Louisiana Insurance Update · Reviewed August 5, 2026
Louisiana SB 355 Did Not Pass in 2026: What Applies Now
Louisiana Senate Bill 355 proposed a minimum 20% insurance discount for certain homeowners who retrofitted through the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program. The bill did not advance beyond the Senate Committee on Insurance during the 2026 Regular Session, so it did not become law. A separate rule — Regulation 136 — now provides the FORTIFIED discount framework Louisiana homeowners should follow.
Short answer
Did Louisiana SB 355 pass?
No. The official Louisiana Legislature record still lists SB 355 as “Pending Senate Insurance.” Its only recorded chamber action was referral to the Senate Committee on Insurance on March 9, 2026. Because the 2026 Regular Session ended without further action, the proposal did not become an act and created no new 20% discount entitlement.
Homeowners should not use SB 355 to estimate current insurance savings or assume that participation in the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program guarantees 20% off an entire homeowners policy.
The original proposal
What Louisiana SB 355 Would Have Required
SB 355 was introduced by Senator Royce Duplessis during Louisiana’s 2026 Regular Session. The original bill focused on insured homeowners who retrofitted property through the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program. It did not establish a general roofing rebate, pay part of a contractor’s invoice, or require every Louisiana roof replacement to use the FORTIFIED standard.
Proposed minimum
The bill proposed a premium discount or rate reduction of not less than 20% for qualifying insureds.
Proposed deadline
The introduced text would have required insurers to provide the discount no later than October 1, 2027.
Limited connection
The proposal was tied to retrofits made pursuant to the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program, not every privately funded roof.
The bill also described a process for an insurer unable to provide the proposed minimum. The insurer could submit a different discount and actuarial justification to the Commissioner of Insurance for review. Those provisions remained proposed language only because SB 355 did not pass.
Final 2026 outcome
Why “Pending Senate Insurance” Does Not Mean the Bill Is Still Moving
Legislative tracking pages can continue to show the committee where a bill stopped after a session has ended. For SB 355, “Pending Senate Insurance” describes its last location in the process — not an active homeowner benefit and not a law waiting to take effect.
- February 27, 2026
SB 355 was prefiled and provisionally referred to the Senate Committee on Insurance.
- March 9, 2026
The bill was introduced, read a second time, and referred to the committee.
- June 1, 2026
The 2026 Regular Session ended without another recorded action on SB 355.
- August 5, 2026
The official bill page still shows “Pending Senate Insurance.” No Act number is listed.
The rule that matters now
SB 355 vs. Louisiana Regulation 136
SB 355 and Regulation 136 addressed related insurance questions, but they were not the same measure. SB 355 was a bill tied specifically to Louisiana Fortify Homes Program participants. Regulation 136 is the published Louisiana Department of Insurance framework for residential properties that obtain a qualifying IBHS FORTIFIED designation.
| Question | SB 355 | Regulation 136 |
|---|---|---|
| Legal status | Did not pass in the 2026 Regular Session | Promulgated by the Louisiana Department of Insurance |
| Who it addressed | Insureds who retrofitted property through the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program | Residential properties with a qualifying FORTIFIED designation |
| Discount structure | Proposed minimum of 20%, subject to an alternative-filing process | Benchmarks vary by Louisiana zone and FORTIFIED designation level |
| Premium affected | No benefit applies because the bill did not become law | The hurricane portion of the premium |
| Implementation date | Proposed for no later than October 1, 2027 | Insurers are directed to implement no later than January 1, 2027 |
SB 355’s proposed 20% was not added on top of a Regulation 136 benchmark. The bill did not pass, and Regulation 136 now supplies the relevant benchmark framework.
Effective January 1, 2027
Louisiana FORTIFIED Discount Benchmarks Under Regulation 136
The Louisiana Department of Insurance directs insurers to implement the following residential discounts no later than January 1, 2027. The percentages apply to the hurricane portion of the premium, not automatically to the full annual homeowners premium.
| Louisiana zone | FORTIFIED Roof | FORTIFIED Silver | FORTIFIED Gold |
|---|---|---|---|
| North | 16% | 20% | 24% |
| Central | 27% | 35% | 42% |
| South | 29% | 43% | 49% |
A percentage in this table is not a quote for a specific home. The dollar effect depends on the property’s benchmark zone, designation level, insurer, policy, renewal timing, and the amount of premium attributed to hurricane risk. Homeowners should give their FORTIFIED certificate to their insurer or agent and ask how the applicable credit appears on the policy.
Avoid the common mix-ups
Four Different Benefits Homeowners Should Keep Separate
Insurance discount
A policy credit applied by an insurer after the qualifying designation and documentation are accepted. Under Regulation 136, the benchmark is tied to the hurricane portion of the premium.
Louisiana Fortify Homes Program grant
Potential help with qualifying construction costs when a funded lottery round is open and the homeowner is selected. It is not an automatic discount on every FORTIFIED roof.
Louisiana FORTIFIED roof tax credit
A separate state tax path with its own eligibility, certification, filing deadlines, and program limits. Tax treatment should be confirmed with official guidance or a qualified tax professional.
Roofing contract price
The amount charged for materials, labor, evaluation-related coordination, permits, and the agreed scope. A possible grant, tax credit, or insurance discount should not be presented as an automatic contractor price reduction.
Practical planning
What Louisiana Homeowners Should Do Now
The bill’s failure does not remove the value of a stronger, properly documented roof. It means the decision should be based on the roof’s condition, the FORTIFIED scope, current program rules, and Regulation 136 — not on an expired legislative proposal.
- 1
Confirm which financial path you are using
Decide whether you are pursuing an LFHP grant, self-funding a FORTIFIED roof, exploring the state tax credit, or replacing a roof without a FORTIFIED designation. Each path has different timing and documents.
- 2
Do not begin an LFHP project before approval
The program states that homeowners who select a contractor and begin work before LFHP approval are not eligible for the grant. If the roof is actively leaking or unsafe, discuss the conflict between urgent work and grant timing before signing a replacement contract.
- 3
Ask for a certification-ready scope
A roof is not FORTIFIED merely because it uses upgraded shingles. The assembly, installation details, evaluator process, documentation, and final IBHS designation all matter.
- 4
Keep the close-out package together
Save the contract, invoices, product information, permits, evaluator reports, project photographs, and FORTIFIED certificate. The certificate is the key document to share with the insurer.
- 5
Request a written policy explanation
Ask the insurer or agent which benchmark zone applies, which part of the premium receives the credit, when it will appear, and what documentation is still needed.
Questions to ask before signing a roofing contract
- Is the proposed roof a standard replacement or a certification-ready FORTIFIED Roof project?
- Who coordinates with the independent FORTIFIED Evaluator?
- Which deck-sealing, edge, flashing, attachment, and ventilation details are included?
- Which project photos and product documents will be retained?
- Are evaluation fees, permits, decking repairs, and code-required work included or separate?
- What happens if concealed conditions require a scope change?
Continue your research
Related Louisiana FORTIFIED Guides
Frequently asked questions
Louisiana SB 355 FAQ
Did Louisiana SB 355 become law in 2026?
No. The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Insurance on March 9, 2026, and received no later recorded action before the 2026 Regular Session ended. The official page lists it as pending in that committee, not as an enacted law.
What discount did SB 355 propose?
The original bill proposed a premium discount or rate reduction of at least 20% for insureds who retrofitted property through the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program, with an alternative-filing process for insurers that could not provide the minimum. Because the bill did not pass, that proposal created no benefit.
Does Regulation 136 guarantee 20% off my full homeowners premium?
No. Regulation 136 uses zone- and designation-based benchmarks that apply to the hurricane portion of the premium. The actual dollar effect depends on the policy and property. Ask the insurer to explain the calculation in writing.
Do I have to receive an LFHP grant to qualify under Regulation 136?
The Louisiana Department of Insurance describes Regulation 136 in terms of residential properties that obtain a qualifying FORTIFIED designation. That is broader than SB 355’s proposed connection to LFHP participants. Confirm the required certificate and policy documentation with the insurer.
Is an upgraded roof automatically a FORTIFIED Roof?
No. FORTIFIED is a documented construction and evaluation standard. Strong shingles alone do not create an IBHS FORTIFIED designation. The project must follow the applicable standard and complete the required evaluation and certification process.
Should I wait for another bill before replacing a damaged roof?
Do not base an urgent roof decision on the possibility of future legislation. Have the roof assessed, compare a standard replacement with a certification-ready FORTIFIED option, and separately verify any LFHP, tax, or insurance requirements that could affect timing.
How This Page Was Verified
This update was reviewed against the Louisiana Legislature’s official SB 355 history and original instrument, the Louisiana Department of Insurance’s Regulation 136 benchmark page, and current Louisiana Fortify Homes Program guidance. It provides general educational information, not legal, insurance, or tax advice. Policy terms and program rules can change; confirm decisions with the responsible agency, insurer, evaluator, and qualified adviser.
Planning a Louisiana roof replacement?
Compare a Standard Roof With a FORTIFIED-Ready Scope
Southern Home Improvement Center can inspect the roof, explain construction options, and prepare a written replacement scope for your Louisiana home. Insurance discounts, grants, tax treatment, and the final FORTIFIED designation are determined by the responsible third parties — not by the contractor.