House Civil Law Committee reports a package of civil‑procedure and housing bills; key debates on small successions, service and blight

A House Committee on Civil Law and Procedure session convened at 10:30 a.m. on March 20, 2026, and by voice vote or unanimous consent reported a slate of bills to the floor after testimony and several staff amendments.

Representative Manny Landry introduced House Bill 135 to raise certain exemptions for debtors in bankruptcy, increase the single‑vehicle equity exemption to $15,000, allow a household to protect a second vehicle, raise the exemption for vehicles modified for disability to $20,000, and protect the prior‑year maximum in an HSA. “This bill is a long time coming,” Representative Manny Landry said, noting he filed an earlier draft in 2020 and worked with bankers on inflation adjustments. A bankruptcy practitioner testifying in support (identified in the record only by occupation) said the most common reasons people file bankruptcy are “serious medical problems, loss of a job, and divorce,” and said the changes would help families retain transportation and medical savings. The committee reported HB 135 favorably with no objection.

The committee also passed tenant‑focused measures. HB 297, introduced by Representative Landry, would extend early lease‑termination protections to victims of stalking and cyberstalking; Monique Blossom, director of policy at the Louisiana Fair Housing Action Center, testified in support and the committee reported the bill favorably. Representative Brett Boyd’s HB 292, which changes timeframes for landlords to provide itemized accounting and return security deposits, was amended (Amendment Set 18‑26) to require the itemized statement within an additional 15 days after the statutorily prescribed one‑month return period; the amendment was adopted and HB 292 was reported as amended.

Representative Robbie Carter pressed several civil‑procedure reforms. HB 215 would raise the asset cap for affidavit small successions from $125,000 to $200,000; Carter said the change would reduce costs for families. The Louisiana Clerks of Court opposed the increase on the grounds that clerks rely on fee revenue, with Debbie Hudnall, executive director of the Louisiana Clerks of Court Association, noting clerks “have not raised our civil court costs since 2006.” After debate, HB 215 was reported favorably.

On discovery procedure, HB 226 (requests for admissions) was amended to require parties to conduct a Rule 10.1 certificate‑of‑conference — a discovery meet‑and‑confer — before moving to deem admissions, a change members said would reduce surprise or “gotcha” tactics. The committee adopted the amendment and reported HB 226 as amended.

Representative Carter also introduced HB 216 to expand how attorneys may elect to receive service of inter‑suit filings, arguing rural internet outages and delivery problems make uniform service cumbersome for small rural practices. Several committee members and outside counsel expressed practical concerns about tracking individualized service preferences and potential consequences for statewide procedure; James Donahue of the Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel noted existing law requires confirmation that an electronic transmission reached a recipient. At the author’s request, the committee voluntarily deferred HB 216 to allow further drafting and possible amendment.

Policy to address abandoned and blighted property drew sustained discussion. HB 284 (as amended) borrows elements of New Orleans’ Community Improvement Act to define abandoned and blighted property more broadly, allow a governing authority to expropriate abandoned parcels (after required procedures) and dispose of them via third‑party sale, and require certain notices be posted online. Advocates and local government counsel said the measure would help municipalities return hazardous or delinquent properties to commerce; opponents and some members pressed for clearer safeguards for heirs, precise statutory definitions of “state of disrepair,” and procedural protections to prevent overreach. Committee staff said the bill incorporates existing statutory procedures used elsewhere in the state; the committee adopted the amendments and reported HB 284 as amended.

The committee also took up HB 142, a Law Institute package of continuous revisions to the Code of Civil Procedure brought by Judge Holdrich. The bill includes technical corrections, adds a motion‑to‑quash provision, clarifies rules for appeals records and designation of the appellate record, and tightens the affidavit requirements and procedures for dismissals for abandonment (including a three‑year inactivity standard and required supporting documentation). Members asked questions about the costs of lodging appellate records and the limits of clerks’ estimates; clerks’ representatives explained statutory page fees and court‑reporter charges that contribute to appeal costs. The committee adopted amendments and reported HB 142 as amended.

Representative Chasson’s HB 609 would waive certain fees charged by private health providers when veterans request records for VA disability claims; Connor Junkan of the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs explained the proposal and the committee reported the bill favorably.

Most bills were reported to the floor by voice vote or unanimous consent. HB 216 was voluntarily deferred; HB 292 and other measures were adopted with technical amendments. The committee adjourned after a motion to adjourn by Representative Carlson.

What happens next: Reported bills proceed to scheduling on the House floor; HB 216 will return to committee after redrafting or further amendment.