The 2025 Regular Legislative Session adjourned June 12 after adopting a balanced budget prioritizing significant infrastructure projects statewide ($709M), teacher pay increases ($199M), high-dose tutoring for students ($30M), deferred maintenance for higher education ($25M) and economic development initiatives ($275M) to bring additional jobs and revenue to the state.

Focusing heavily on reforming the insurance industry in the state with a particular emphasis on excessive automobile rates, lawmakers were also able to pass a package of insurance reform bills including but not limited to:
· Allowing the Insurance Commissioner to declare auto insurance rates excessive (Act 11)
· Banning drivers who are more than 51% at fault from collecting damages (Act 15)
· Limiting recovery of damages for uninsured drivers (Act 16)
· Preventing undocumented citizens from collecting damages after an accident (Act 17)
· Requiring proof from those who sue that injuries occurred during the accident (Act 18)
· Providing a 5% discount on insurance for commercial vehicles with dash cams (Act 19)

Additionally, House and Senate members adopted a number of bills authorizing tax exemptions/credits for fortified roofs, amending state ethics and campaign finance laws, and reorganizing several state agencies to improve efficiency and accountability (Dept. of Transportation, Department of Natural Resources, Governor’s Office of Homeland Security, Dept. of Children and Family Services, Workforce Commission and Louisiana Economic Development).

In an effort to bolster energy production for the state and the nation, legislators reduced the severance tax on oil from 12.5% to 6.5% and seriously addressed decades of unanswered questions around legacy lawsuits making it more predictable for industry to do business in Louisiana.

“This is a culmination of a lot of hard work by our chairs and our members,” said Speaker of the House Phillip DeVillier. “Many of them have been working throughout the year to identify issues and priorities that can improve our state’s quality of life. They did their homework. They passed important legislation that will produce change in the years to come. This has been time well spent,” said DeVillier.

“The work of the Senate and the legislature as a whole this session has been to stack together a budget and laws that advance the state’s priorities,” said Senate President Cameron Henry. “Tackling complex issues like insurance reform, economic development advancement and workforce development takes commitment. Lawmakers passed some important bills and I look forward to seeing those priorities take off and flourish.”

For additional information on legislation passed during the 2025 Regular Session, the public can log onto http://www.legis.la.gov to search for bills and watch live streams of committee room and floor debate. Additionally the legislative mobile phone app, LALEGE, can be downloaded from the Apple Store or Google Play.