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HLS 26RS-2581 ORIGINAL
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 1135
BY REPRESENTATIVE BUTLER
HORTICULTURE: Provides relative to license renewal requirements for arborists and
utility arborists
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 3:3808(A)(2)(b) and (P)(2)(b), relative to license renewal
3 requirements for arborists and utility arborists; to require arborists and utility
4 arborists to show proof of current and sufficient general liability and workers'
5 compensation insurance for license renewals or provide documentation
6 demonstrating that they are exempt; and to provide for related matters.
7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 3:3808(A)(2)(b) and (P)(2)(b) are hereby amended and reenacted to
9 read as follows:
10 §3808. Terms and conditions of licenses and permits
11 A. A person who presents himself as, or advertises as, engaging in the
12 arborist profession shall be required to obtain a license which shall subject that
13 person to the following provisions:
14 * * *
15 (2) For license renewal, each arborist shall do the following:
16 * * *
17 (b) Show proof of current and sufficient general liability and workers'
18 compensation insurance, if applicable or provide documentation demonstrating that
19 they are exempt.
20 * * *
Page 1 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-2581 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 1135
1 P. Utility arborists shall be subject to the following provisions:
2 * * *
3 (2) For license renewal, each utility arborist shall do the following:
4 * * *
5 (b) Show proof of current and sufficient general liability and workers'
6 compensation insurance, if applicable or provide documentation demonstrating that
7 they are exempt.
8 * * *
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 1135 Original 2026 Regular Session Butler
Abstract: Requires arborists and utility arborists applying for license renewals show proof
of current and sufficient general liability and workers' compensation insurance or
provide documentation demonstrating that they are exempt.
Present law requires each arborist applying for license renewal to show proof of current and
sufficient general liability and workers' compensation insurance, if applicable.
Proposed law modifies present law by removing the "if applicable" qualifier for workers'
compensation insurance and instead requires all arborists, as a condition of license renewal,
to either show proof of current and sufficient workers’ compensation insurance or provide
documentation demonstrating that they are exempt.
Present law requires each utility arborist applying for license renewal to show proof of
current and sufficient general liability and worker' compensation insurance, if applicable.
Proposed law modifies present law by removing the "if applicable" qualifier for workers'
compensation insurance and instead requires all utility arborists, as a condition of license
renewal, to either show proof of current and sufficient workers' compensation insurance or
provide documentation demonstrating that they are exempt.
(Amends R.S. 3:3808(A)(2)(b) and (P)(2)(b))
Page 2 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.