Commerce

SB 131 limits when occupational licensing boards in Louisiana can collect attorney fees and costs from licensees during disciplinary hearings. It applies to most professions (like nursing, pharmacy, and physical therapy boards) but excludes specific boards listed in the bill (e.g., Medical Examiners and Dentistry). The key rule states that if a licensee makes a written settlement offer during negotiations and the final outcome (like a shorter suspension or lower fine) is better than that offer, the board cannot charge the licensee for attorney fees incurred after the offer. This change aims to reduce financial penalties for licensees who proactively negotiate settlements. The bill does not affect the excluded professions listed in subsection B.

SB 163 repeals Section 2 of Act No. 700 (2024), which previously established licensing and regulatory requirements for virtual currency businesses in Louisiana. The bill replaces this section with new provisions defining the Office of Financial Institutions' authority, functions, and duties regarding virtual currency regulation. This directly affects virtual currency businesses operating in Louisiana by altering their regulatory framework. The specific new mechanisms are not detailed in the provided bill text, and the bill is currently in prefiling status under the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and International Affairs.

HB 953 amends Louisiana's plumbing licensing laws to update requirements for plumbers and related professionals. It establishes clear license tiers (residential, journeyman, master), requires a state registry for apprentice plumbers, and creates a new "water supply protection specialist" endorsement. The bill prevents local authorities from administering plumbing exams (preempting local exams), while allowing them to collect jurisdiction-specific fees. These changes directly affect plumbers seeking licensure, plumbing businesses employing licensed workers, and apprentices needing supervised training.

SB 384 authorizes parishes in Louisiana with populations between 350,000 and 410,000 to establish a "Pilot Innovation Hub." It enables these parishes to partner with established local organizations to test technologies addressing specific public challenges like flooding, infrastructure, and coastal restoration through real-world pilot programs. The bill requires detailed pilot reports demonstrating success, safety, and alignment with public needs before allowing the parish to award sole-source contracts to innovators without competitive bidding. This legislation aims to accelerate technology adoption for community problem-solving while streamlining procurement for validated solutions.

This bill amends the Louisiana Underground Utilities and Facilities Damage Prevention Law by removing the word 'Title' from a specific section. The change is a minor technical edit that does not alter the substantive rules protecting underground infrastructure or the responsibilities of utility companies and construction crews. As a procedural amendment, it streamlines the legal text without introducing new policies or affecting public behavior.