[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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",[32,76,88,100],{"_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",6224232,"mediaKeyId","3552253-d8a848e4fa182f14b1cf74c52098adf6","parentId",3552253,"title","Committee advances Senate Bill 122 to expand contractor licensing, add roofing and solar categories and protect financial disclosures","audioSeconds",656,"startMs",89000,"endMs",745000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3552253-d8a848e4fa182f14b1cf74c52098adf6&start=89&end=745","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3552253-d8a848e4fa182f14b1cf74c52098adf6/thumbnail_89000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6224232/Louisiana/Committee-advances-Senate-Bill-122-to-expand-contractor-licensing-add-roofing-and-solar-categories-and-protect-financial-disclosures","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6224232-8b54e94d51c3293edee6b368293efd25/orig.mp4?Expires=1770646830&Signature=I3evJcMe5tT6hgRSHjhV7KA9jaMrH6PwVnkdHibOehpm6~p-uTjwB-cFPsjVBHnRR8-eCVxZ0smK6be7O6dxDSrYpvD8~Q03joYf4NPtCOmHJndluOjSs9PocoiDN3isjTkxYBrz7miVxEqBTCyKdAxSxiGc3Ky8YuTN-NtELONKSCIr77HFwX25dSDYWBJhU1w552PrVUzqpsJl1jfGP7jIU4LD1VGfSNI~6b7EV-Ll-c4huw6sHi5LH1x0PDRzzdlbEdzyjlgMPDWWF72pVWdmjz9Qno00ZwVj3ZsKHuptv~H7~s1U-3wbI~JMieNnvfrz7rlGwVIIZP75qUIDMA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Louisiana Legislature","date","2025-05-28T00:00:00Z","article","Senate Bill 122, presented to the Committee on House and Governmental Affairs on May 28, 2025, proposes broad changes to the state contractor-licensing regime, including new license types for residential roofing and solar energy contractors and expanded recordkeeping and disclosure rules.

Senator Abraham (presenting) told members the bill “rewrites some of the Louisiana contracting licensing law,” adds residential roofing and solar licensing requirements, expands the contractor definition and cost thresholds, requires licensees to keep records for five years, and authorizes fines up to 10% of project value. The bill also would require contractors to register licensing classifications under a verified business name, strengthen qualifying-party and financial-disclosure requirements, and require insurance or bonding to avoid bid bans.

Nut graf: Committee discussion focused on consumer protection (written-contract requirements and permit verification), the bill’s five-year recordkeeping and fine provisions, an amendment clarifying an exclusion in Title 37 for custom commercial defense vessel designers/builders, and a request that certain financial disclosures be exempt from public records. After amendment set 3510 was adopted, Vice Chair Lyons moved the measure favorable as amended; committee reported SB122 favorably as amended by unanimous consent.

Brad Hassard, executive director of the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors, described enforcement problems the licensing board sees when contracts are verbal and urged written contracts to protect both consumers and contractors. Representatives raised practical questions about residential permitting—how building permit offices would verify subs when subs change over the course of a job—and about the longstanding homeowner exemption; Hassard confirmed a homeowner acting as their own contractor remains exempt under existing statute, and the one-per-year limit for owner-builder exemptions remains unchanged.

Ending: The committee reported SB122 favorably as amended. Committee members directed staff and sponsors to finalize amendment language; the bill will proceed for further consideration in the House.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House & Gov May 28,2025","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Bill 122, presented to the Committee on House and Governmental Affairs on May 28, 2025, proposes broad changes to the state contractor-licensing regime, including new license types for residential roofing and solar energy contractors and expanded recordkeeping and disclosure rules.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature LA, Louisiana","taxId",78558,"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},6224237,"Contentious debate over constitutional civil service amendment; committee reports measure after roll call",4542,5356000,9898000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3552253-d8a848e4fa182f14b1cf74c52098adf6&start=5356&end=9898","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3552253-d8a848e4fa182f14b1cf74c52098adf6/thumbnail_5356000.jpg","/articles/6224237/Louisiana/Contentious-debate-over-constitutional-civil-service-amendment-committee-reports-measure-after-roll-call","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6224237-ab3a2aa8f282f3f218c024464796ba24/orig.mp4?Expires=1770646830&Signature=X6wYENS~CFwk9glvL7diWqbWxm55PEFDQPft7VE03~8rW44URFhut1eih-Dc22cUwi2wJkYqthGqAam8fhkUqarnmE02Lb9CbVgmdvYjn~NALnHTaKtEp-Hw3Jktfb28LbCW84ztqEvPQyzwIk~5~UT9MVMkZIPac~iJ3-gOvyXUbjMAClgCba15SmwCGOhmlrhLd6iFPSZu1ayUFXhy0Wz81yIpcqzv6Co43Ei2JrSnyJyAxubl3QpPRaUOb4R9os3YHgrMYiRvLoow9~Itkzf5Y9FI4oMAERNGEd1iDBahcef3-7XytZl3obzf0sTxcu5gBwFEPH9X2Joyro5obw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 8, a proposed constitutional amendment by Senator Morris to permit the Legislature to classify or unclassify state employees, generated extended debate in the House and Governmental Affairs Committee on May 28, 2025.

Morris said the amendment would not eliminate civil service but would give the Legislature authority to reclassify positions to allow more flexible hiring and management. He pointed to other states that have pursued reforms, and urged that the people should be given the choice on a constitutional change. Opponents including senior state civil service staff, retired employees and municipal civil service commissioners warned the proposal could dismantle the protections that civil service provides and expose state workers to political dismissals.

Nut graf: The committee heard technical amendments and extensive oral testimony about the implications for payroll equity, discipline, political patronage and operational capacity. Despite objections and calls for a study process, the committee voted to report SB8 favorably as amended by a roll call (9 yeas, 4 nays), sending the proposed constitutional amendment to the next legislative stage.

During the hearing, witnesses urged a more deliberate, comprehensive reform process. Sherry Gregoire, general counsel at State Civil Service (testifying on personal leave), said the civil service commission already handles classification and pay issues and cautioned against an unstructured transfer of that authority to the Legislature. Retired state employee Frank Joubert Jr., legislative director for the Retired State Employees Association, urged caution and suggested a study-first approach. Commissioners and local civil-service officials testified that the system provides oversight, personnel standards and protections that benefit both workers and the public.

Supporters, and some policy groups, argued that a constitutional change would permit more modern, performance-driven workforce management and cited other states’ reforms as precedents. Several groups urged safeguards to prevent political patronage; others said a broader, detailed reform plan would be necessary before implementing constitutional changes.

Ending: The committee’s favorable report (as amended) advances the measure to the full Legislature and, if passed there, would be submitted to voters as a constitutional amendment. Lawmakers and stakeholders signaled that significant drafting and debated guardrails would be required in any implementing statutes.","Senate Bill 8, a constitutional amendment proposed by Sen. Morris to let the Legislature reclassify state employees, drew prolonged testimony from state HR officials, retired employees and civic groups. The committee voted to report the amendment favorably as amended, after a roll-call vote of 9–4.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6224241,"House committee considers court-ordered redistricting maps; both House and Senate bills fail in committee votes",2818,1497000,4315000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3552253-d8a848e4fa182f14b1cf74c52098adf6&start=1497&end=4315","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3552253-d8a848e4fa182f14b1cf74c52098adf6/thumbnail_1497000.jpg","/articles/6224241/Louisiana/House-committee-considers-court-ordered-redistricting-maps-both-House-and-Senate-bills-fail-in-committee-votes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6224241-56872c1f2c8e07f15caa0aa75e9e0a93/orig.mp4?Expires=1770646830&Signature=Iq~6qPTN9s4N8sa0SrXquo1huKj5g9SwLmKu5ZF8gMiO9u2MtlHr9pCI-le7vRsJqIY-Sd2xawZKtNVIeFNimaohOqFFaGLUJm2Qm0yijHh1PBwJdKL3uTNqlDJNk-RBdbNGLoi6~s27T-eg9i0eOpug6TP3teJXLYA5udj1x2t6wQuqFB7bptbg0qdZBHp~GJGTDvuESFmi63pKHYRKHObsL41CjLhRTtXZ6ucuMRC8~ZjD9RQ~SijgquormeTf-h8tvU0Et5u-pmOcEAUA5p90kr7kPvhF2hNHJAT1X-ljv~M0WjeiYBB6ZVFW1IGR-xjHRWdFVVHM9alZ-OzjxQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Jordan introduced House Bill 488 in the Committee on House and Governmental Affairs on May 28, 2025, saying the maps aim to remedy a federal finding that current legislative maps violate Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.

The measure would create several new majority-minority opportunity districts in areas including Shreveport, Natchitoches, Lake Charles and portions of Baton Rouge; Representative Jordan said the changes are intended to “unpack and uncrack” districts the court found to dilute minority voting power. Charles Phipps, senior director for policy advocacy and legal affairs at the Urban League of Louisiana, told the committee the plan “is about people” and urged the legislature to act to avoid judicial replacement of maps.

Nut graf: The committee discussion focused on whether the Legislature should adopt remedial maps now or wait for appeals. Proponents said adopting a legislative map would demonstrate the Legislature’s willingness to comply with federal law and could prevent courts from imposing their own maps; opponents and some members said additional study and amendments are needed. After debate, a motion to report HB488 favorably as amended failed on a roll call, 5 yeas to 9 nays.

Committee members pressed on legal and practical points. Members noted ongoing litigation: Judge **** in the U.S. District Court found Section 2 violations, plaintiffs and defendants filed expert reports, and a remedial-phase hearing was scheduled for Aug. 27 (the Fifth Circuit’s consideration remains pending). Questions included whether the proposed maps are compact, preserve communities of interest, and would produce opportunity districts that offer minority voters a realistic chance to elect preferred candidates. Representative Jordan said the proposed maps were drawn to be “compact,” to preserve precincts when possible and to comply with the legal principles the courts have set out.

Speakers who supported legislative action warned that waiting could cede map drawing to the courts. Opponents urged additional negotiation and amendments to protect local communities and incumbents. Representative Marcel and Representative Newell offered and supported motions during the proceedings; Representative Thomas lodged an objection in one of the votes.

Two related measures were offered in the same hearing. HB487, a Senate reapportionment proposal presented by Representative Jordan, likewise sought to create new districts in Baton Rouge, Jefferson Parish and Shreveport. The committee debated similar legal and community-of-interest issues; a motion to report HB487 favorably as amended also failed on a roll call, 6 yeas to 9 nays.

Ending: With both measures failing in committee, the federal litigation remains the controlling pressure on the timetable. Committee members and witnesses repeatedly urged either prompt legislative remedial action with room for amendments or, alternatively, a structured process to produce a broadly supported map before courts issue a remedial plan.","Members of the House and Governmental Affairs Committee debated maps proposed to remedy a federal finding of Section 2 voter-dilution violations. Representative-led plans for both House (HB488) and Senate (HB487) reapportionment were discussed and voted on in committee; both measures failed to pass.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6224228,"Committee approves bill requiring insurers to notify Department of Insurance when they stop or resume writing in an area",423,4967000,5390000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3552253-d8a848e4fa182f14b1cf74c52098adf6&start=4967&end=5390","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3552253-d8a848e4fa182f14b1cf74c52098adf6/thumbnail_4967000.jpg","/articles/6224228/Louisiana/Committee-approves-bill-requiring-insurers-to-notify-Department-of-Insurance-when-they-stop-or-resume-writing-in-an-area","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6224228-edcbfbfea0dfafb7caf6e172a9f4649f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770646830&Signature=EPlH50nMmUIeZqDsccjvz-i0Dde2EzroYpVXBN~xi6d73E9GsLKlnlOMbbfcpG6UkXviNWKTk2sisGA4pKw3bqSo8REI6UtBq9kefMR2P5OBabFSPnok6RBZFrTHI31f1r4VW2pTA7boSgDr7m1ZtMLM7ANiJvftHf8Zc2nxUJlwBoqUCxcEJvyPEFjaPhrIl9~bU9ocjH~29gSyBsb-s~6O1Jjq6tRx6rfeBBihpmOa~3AzIC2x1MhORHq2Qi7XWTzlY4U5oq-fqnSkLXlH8CuGoQWoHR2og-MsWvoop37PCh~O0UIPtJq5Y6yBG4uhNBpar-ZQP8Z75XELmUZplQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 137, presented to the Committee on House and Governmental Affairs on May 28, 2025, would require insurers authorized to write property and casualty policies to notify the Louisiana Department of Insurance within 10 days of informing agents that they will cease or resume writing in a particular geographic area. The notification would include the zip code or region affected so the commissioner can monitor market status.

Nut graf: The bill’s sponsor and Department of Insurance staff said the proposal is designed to let the Department monitor market disruptions and to protect consumers by providing regulators with early warnings. The bill includes a public-records exception for those insurer submissions so confidential underwriting and business-practice information are not disclosed to competitors.

Department staff explained notifications would not in themselves be consumer-facing but would allow agents and regulators to respond. Adam Patrick of the Department of Insurance said the department’s agent-search tool can help consumers find agents in their ZIP code; insurers resuming writing typically advertise or deploy agents in those areas, he added. Representative Fornham moved to report the bill favorable; the committee passed SB137 favorably without recorded objection.

Ending: The committee’s favorable report advances SB137 for further House consideration; Department of Insurance staff said the agency can share agent-search and market-status guidance with legislators and the public as the bill proceeds.","Senate Bill 137 would require insurers to notify the state insurance commissioner when they cease, pause or resume writing property and casualty policies in a geographic area; the submissions would be exempt from public records to protect competitive business information. The committee reported the measure favorable.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee advances Senate Bill 122 to expand contractor licensing, add roofing and solar categories and protect financial disclosures

Contentious debate over constitutional civil service amendment; committee reports measure after roll call

House committee considers court-ordered redistricting maps; both House and Senate bills fail in committee votes

Committee approves bill requiring insurers to notify Department of Insurance when they stop or resume writing in an area