HLS 25RS-535 ORIGINAL
2025 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 476
BY REPRESENTATIVE FONTENOT
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
MTR VEHICLE/DEALERS: Provides relative to an annual automatic adjustment to a fee
for motor vehicle dealers based on the Consumer Price Index
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 6:969.18(A)(2)(a), relative to an annual automatic adjustment
3 to a fee for motor vehicle dealers; to provide for a fee increase based on the
4 Consumer Price Index; to instruct the office of motor vehicles on the calculation of
5 the fee; to provide for an effective date; and to provide for related matters.
6Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 6:969.18(A)(2)(a) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as
8follows:
9 ยง969.18. Documentation and compliance fees; notary fees; transfer of equity and
10 other fees; disclosure
11 A.
12 * * *
13 (2)(a) The seller, who may also be an extender of credit, may, in connection
14 with any retail sale, including but not limited to a retail installment transaction,
15 charge a fee for credit investigation, compliance with federal and state law,
16 preparation of the documents necessary to perfect or satisfy a lien upon the objects
17 sold, and any other functions incidental to the titling of the retail sale. The base
18 maximum amount permitted to be charged shall be four hundred twenty-five dollars.
19 The base maximum fee permitted under this Paragraph shall be adjusted to reflect
20 the cumulative percentage change in the annual average of the Federal Consumer
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 25RS-535 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 476
1 Price Index for All Urban Consumers, or CPI-U, or its successor index, as reported
2 by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, or its
3 successor agency, for the most recent twelve-month period, relative to the index
4 value for calendar year 2025. If the cumulative percentage change is negative, no
5 adjustment shall be made for that year. The office of motor vehicles shall annually
6 calculate and furnish the adjusted maximum fee no later than January fourteenth of
7 each year. Any adjustment amount which is less than fifty cents shall be rounded
8 down to the next lowest whole dollar, and any adjustment amount which is fifty
9 cents or greater shall be rounded up to the next highest whole dollar.
10 * * *
11 Section 2. The fee adjustment specified in R.S. 6:969.18(A)(2)(a) as enacted by
12Section 1 of this Act, shall begin on January 1, 2026.
13 Section 3. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
14signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
15by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
16vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
17effective on the day following such approval.
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 476 Original 2025 Regular Session Fontenot
Abstract: Provides relative to an annual automatic adjustment to a fee for motor vehicle
dealers.
Present law provides that a motor vehicle seller may charge a fee for credit investigation,
compliance with federal and state law, preparation of the documents necessary to perfect or
satisfy a lien upon the objects sold, and any other functions incidental to the titling of the
retail sale not to exceed $425.
Proposed law changes present law to allow the fee to be increased annually by an amount
equal to the percentage change in the annual average of the Consumer Price Index for All
Urban Consumers as reported by the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics by zero, whichever
is greater.
Proposed law provides that the La. Office of Motor Vehicles shall annually calculate and
furnish the fee determined under proposed law no later than the 14
th
of January each year.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
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HB NO. 476
Proposed law provides that the fee adjustment provided in proposed law will begin Jan.1,
2026.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 6:969.18(A)(2)(a))
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.