House Bill No. 539 amends existing Louisiana law regarding property insurance and home improvement contracting. The bill introduces several prohibitions for contractors, including interpreting insurance policy provisions, adjusting claims on behalf of insured individuals, and providing repair agreements without a good faith estimate of costs. Additionally, it prohibits contractors from sharing legal fees with attorneys, requiring insureds to sign attorney representation agreements, and accepting fees for referrals to attorneys. The bill also restricts the assignment of rights under a property insurance policy until after the completion of contracted work and the insurer's initial examination of the damage.

Furthermore, the bill amends R.S. 51:451(A) to prohibit sellers of goods and services from assisting insured individuals in paying their deductibles, including offering rebates or waiving deductibles without the insurer's consent. It also establishes a requirement for contracts expected to be paid with insurance proceeds to include a notice informing insureds of their obligation to pay deductibles. This notice must be prominently displayed in contracts valued at $1,000 or more. Overall, the bill aims to enhance transparency and accountability in property insurance claims and home improvement contracting practices.

Statutes affected:
HB539 Original: 51:451(A)
HB539 Engrossed: 51:451(A)
HB539 Reengrossed: 51:451(A)
HB539 Enrolled: 51:451(A)
HB539 Act : 51:451(A)