NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – Many Louisianans hate the cost of auto insurance.

“We can barely drive our cars because of the insurance,” said Theresa LeBeau outside a New Orleans strip mall.

Another resident, who did not want to share his name, agreed.

“I think it’s ridiculous. Right now, I’m paying $1,600 for three cars, $1,600 a month. Yeah, so auto insurance is definitely through the roof,” he said.

They are also upset over high property insurance costs.

“We can barely live in our home,” LeBeau said.

During the recently concluded state legislative session, several tort reform bills were passed out of the state Capitol. One deals with comparative fault, which limits the ability for someone who is mostly at fault for an auto accident to receive damages from the other driver. It was signed into law by the governor and is now Act 15.

“With regards to auto insurance, we had several pieces of legislation this year. We made some significant progress on some, namely, Representative Emily Chenevert’s bill, which is modified collateral source. That was a good bill,” said Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple.

Another measure, now Act 85, prevents insurance companies from including institutional advertising expenses in their rates. That involves advertising that is not aimed at obtaining business for an insurance company.

Also, bills were passed that are designed to increase transparency.

“We have legislation now that will have insurance companies show on their policies, on renewal, how much your expiring premium was and how that compares to your renewal premium. Also, I think—very important—we now have a bill that will show where the premium dollars go: how much goes to profit, how much goes to commissions, how much goes to taxes?” said Temple.

Awaiting the governor’s signature is HB 519, which prohibits drivers, in most cases, from holding and using a cell phone to make calls or text while driving.

There is an insurance-related measure that made it out of the legislative session that Temple really doesn’t like. He’s very outspoken about it.

“Unfortunately, I think House Bill 148, which is now Act 11, the Commissioner Authority Bill, I think is the best way to describe it, I think has the potential to undo everything that we’ve done good so far,” he said.

Temple says he already has the authority to reject excessive rates.

“What this bill did, among other things, is remove the actuarial justification, and it sets the conditions where people—it sets a false narrative that rates were high because the department didn’t have the authority,” he said.

High property insurance premiums remain a problem.

“It is too expensive, it’s too expensive,” said LeBeau.

Among the property insurance bills awaiting the governor’s signature is one requiring insurers to notify the insurance commissioner when they pause, cease or resume writing new property insurance coverage.

Another sets up an income tax credit of up to $10,000 for people who pay to fortify their roofs.

Still, some doubt the changes will result in lower insurance premiums.

“I don’t think it’s going down, I definitely think it’s going up,” said a New Orleans resident.

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