Louisiana Senate Rejects Move to Appoint Insurance Commissioner, Upholds Elected Position
BATON ROUGE, LA – Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple celebrated a significant victory on Tuesday as the Louisiana Senate rejected an effort to convert his role from an elected position to one appointed by the governor. The bill, spearheaded by Sen. Royce Duplessis, faced considerable opposition, leading Duplessis to withdraw Senate Bill 214 when he realized he couldn’t secure the necessary two-thirds majority.
In his remarks following the withdrawal, Duplessis stated he had at least 20 votes but fell short of the 26 required for passage. He indicated plans to propose a commission to assess whether an appointed commission might be more effective for Louisiana’s insurance landscape, especially given that 39 states have opted for appointed rather than elected commissioners amid rising insurance costs.
Temple, elected without opposition in 2023, expressed relief at the outcome, highlighting that voters should determine who regulates insurance rather than a politically appointed official. “If Louisiana wants to lower insurance rates, we need to address the factors leading to excessive claims,” he stated.
Temple supports several measures endorsed by the insurance industry aimed at reducing claims, but faces dissent from trial lawyers who argue that yielding to industry demands will not lead to reduced rates. Governor Jeff Landry advocates a balanced approach to car insurance legislation, pushing House Bill 148 which would expand Temple’s authority to reject rate hikes, though Temple opposes it, claiming it could deter insurers.
Additionally, Sen. Robert Allain is proposing Senate Bill 170, which may address concerns over the commissioner’s rate-setting powers without the pitfalls of Landry’s House Bill. As debates continue, Louisiana’s insurance rates remain a critical concern for lawmakers and residents alike.
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