffs in car accident injury lawsuits to prove that their injuries actually occurred during the accident. -
HB 434: No Pay No Play
Increases the threshold preventing uninsured drivers from collecting medical expense awards for bodily injury from $15,000 to $100,000. -
HB 436: Illegal Aliens
Prohibits undocumented immigrants injured in car accidents from collecting general damages. -
HB 431: Comparative Fault
Bars drivers found to be at least 51% responsible for an accident from receiving damage awards for their injuries. Previously, a driver with majority fault could receive compensation proportional to the remaining fault percentage. -
HB 549: Dash Cam Discount
Offers insurance premium discounts for commercial vehicles equipped with dashboard cameras and telematics systems.
The new reforms are expected to reshape Louisiana’s legal and insurance landscapes significantly. Governor Landry emphasized that these measures prioritize the interests of Louisiana’s citizens and policyholders.