Senate Bill 40, which would change continuing-education requirements for property insurance producers and raise the threshold for unlicensed adjuster work, was reported with amendments by the Senate Insurance Committee after discussion and unanimous voice approval.

The bill reduces the current continuing-education requirement from 24 hours per renewal period to 22 hours and adds two mandatory annual hours — one each year — tied to legislative changes, the sponsor said. Senator Wheat said the Department of Insurance would provide the annual update online and at no cost to licensees. “There’s no cost to the individuals that will, have to get that 1 hour CE,” Senator Wheat said.

The measure also raises the dollar threshold at which a person must be a licensed adjuster from $500 to $2,000, a change the sponsor characterized as reflecting higher repair costs. The committee adopted an amendment changing the figure on page 2, line 16 from $500 to $2,000. Barrow Peacock of the Louisiana Department of Insurance described the change as aimed at speeding repairs for minor damages and said the department would publish the annual CE content on its website.

The committee chair moved to adopt the amendment and, with no opposition, the amendment was adopted. The committee then voted to report SB 40 with amendments; the reporting motion carried with no objection.

What happened next: SB 40 was reported out of committee with amendments for further consideration by the full Senate.