HB 439 Louisiana House · 2025 Regular Session

ATTORNEYS/FEES: Provides relative to a limit on attorney fees

HB 439 proposes to establish a limit on attorney fees, directly affecting attorneys and their clients by regulating the maximum fees that can be charged for legal services. While the specific details of this limit are not provided in the available text, recent amendments removed original provisions related to penalties and an entire page of the bill.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Apr 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Apr 4, 2025 Last action Apr 30, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB439 Reengrossed → HB439 Engrossed · 3 edits · Apr 28, 2025

MINOR

The bill was re-engrossed to correct the list of sponsoring representatives and adjust the legislative text to include penalties for violations. A key substantive change is the addition of a mechanism allowing any court officer to file complaints against attorneys who violate fee limits, replacing the previous requirement that only the clerk of court could file such complaints.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding attorney fee limits in delictual actions remains unchanged, but the enforcement mechanism was expanded to include all court officers.

ENFORCEMENT

Added a provision allowing any court officer with knowledge of a violation to file a complaint with the Attorney Disciplinary Board, instead of limiting this duty to the clerk of court.

TECHNICAL

Corrected the list of sponsoring representatives to reflect the final version of the bill.

Adjusted the legislative text to explicitly mention penalties for violations.

Floor votes · House Apr 28, 2025

How they voted

54–30

Passed · 17 other

Total votes 101

Apr 28, 2025

D Democratic30

22 Nay 8

73% Nay

R Republican71

54 Yea 8 Nay 9

76% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 57, nays 30. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

lower

Apr 22, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported with amendments (10-2-1).

lower

Apr 14, 2025

Committee

Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Civil Law and Procedure.

lower

Apr 4, 2025

Committee

Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on Civil Law and Procedure.

lower

1 primary · 22 co-sponsors