DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law
or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 232 Original 2025 Regular Session Bagley
Abstract: Eliminates the requirement for certain vehicles to have an inspection sticker.
Present law specifies that no person is permitted to drive or move on any highway any motor vehicle,
low-speed vehicle as defined in existing law, any trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer, or any
combination thereof, unless the equipment upon any such vehicle is in good working order and
adjustment as required in existing law and the vehicle is in such safe mechanical condition as not
to endanger the driver or other occupant or any person upon the highway. Further, specifies that
every motor vehicle, low-speed vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer registered in this state
shall bear a valid safety inspection certificate issued in the state of Louisiana, except as otherwise
provided by this Chapter.
Proposed law modifies present law by requiring all commercial and student transportation vehicles
have an inspection sticker.
Proposed law authorizes certain law enforcement agencies to issue citations for vehicles that are
unsafe or not equipped according to present law.
Proposed law removes the requirement that an officer give a written notice to the driver and send a
copy to the department. Additionally, removes the requirement of said notice to require that such
vehicle be placed in safe condition and its equipment in proper repair and adjustment specifying the
particulars with reference thereto and that a certificate of inspection and approval be obtained within
five days. For vehicles found to be in unsafe condition or any required part or equipment is not
present or is not in proper repair and adjustment.
Proposed law requires only commercial vehicles and student transportation vehicles be inspected in
accordance with present law.
Proposed law removes the exclusion of overweight and oversize mobile homes requiring a state
permit from not being required to bear a certificate of approved inspection when being moved by a
bonded carrier as defined by law nor used motor vehicles in transit by a dealer be required to have
a certificate of inspection and approval.
Proposed law requires those vehicles registered in parishes governed by the U.S. Clean Air Act to
obtain an emissions inspection as required under federal law and be inspected in accordance to
present law. Present law requires that such inspections be made and certificates obtained with respect to the
mechanism, brakes, and equipment of every vehicle designated by the secretary. Additionally,
requires the secretary to require the inspection of all approved automotive emission control devices
installed on motor vehicles produced after model year 1980 to insure that such devices are operative
and have not been tampered with. Further specifies that low-speed vehicles are not subject to regular
emissions inspections.
Proposed law modifies present law by requiring that inspections only apply to those vehicles that are
required to be inspected under proposed law.
Present law authorizes the secretary to make necessary rules and regulations for the administration
and enforcement of present law, and to designate any periods of time during which owners of
vehicles, are to display upon vehicles certificates of inspection and approval or must produce the
same on demand of any officer or employee of the department designated by the secretary or any
police or peace officer when authorized by the secretary. Requires owners and operators of all motor
vehicles be equipped with windshields displayed on the lower left hand corner of the windshield a
certificate of inspection affixed thereto by a duly authorized motor vehicle inspection station.
Additionally, requires the secretary accept the certificate of inspection and approval issued by any
municipality pursuant to any municipal ordinance adopted prior to July 27, 1960. However, each
person who applies for a motor vehicle inspection tag in the city of New Orleans must produce
written proof of insurance from an insurer that the motor vehicle is covered by security and must
declare in writing that he intends to maintain said security at all times while said vehicle is used upon
the highways of La.
Proposed law eliminates the requirement that an owner or operator of a light trailer, utility trailer,
boat trailer, or farm trailer need only provide a valid inspection sticker on demand of an inspecting
officer to be in compliance with the inspection requirements of present law.
Present law authorizes the secretary to make necessary rules and regulations for the administration
and enforcement of present law, and to designate any periods of time during which owners of
vehicles, must display upon such vehicles certificates of inspection and approval or must produce
the same on demand of any officer or employee of the department designated by the secretary or any
police or peace officer when authorized by the secretary.
Present law requires owners and operators of all motor vehicles equipped with windshields to display
on the lower left hand corner of the windshield a certificate of inspection affixed thereto by a duly
authorized motor vehicle inspection station. Further, requires the secretary to accept the certificate
of inspection and approval issued by any municipality pursuant to any municipal ordinance adopted
prior to July 27, 1960. Additionally, requires that each person who applies for a motor vehicle
inspection tag in the city of New Orleans produce written proof of insurance from an insurer that the
motor vehicle is covered by security and must declare in writing that he or she intends to maintain
said security at all times while said vehicle is used upon the highways of La.
Proposed law applies the rules and regulations to all vehicles subject to the changes in proposed law. Present law requires that persons operating an official inspection station must issue a certificate of
inspection and approval upon an official form to the owner of a vehicle upon inspecting such vehicle
and determining that its equipment required under the provisions of present law is in good condition
and proper adjustment, otherwise no certificate is allowed be issued. Additionally, requires a report
to be made of every inspection and every certificate issued when required by the director.
Present law specifies that the provisions of present law not apply to the inspection programs.
Present law requires that for each year of validity of the certificate issued, a charge or fee of $10 be
charged, $4.75 to be retained by the operator of the motor vehicle inspection station conducting the
inspection, $4 of which must be transferred to the office of state police for use in traffic law
enforcement, and $1.25 is to be transferred to the office of motor vehicles (OMV) for expenses
associated with the motor vehicle inspection and financial responsibility programs. Additionally,
requires the adjustment of headlights when needed and mechanically practical, at no additional cost
to the operator of the motor vehicle inspected be included in the inspection.
Proposed law deletes present law.
Present law specifies that for parishes and municipalities that have a vehicle inspection and
maintenance program required by the federal Clean Air Act (FCAA) or regulations promulgated by
the United States Environmental Protection Agency, an additional $8 be charged for each inspection
that includes the performance of the inspection and maintenance (I/M) program pursuant to present
law, or newer model year motor vehicles. Further, specifies that motor vehicle inspection station
must retain $6 of the additional charge for implementation and performance of the I/M program. $2
of the additional charge must be transferred to the La. Department of Environmental Quality to
implement and operate the inspection and maintenance program.
Proposed law modifies present law by removing references to additional charges. Requires the
department to adopt rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of present law.
Present law requires that the maintenance and inspection program and the fees provided for in
present law be discontinued when the I/M program is discontinued as allowed by the FCAA and
regulations promulgated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or agreements with the
agency concerning the implementation of this program, or result in any other noncompliance.
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law requires an annual charge or fee of $30 be charged for the inspection of all commercial
motor vehicles which are required to be inspected under the provisions of present law. Further,
requires that no charges or fees other than the $30 be charged for a commercial motor vehicle
inspection. Additionally, requires of the $30 fee the motor vehicle inspection station operator who
performs this inspection retain $23.75; $2.25 must be transferred to the OMV for expenses
associated with motor vehicle and financial responsibility programs; and $4 must be transferred to
the office of state police for use in traffic law enforcement. Proposed law retains present law.
Present law specifies that included in the inspection must be the adjustment of headlights at no
additional cost to the operator of the motor vehicle being inspected. Further, specifies that the
Legislature of La. declares that a commercial motor vehicle inspection is much more extensive than
the inspection mandated in present law and that the increase in the fee or charge for the inspection
of commercial vehicles is based on the difference in the two types of inspection.
Proposed law eliminates the legislature from declaring that a commercial motor vehicle inspection
is much more extensive than the inspection mandated in present law and that the increase in the fee
or charge for the inspection of commercial vehicles is based on the difference in the two types of
inspection but otherwise retains present law.
Present law requires the charge or fee for the inspection of student transportation vehicles that are
required to be inspected under existing law, be $20. Further, requires that no charges or fees other
than $20 fee be charged for a student transportation vehicle inspection. Additionally, requires that
of the $20 fee the motor vehicle inspection station operator who performs this inspection retains
$14.75; $1.25 is to be transferred to the OMV for expenses associated with motor vehicle and
financial responsibility programs; and $4 to be transferred to the office of state police for use in
traffic law enforcement.
Proposed law retains present law.
Effective if and when the Act which originated as House Bill No. __ of the 2025 R.S. of the
Legislature becomes effective.
(Amends R.S. 32:1301, 1302, 1304(A)(1)-(3) and (B), 1306(C), and 1306.1(A); Repeals R.S.
32:707.5(D)(3) and 1303)