Submitted by Louisiana State Representative Troy Hebert of District 31
On January 8, 2024, we were sworn in as new members of the State Legislature; on January 15th, we started the first of two special sessions called by Governor Jeff Landry. It was like drinking through a fire hose! The first special session dealt with closed primary elections and congressional maps. The second special session centered around crime in our state. Governor Landry made crime a top priority, and throughout that special session, we helped pass legislation to address some of the growing crime issues in our state.
We eventually made it into the regular session that started on March 11 and ended on June 3, 2024. I sit on three committees: Commerce, Judiciary & Insurance. Insurance has been on the minds of many Louisiana citizens and business owners. Commissioner Tim Temple had a package of bills that he wanted to pass in the regular session. This package of bills was to help restructure some of our laws to attract more insurance companies to Louisiana. You cannot pass a law that guarantees or mandates that insurance rates will come down, but you can pass laws that make insurance companies feel our state is a good place to do business. The free market and competition will be the only way we see a decrease in rates.
An example of making changes and a law many were paying attention to is the Three (3) year rule. Insurance companies cannot mitigate their risk if the policyholder has been with them for over three years and they are forced to keep the risk and not release that policy. Louisiana is the only state in the country and the world that has this type of law. Not allowing insurance companies to mitigate their risk only adds to the conversation of charging higher premiums. The re-insurance market, which is basically insurance for the underwriters of your policy, has issues with this law, and it, along with many other things like high litigation in Louisiana, have them charging a higher premium. That premium is a direct pass-through to the consumer. By eliminating the 3-year rule, you could see policies not renewed up to 5% per parish.
Commissioner Temple’s package of bills from this session, taken collectively, could be the answer to more insurance companies wanting to do business in our state. We recently saw the state of Florida post that some insurance companies will be decreasing rates in 2024, and some have announced no rate hikes. Commissioner Temple’s package aligns with some of the same laws in Florida.
Another good bill for the State of Louisiana came from the Commerce Committee. Senate Bill (SB) 494 has been labeled as a bill to “Position Louisiana to Win.” This bill allows for restructuring the Louisiana Economic Development Department (LED) to operate at the speed of business, relieve the department of the burdens of bureaucracy, and bring the private sector to the table to build a long-term economic strategy for Louisiana. We need to utilize LED to retain our businesses and attract new opportunities for Louisiana.
One bill that I was proud to pass is House Bill (HB) 839. This bill prohibits a health coverage plan from subjecting a prescription or order for a ventilator to any step therapy or failing the first protocol when there is clinical evidence or patient history that suggests the alternative treatments required under the protocol will be less effective or cause an adverse reaction to the patient. This bill will essentially get the proper prescription needed without the insurance company dictating another form of treatment. This non-invasive ventilator will be more commonly used for ALS patients, COPD patients, or any patient with an incurable lung disease who needs a device to help them breathe.
As you can see, we have been very busy in Baton Rouge this year. As a freshman legislator, although it was a fast-paced six months, I feel we did many good things for the State of Louisiana, and I look forward to being back home to spend time in District 31.
Troy Hebert, State Representative – District 3
3639 Ambassador Caffery Pkwy, Suite 214
Lafayette, LA 70503
Office: (337) 347-7077
