With just under two weeks left in the 2025 Regular Session, legislators are moving quickly to work through remaining bills. Several 1A-supported measures advanced at the Capitol last week, including bills to establish a new LED high-impact jobs incentive and to expand eligibility for the M.J. Foster Promise Program. All eyes will be on the Senate, as it takes up the State budget as well as legislation to reform and optimize DOTD.
Legislators have until June 12 to handle business before adjournment. Read on for a recap of week seven and a look ahead at week eight.
Auto Insurance Reform
Perhaps the biggest legislative news last week was Governor Jeff Landry signing several significant auto insurance reforms into law. This legislation, which aims to improve Louisiana’s litigation climate and address high premium costs, includes:
- HB 431 by Rep. Chenevert – Shifts Louisiana from a pure comparative fault system to a modified comparative fault Under this change, claimants found to be 51% or more at fault for their own injuries would no longer be eligible to recover damages—bringing Louisiana in line with fault standards used in 34 other states.
- HB 434 by Rep. DeWitt – Strengthen Louisiana’s “No Pay, No Play” policy by increasing the threshold for uninsured drivers to recover damages after an accident. The minimum thresholds for bodily injury and property damage will rise to $100,000, up from the current $15,000 and $25,000 respectively—further incentivizing compliance with the state’s mandatory insurance law.
- HB 450 by Rep. Melerine – Repeals the Housley Presumption—a legal doctrine that assumes an injury was caused by an accident even without direct evidence of causation. Repealing this presumption will level the playing field for defendants and support fairer outcomes in litigation.
Together, these bills—among others—represent a meaningful step toward improving the state’s lawsuit climate and boosting insurance market competitiveness.
Statewide Economic Development
Also of major significance to statewide economic development is a package of bills spearheaded by Louisiana Economic Development (LED) that will enhance LED’s toolkit to grow jobs and investment. These bills include:
- HB 507 by House Ways & Means Chair Julie Emerson – Creates the High Impact Jobs Program within LED. The program would incentivize qualifying companies to create jobs that pay above the parish average wage and offer a basic health benefits plan, offering a reimbursable grant based on a percentage of annualized wages. A tiered benefit structure would reward higher-paying jobs. The bill has cleared the House and is working its way through the Senate.
- HB 433 by House Commerce Chair Daryl Deshotel – Creates the Site Investment and Infrastructure Improvement Fund to support enhancements to sites across Louisiana that are primed for economic development. Eligible improvements could include roads, sewer, gas, and other infrastructure—ensuring the state can move quickly when companies are considering Louisiana for new or expanded operations. The bill has cleared the House and is awaiting a hearing in Senate Finance.
- SB 161 by Sen. Beth Mizell – Builds on momentum initiated during the 2024 Regular Session to advance reorganization within Louisiana Economic Development (LED), strengthening the department as a business-first, best-in-class economic development agency. Notably, the bill formally establishes the LED Innovation Fund and grants LED authority to purchase, sublease, or sell property—with proceeds directed to site development. The bill has cleared the Senate and is working its way through the House.
Talent Development
1A also remains engaged on several bills that would boost talent development in Louisiana, including changes to TOPS and the M.J. Foster Promise Program. Two related bills that took a step forward last week were:
- HB 77 by Rep. Chris Turner – Modifies the TOPS scholarship program, creating a new Excellence Award for high-achieving students with a 3.5 GPA and an ACT score of 31 or higher. The new award level would cover tuition and fees—or up to $12,000 annually—at Louisiana public universities, an increased benefit for UL Lafayette students who qualify. Another provision amended onto the bill would allow unused TOPS award amounts to be used by students who graduate college out of state but return to Louisiana for medical or dental school. The bill has cleared the House and will next be heard by Senate Finance to review its fiscal impact.
- HB 558 by Rep. Paula Davis – Expands access to the M.J. Foster Promise Program for a select group of formerly incarcerated individuals. Amended in the Senate Education Committee, the bill now limits eligibility to those convicted of certain non-violent offenses. Though narrowed, it marks a positive step toward helping ex-offenders gain the training and credentials needed for gainful employment post-release. HB 558 awaits action by the full Senate before returning to the House for concurrence of amendments.
LOOKING AHEAD
With the session set to adjourn on June 12, important work remains in the final two weeks. In addition to Senate consideration of the state budget, the Senate Transportation Committee is expected to take up amendments to a major DOTD reform package this Wednesday.
DOTD Reform and Optimization
Governor Landry and legislative leaders have made reforming the Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) a top priority this session, aiming to modernize the agency and address Louisiana’s nearly $20 billion infrastructure backlog. Early in the session, the House passed a package of bills authored by House Transportation Committee Chairman Ryan Bourriaque focused on improving efficiency, accountability, and project delivery within DOTD. The key measures advancing in the Senate this week include:
- HB 528 – Establishes an Office of Transformation within DOTD to drive accountability and efficiency and provide for clear authority and delegation of duties.
- HB 556 – Streamlines departmental functions to enhance flexibility and expedite project delivery; ensures that Transportation Trust Fund dollars are used exclusively for project-related expenses.
- HB 640 – Creates the Office of Louisiana Highway Construction, a new entity housed in the governor’s office tasked with reimagining how transportation projects are delivered. Initially, the new office would be given authority over non-federal aid routes, mostly for resurfacing of rural roads.
1A thanks Governor Landry, Chairman Bourriaque, and others for their leadership to improve DOTD operations and enhance the delivery of infrastructure projects across the state.
Additional 1A-Supported Bills on the Move
Other 1A priority bills scheduled for action today (June 2) include:
- HB 533 (Carver) – Establishes the Work-Based Learning Tax Credit, a revamped incentive for employers to hire apprentices, interns, and youth workers. Employers would qualify for a credit of $2.50 per hour, up to $2,500, for each eligible participant employed for at least 100 hours during the taxable period. By aligning employer incentives with the state’s new school accountability formula, HB 533 creates a coordinated effort to promote career education and workforce training—helping to meet industry demand for skilled workers and to keep more young talent in Louisiana. The bill passed the House and is scheduled to be heard in Senate Revenue & Fiscal Affairs today.
- SB 231 (Reese) – Aims to increase transparency in the calculation of medical damages in litigation. Senate floor amendments restored the bill’s original intent: to allow courts to consider both the amounts billed and actually paid for medical care. The bill passed the Senate 27-8 and is scheduled to be heard in the House Civil Law Committee today.
1A is tracking key legislation across three priority areas:
- Economic competitiveness
- Talent development
- Infrastructure investment
Be on the lookout for 1A legislative updates on these issues, and more, at the beginning of each week during Session.