[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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],{"_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",6219115,"mediaKeyId","3624026-f0f1490e3ccbc224ea7236c56e80c26b","parentId",3624026,"title","Committee approves RV-dealer protest process that mirrors motor-vehicle franchise rules","audioSeconds",2763,"startMs",1516000,"endMs",4279000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3624026-f0f1490e3ccbc224ea7236c56e80c26b&start=1516&end=4279","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3624026-f0f1490e3ccbc224ea7236c56e80c26b/thumbnail_1516000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6219115/Louisiana/Committee-approves-RV-dealer-protest-process-that-mirrors-motor-vehicle-franchise-rules","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6219115-0c7593384591268340225d8c94c172e1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448633&Signature=CQ8IUsugTqw--oyNFz2QdHommkwN1iI0KElmSEcK7ydWW7huWXulyuZRxgDJg8zD8qkEO-z33esrxteM2eE47WySsYcG2On2~isEcozICrziLMHJCjsROt9WM09lUiago1lDZv~T2DxY5jwFVlGvlO7rRmVPhRUtTCkl0LQmcDSQUzed34n0MJVstBSQBNSrsZxD2oHUL0qTP6hCvfJDyl5jJ7n2Me804kstwoP8srGESWEUkuTxGq2Iqr7JDnPDSLlYjr4Lt1GsmDPq7SE9Cl9~I6fpX06siLGOIlA9tVgN5NjFWGZH3d9P~RjEzgVpd1RPoUnoRao6aI0M~p0p9Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Louisiana Legislature","date","2025-06-02T00:00:00Z","article","The House Committee on Commerce on June 2 voted to report Senate Bill 30, which adds a formal protest and hearing process for recreational vehicle (RV) dealerships before the Louisiana Motor Vehicle Commission (LMVC).

Representative Carver (presenting the bill for Senator McMath) told the committee SB 30 “seeks to create a process for the filing of new applications or relocation of dealer agreements with the commission and allows an existing dealer to object to granting a new license if it encroaches in a territory that’s already been granted.” The bill defines specific geographic radiuses for protests: 100 miles for travel trailers and towables and 200 miles for motor homes, testimony said.

Russ Rudolph, secretary-treasurer for the Louisiana RV Dealers Association, said the association represents roughly 20 of the state’s approximately 25 RV dealers and that members agreed on the radius figures. Amy Casey, executive director of the Louisiana Motor Vehicle Commission, told the committee the LMVC already conducts protests for motor vehicles, marine, ATV and motorcycle dealers and would apply similar procedures to RVs. Leslie House, a consultant for the Motor Vehicle Commission, added that the commission already uses a three-member public-member panel to hear manufacturer-dealer disputes.

Opponents included Erin Bentley of the Pelican Institute, who said the bill “goes against basic free-market principles” and urged lawmakers not to expand what she characterized as protectionist statutes. Bentley asked legislators to track whether protests ultimately prevent new businesses from opening; she recommended the Legislature limit expansion of statutory protest rights rather than broaden them.

Committee members asked whether the bill would remove consumer choice or favor incumbents. Supporters and several committee members responded that the measure does not bar different brands from competing side-by-side and that the protest is limited to new dealerships offering the same make; it creates a process to adjudicate disputes rather than an automatic prohibition. Representative Jordan summarized the point: the bill “only allows the dealer to object to that newly established dealership… it doesn't automatically say that that dealership cannot open.”

Representative Reiser and others described the RV business as capital-intensive and noted dealers’ concerns about warranty, repair and service access for dispersed customers. Representative Reiser moved to report the bill favorably with amendments; there were no recorded objections and SB 30 was reported as amended.

Key clarifications adopted in committee amendments state that the bill applies only to RVs as defined in RS 32:1252 and grandfather existing dealerships; amendment set 37-62 also provides applicability language and technical fixes. The record shows one written opposition card and several supportive cards on file.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Commerce Meeting - June 02, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The committee reported Senate Bill 30, which gives recreational vehicle dealers a statutory protest process for new or relocated dealerships, setting exclusive geographic radiuses (100 miles for towables, 200 miles for motor homes) and grandfathering existing dealers.","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},6219121,"Committee backs restructuring of Motor Vehicle Commission dispute hearings after court ruling",456,827000,1283000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3624026-f0f1490e3ccbc224ea7236c56e80c26b&start=827&end=1283","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3624026-f0f1490e3ccbc224ea7236c56e80c26b/thumbnail_827000.jpg","/articles/6219121/Louisiana/Committee-backs-restructuring-of-Motor-Vehicle-Commission-dispute-hearings-after-court-ruling","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6219121-ef650d40408f723859764a0e3818c5a1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448633&Signature=jCiOqx7lSBOS3ZZhAgoU0NhLD6JqGUR6vnpnktDFuh~qJkZ6R9oaVWTMi6LxJwWsYqTWFHl3aL0evJAiaXrPYHw7KNI-7-hMlxXFb8LqaMsChG3vFNG1b1jtsWDMekYxULiN2lxUvO~0X5Mhpd7TacVtbvK4gvnrTbucXFsMPbI4qR7wlaToyvMd5ekhdVM~5VFxCPym6hfyZUEZA0Fa7wMjwN6bv1KkXXRa2lfvU69pHjkePNO6fkOIJ789v7ETX3asNJh7YMNzPsGbhMGpxZQesPX8~vXiCzvqMPhc8j6NTpJb2AH4qnGa-M4NbNofxxNoarcSrhSL4vCLBwfx1g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 37, introduced to the House Committee on Commerce on June 2, would change how the Louisiana Motor Vehicle Commission (LMVC) handles disputes among licensees by creating an independent, three-member panel to hear contested matters, testimony said.

Skip Phillips, a private attorney serving as a Special Assistant Attorney General, told the committee the change responds to a United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals opinion that called into question whether commissioners who are business competitors with licensees could fairly adjudicate disputes. “We think this is a great step,” Phillips said, describing the proposal as a vehicle to bring the commission’s structure into compliance with the Fifth Circuit.

Under the proposal described in committee, the dispute panel would be composed of non-licensees—either lawyers with at least 10 years’ experience or retired judges—appointed by the governor. Panel members would hear only contested disputes; they would not participate in the commission’s other business. The bill would keep the existing number of commissioners and the governor’s appointment process for them, and it would preserve judicial review under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) in the 24th Judicial District Court for decisions arising from LMVC matters.

Committee amendments clarified several technical points, named the dispute-resolution panel, and addressed compensation: the panel members would be entitled to compensation in lieu of the per diem paid to commissioners, with the commission, not the attorney general, determining compensation and the bill specifying an amount for the panel.

Representative McCormick said he had not followed the commission’s work closely until a constituent’s case came to his attention; committee members and counsel noted the change is intended to preserve licensees’ rights to dispute decisions while ensuring the decisionmakers are not direct business competitors. Vice Chair Thomas confirmed the bill does not change the court of judicial review to a different district; existing judicial review remains with the 24th JDC.

Representative Landry moved to report SB 37 as amended; the motion passed with no recorded objections and the bill was reported out of committee.","Lawyers and the attorney general’s office urged the committee to approve a statutory change creating a three-member independent dispute panel to hear licensee disputes for the Louisiana Motor Vehicle Commission in response to a Fifth Circuit ruling; the committee reported the bill with amendments.",{"_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},6219126,"House Commerce panel advances bill to change State Plumbing Board membership and officer qualifications",605,150000,755000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3624026-f0f1490e3ccbc224ea7236c56e80c26b&start=150&end=755","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3624026-f0f1490e3ccbc224ea7236c56e80c26b/thumbnail_150000.jpg","/articles/6219126/Louisiana/House-Commerce-panel-advances-bill-to-change-State-Plumbing-Board-membership-and-officer-qualifications","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6219126-fb31ac4fd2f26b08e2f2ab89b2a41bd1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448633&Signature=XV2VQpsGY2NlrYDuzr7AK1lHNNrV-BLOXOSpe~zOogRj37VN~zHDNoOb9CKVieK11P-zhPOTr1hgTatrJHu7KNDeNkecBuUxLI8pvoxUgectqhD2jrb1XYp9qDMxzkfrlVJqy6P5MgR3k97WR8E3zQGYZ3uBHQ9rp2QDs~DeAu1SKjW~7v6EXEHVRMJJAIB1i95GKZWB7dM1A2vdOPvJAjwad4y9PkK7swGbm1y2S~vXUebC7nNivZQ97zGlrVnrdTJUKoGoVcFDRApToariodttKA6o4nXodxHgzqXe~PePAYrcH3IAVDLS~KZm4P2XLLmTEg735qy3BO83FwXD4w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Womack asked the House Committee on Commerce on June 2 to report Senate Bill 175, which would change membership and officer qualifications on the State Plumbing Board.

The bill, as described by Senator Womack, would “change the qualifications for these six seats,” removing two journeyman-plumber-nominated seats and creating two master-plumber-nominated seats while preserving industry nominations from the Louisiana Pipe Trades. Womack said the changes are intended “to better represent the industry advocating for economic growth and protection of the public through the qualified workforce.”

The bill also would specify that the board chair and vice chair “shall be an active master plumber listed as the responsible master plumber of his or her company,” a change supporters said aligns plumbing governance with other regulatory boards.

Trey Black of Gulf Mechanical Company, speaking for the trade group PHCC of Louisiana, said the seats are gubernatorial appointments that carry six-year terms. Crystal Carter, executive director for PHCC of Louisiana, explained the bill’s provision allowing members to remain in office after a term expires is intended only to avoid gaps in representation while the governor makes appointments, not to extend membership beyond the regular transition period.

Representative Newell asked how the replacement process would ensure timely submission of nominees so that members do not remain in place for long periods after their terms expire. Carter answered that delays can occur between submission and appointment, and the existing statutory language is meant to prevent vacancies during those normal transition intervals.

Representative Jordan and other members asked about the roles of PHCC and the Louisiana Pipe Trades Association; testimony indicated PHCC represents both union and nonunion contractors and the pipe trades are union affiliates that historically have had seats on the board. Trey Black said the Senate negotiated language so the union affiliates could continue to appoint nominees while agreeing that master plumbers should hold the chair and vice chair.

Vice Chair Thomas moved to report the bill favorably as amended; there were no objections and SB 175 was reported with amendments.

The committee record shows the bill carried a set of technical amendments adopted at the meeting. No formal opposition testimony was recorded in the committee minutes.

Looking ahead, the measure will be placed on the House calendar for further consideration.","The House Committee on Commerce voted to report Senate Bill 175 with amendments after testimony that the bill would alter which plumbing professionals may fill six seats on the State Plumbing Board and require the board chair and vice chair be active master plumbers.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee approves RV-dealer protest process that mirrors motor-vehicle franchise rules

Committee backs restructuring of Motor Vehicle Commission dispute hearings after court ruling

House Commerce panel advances bill to change State Plumbing Board membership and officer qualifications