A newly passed Louisiana law will require insurance companies to include the previous policy premium amount when issuing renewal notices to policyholders, beginning in 2026.
In July, Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple issued an advisory letter to insurers outlining the new mandate. The disclosure requirement stems from House Bill 148, a measure that has drawn sharp debate for its aim to strengthen the commissioner’s authority to limit what are considered “excessive” insurance rates.
Under the provisions of HB 148, insurers must clearly present the prior year’s premium amount alongside the renewal premium, ensuring both figures appear prominently and in close proximity.
Commissioner Temple stated that he is currently working on formal regulations to implement the new rule. However, as the rulemaking process must follow legal timelines and in consideration of feedback and technical concerns from the insurance sector, insurers will be allowed a grace period to update their systems. Full compliance will be required by January 1, 2026.
HB 148 was among the more hotly contested insurance proposals during this year’s legislative session. Commissioner Temple and several industry stakeholders opposed the bill, which alters Louisiana’s rate filing standards by affirming that rates must not be “excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory”—regardless of whether the market is deemed competitive.
Temple previously told Insurance Journal that such provisions could significantly affect insurers’ willingness to operate in Louisiana. “This could be devastating to companies considering doing business here,” he said.
One key feature of the bill is that it empowers the insurance commissioner to reject rate hikes labeled “excessive,” even in situations where insurers argue the increases are backed by actuarial data.
Sponsored by Rep. Jeff Wiley (R-Maurepas) and supported by Governor Jeff Landry, the bill aims to give Louisiana’s insurance commissioner more oversight authority, similar to what’s already granted in states like Texas, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, and South Carolina.
While supporters argue that the law enhances consumer protections and promotes transparency, Temple warned it may discourage insurers from participating in Louisiana’s market. “As a regulator, I still have to ensure insurers remain solvent by charging sufficient rates,” he said. “There’s concern that a commissioner might artificially suppress rates, which is not healthy for a sustainable insurance market.”
In addition to premium disclosures, HB 148 mandates that insurers inform policyholders or prospective customers of all available discounts on homeowner or auto policies. This information must be clearly presented in a font size of at least 12 points.
The legislation also opens most rate filings and supporting documentation to public access, unless such records are classified as confidential, proprietary, or trade secrets—a determination that will fall to the insurance commissioner.
The American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA) has strongly opposed the bill, warning that it may worsen the state’s ongoing insurance affordability and availability challenges.
“HB 148 will politicize what should be an actuarially grounded, fact-driven process,” the association said in a statement. “By potentially allowing arbitrary rate suppression and exposing sensitive business data, Louisiana risks heading down the same unstable path as California.”