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Regular Session, 2014
SENATE BILL NO. 424
BY SENATOR MORRELL
HOUSING. Prohibits discriminatory housing practices based on certain criteria. (8/1/14)
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 51:2602(A), 2606(A)(1) through (5), 2607(A) and (C), and 2608,2
and to enact R.S. 51:2603(13) through (16), relative to the Louisiana Equal Housing3
Opportunity Act; to provide for definitions; to prohibit discriminatory housing4
practices based on certain criteria; to provide certain terms, conditions, procedures,5
and effects; and to provide for related matters.6
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:7
Section 1. R.S. 51:2602(A), 2606(A)(1) through (5), 2607(A) and (C), and 2608 are8
hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 51:2603(13) through (16) are hereby enacted to read9
as follows:10
§2602. Policy11
A. The legislature finds and declares that persons in this state who seek a12
place to live should be able to find such housing whenever it is available. Further,13
in many localities there may be housing shortages. All persons should therefore be14
able to compete for available housing on an open, fair, and equitable basis, regardless15
of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender16
expression, handicap, marital status, familial status, or national origin.17 SB NO. 424
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* * *1
§2603. Definitions2
As used in this Chapter:3
(1) * * *4
* * *5
(13) "Gender expression" means a person's actual or perceived gender-6
related appearance or behavior with or without regard to the person's7
designated sex at birth.8
(14) "Gender identity" means a person's actual or perceived gender-9
related identity with or without regard to the person's designated sex at birth.10
(15) "Marital status" means being married, divorced, widowed,11
separated, single, or a cohabitant.12
(16) "Sexual orientation" means a person's actual or perceived13
heterosexuality, homosexuality, or bisexuality.14
* * *15
§2606. Discrimination in sale or rental of housing and other prohibited practices16
A. As made applicable by R.S. 51:2604, and except as exempted by17
Subsection B thereof and R.S. 51:2605, it is unlawful:18
(1) To refuse to sell or rent after the making of a bona fide offer, or to refuse19
to negotiate for the sale or rental of, or otherwise make unavailable or deny, a20
dwelling to any person because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation,21
gender identity, gender expression, marital status, familial status, or national22
origin.23
(2) To discriminate against any person in the terms, conditions, or privileges24
of sale or rental of a dwelling, or in the provision of services or facilities in25
connection therewith, because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation,26
gender identity, gender expression, marital status, familial status, or national27
origin.28
(3) To make, print, or publish, or cause to be made, printed, or published any29 SB NO. 424
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notice, statement, or advertisement, with respect to the sale or rental of a dwelling1
that indicates any preference, limitation, or discrimination based on race, color,2
religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, handicap,3
marital status, familial status, or national origin, or an intention to make any such4
preference, limitation, or discrimination.5
(4) To represent to any person because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual6
orientation, gender identity, gender expression, handicap, marital status, familial7
status, or national origin that any dwelling is not available for inspection, sale, or8
rental when such dwelling is in fact so available.9
(5) For profit, to induce or attempt to induce any person to sell or rent any10
dwelling by representations regarding the entry or prospective entry into the11
neighborhood of a person or persons of a particular race, color, religion, sex, sexual12
orientation, gender identity, gender expression, handicap, marital status, familial13
status, or national origin.14
* * *15
§2607. Discrimination in residential real estate related transactions16
A. It is unlawful for any person or other entity whose business includes17
engaging in residential real estate related transactions to discriminate against any18
person in making available such a transaction, or in the terms or conditions of such19
a transaction, because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender20
identity, gender expression, handicap, marital status, familial status, or national21
origin.22
* * *23
C. Nothing in this Chapter prohibits a person engaged in the business of24
furnishing appraisals of real property to take into consideration factors other than25
race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity,26
gender expression, handicap, marital status, or familial status.27
§2608. Discrimination in provision of brokerage services28
It is unlawful to deny any person access to or membership or participation in29 SB NO. 424
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any multiple-listing service, real estate brokers' organization or other service,1
organization, or facility relating to the business of selling or renting dwellings, or to2
discriminate against him in the terms or conditions of such access, membership, or3
participation, on account of based on his race, color, religion, sex, sexual4
orientation, gender identity, gender expression, handicap, marital status, familial5
status, or national origin.6
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Nancy Vicknair.
DIGEST
Morrell (SB 424)
Present law provides relative to the Louisiana Equal Housing Opportunity Act.
Proposed law adds definitions for "gender expression", "gender identity", "marital status",
and "sexual orientation".
Present law provides that persons living in La. should be able to compete for available
housing on an open, fair, and equitable basis, regardless of the following criteria: race,
color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.
Proposed law adds sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and marital status
to such criteria.
Present law prohibits discrimination of individuals in the sale or rental of housing, in
residential real estate related transactions, and in the utilization of brokerage services based
on the following criteria: race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national
origin.
Proposed law adds sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and marital status
to such criteria.
Effective August 1, 2014.
(Amends R.S. 51:2602(A), 2606(A)(1)-(5), 2607(A) and (C), and 2608; adds R.S.
51:2603(13)-(16))