[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6061907,"mediaKeyId","3280900-e497efbcd993aff1b8033edbfdaedc9a","parentId",3280900,"title","Committee backs HB85 to require reroof permits, inspections and statewide permit data collection","audioSeconds",631,"startMs",937780,"endMs",1569450,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3280900-e497efbcd993aff1b8033edbfdaedc9a&start=937&end=1569","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3280900-e497efbcd993aff1b8033edbfdaedc9a/thumbnail_937780.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6061907/Louisiana/Committee-backs-HB85-to-require-reroof-permits-inspections-and-statewide-permit-data-collection","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6061907-78da5a4eb7714dc5a26401670ce96f8e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770812452&Signature=VXRdFXhrUK0bQIkf6oSQkLkL4Wk-Cb3vXaYoAfoB6wMZQnzHSEwFPV4aHh3tdqOlhA~rasxXMa8489hJlg0gp9rdJ-8Vq32UWVcvMxLkCwhd2B1q33snYEBR2nwK9b47cRsnfkcyqx7PpI9-3dzItix65aomqlk~AObpYpyZMWfBXyPBa~zuBIqykuE9UsA0NAzBwI9H0JG2MYgzJFklzHtVEEJgjd-jOkczsjmBNm6SEoIsU1KfsCvlw09R2Jzuxb78bo982LuhYcr4tz-0nFzX-wKT3ML8vdm6e77m3yvr4jQdhAJRg9vfXs4K6N5f3hxRxt3wj2hifBd~BBF~dQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Louisiana Legislature","date","2025-05-13T00:00:00Z","article","The House Committee on Commerce on May 13 reported House Bill 85, which would require permits and inspections for reroofing work, allow insurers to accept documentation that may reduce premiums, and create a statewide database of reroof permit records and inspection outcomes.

Sponsor Representative Gadbury told the committee the bill is intended to clarify requirements for reroof permits, improve the existing housing stock, and ensure insurers can verify compliance. Bill supporters said the measure would produce records that insurers and actuaries could use when setting rates.

Bill testimony described operational elements of the program. Bill witness Bill Pousson of South Central Planning said local permitting and inspection systems are already used to capture data and that geotagged photos are already accepted under state law for roof inspections. “This would clarify that, and cause, you know, inspections to occur,” Pousson said, adding that the permitting and inspection data could be shared with the Department of Insurance and mined by firms such as CoreLogic for actuarial purposes.

Randy Noel, a home builder and former Louisiana State Uniform Construction Code Council chair, told the committee, “we are in dire straits with the homeowners insurance in terms of trying to sell our properties,” and argued that capturing roof-permit data and ensuring properly installed roofs will help reduce claim exposure from water intrusion following wind damage.

Committee members discussed how the bill intersects with the existing Fortified Roof program and the costs of evaluators and engineering. A committee exchange noted there are three Fortified standards (bronze, silver, gold) with higher engineering costs at higher levels; a bronze-level fortified analysis was described in testimony as running about $4,000 to $6,000 for engineering and documentation, while the bill would rely primarily on building-code inspections, which the witnesses said align with much of the Fortified design standards.

The committee considered amendment set 2657, which removes a provision that would have required municipalities or parishes to provide individual permit data upon request. Mr. McArthur read the amendment: “This amendment removes a provision requiring a municipality or parish which issues a permit for construction to provide upon request individual permit data.” The committee adopted amendment 2657 with no objections and then, on a motion by Representative Cox, moved HB85 as amended; the committee reported the bill favorably.

Witnesses and the sponsor emphasized that the inspection and permitting framework is intended to collect verifiable data for insurers and to improve long-term housing resilience; the transcript shows committee staff and witnesses discussing existing software systems that already capture permits and inspections and noting coverage of that system across about 95% of the state.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Commerce Part 1 May 13, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The House Committee on Commerce on May 13 reported House Bill 85, which would require permits and inspections for reroofing work, allow insurers to accept documentation that may reduce premiums, and create a statewide database of reroof permit records and inspection outcomes.","taxTitle","Commerce, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative, Louisiana","taxId",20971,"location","Louisiana","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6061911,"House committee advances substitute for HB305 to expand broadband office authority and funding rules",737,133075,870435,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3280900-e497efbcd993aff1b8033edbfdaedc9a&start=133&end=870","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3280900-e497efbcd993aff1b8033edbfdaedc9a/thumbnail_133075.jpg","/articles/6061911/Louisiana/House-committee-advances-substitute-for-HB305-to-expand-broadband-office-authority-and-funding-rules","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6061911-f0baab66b7e3f6076944d5f0147d6a51/orig.mp4?Expires=1770812452&Signature=n7eLcWTnnkbGQ2bgzA0UpT1JMo5DoMNTB2r7neX6oCbC0VKXGipqvONxPHYAZcq6P9v-NXjgquHHpaOfhcPUJWz9n2J7EO9hnNrWC7lIKTaRlt0iND2wGazbuYwxMqLNZz6FXWmX7Gnyvd6lLQmAHmgrVa8efTK3YazVTc6ItDg-sucM9tODs~YYzVTCbe6Ric33MNxpXjKj~1sGR5PZ2dog3fHDeX7CCEAna30Yspzn-AgaUvIdBZMw5Gosd~8APaBJA-UOTAdHJ-OBNbMnbLPGkuvWoNUg-50uVpZBZjwHe5jK1fs~D0pXMEW5sHRBN5cqdT858GvymDkCuMn99Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Committee on Commerce on May 13 reported a substitute for House Bill 305 that would give the Louisiana State Office of Broadband Development and Connectivity broader authority to oversee certain broadband programs, raise the administration cap for existing funds and change payment and compliance rules.

The substitute bill, offered as amendment set 2596, would raise the cap on administration fees for the Gumbo 1 funds from 1% to 2.5%, add provisions for reimbursements and grants, and expand the office’s authority to enforce compliance by providers and to adopt implementing rules. The chair moved to reconsider and then withdraw amendment set 2163 before a substitute was introduced and adopted for consideration.

Vineeth Iyengar, executive director of the Louisiana State Office of Broadband Development and Connectivity, told the committee the office has learned operational lessons over four years of administering funds and needs flexibility to pay providers faster. “Singularly, this is a critical important infrastructure issue for many of you and for many of your constituents, full stop,” Iyengar said, describing quicker payments to internet service providers as necessary to improve cash flow and speed deployment.

Representative Hebert moved the substitute for favorable passage; the committee had no objections and the bill was reported. Representative Cox said the substitute removes concerns about overlapping regulatory authority: “no other state agency has the authority to regulate broadband program compliance,” she said, summarizing committee discussion that the bill preserves regulatory authority with the broadband office rather than shifting it to the Public Service Commission.

Members discussed a late, provider-submitted technical amendment the sponsor said they would review for unintended consequences. Commenters at the committee emphasized operational issues the substitute seeks to address: timely payments to providers, clearer distribution rules, and added compliance language enabling the office to ensure providers meet program requirements. Iyengar and members also cited ongoing inter-state interest in Louisiana’s approach; Iyengar said officials in Mississippi had sought guidance on Louisiana processes.

The committee’s actions included motions to reconsider and withdraw the previously adopted amendment set 2163, introduction and adoption of the substitute (amendment set 2596), and the successful motion by Representative Hebert to report the bill favorably. No roll-call vote on final passage was taken in committee; the transcript records the committee reporting the bill to the House.

Supporters said the substitute is intended to make program administration more efficient and to preserve state-level program compliance authority; members signaled general bipartisan support during committee discussion. The committee did not adopt any substantive amendments on the floor during the recorded portion beyond withdrawing the earlier amendment set and introducing the substitute, and members asked staff to review a provider-proposed technical clean-up before next steps.","The House Committee on Commerce reported a substitute for House Bill 305 that raises the administration cap for Gumbo 1 funds, adds reimbursement and grant provisions, and increases oversight and compliance authority for the Office of Broadband Development and Connectivity.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee backs HB85 to require reroof permits, inspections and statewide permit data collection

House committee advances substitute for HB305 to expand broadband office authority and funding rules