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HLS 26RS-1147 ORIGINAL
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 939
BY REPRESENTATIVE CARVER
MOTOR VEHICLES: Creates the Louisiana New and Used Motor Vehicle Commission
1 AN ACT
2 To enact Chapter 6-B of Title 32 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, to be comprised
3 of R.S. 32:1291 through 1294, to create the Louisiana New and Used Motor Vehicle
4 Commission; to provide for creation of a commission; to provide for definitions; to
5 provide for duties of the commission; to provide for licensing; to provide for
6 enforcement; to provide for certificates of title; to provide for bonds; to provide for
7 fees; to provide for a task force; to provide for rulemaking authority; and to provide
8 for related matters.
9 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
10 Section 1. Chapter 6-B of Title 32 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950,
11 comprised of R.S. 32:1291 through 1294 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
12 CHAPTER 6-B. Louisiana New and Used Motor Vehicle Commission
13 §1291. Short title
14 This Chapter shall be known and cited as the "Louisiana New and Used
15 Motor Vehicles, Parts, and Accessories Act".
16 §1292. Creation of the commission
17 A. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the Louisiana
18 Motor Vehicle Commission and the Louisiana Used Motor Vehicle Commission are
19 hereby merged in the powers, duties and functions. The commission created by the
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1 provisions of this Act shall be called the Louisiana New and Used Motor Vehicle
2 Commission.
3 B. The commission shall operate and create rules pursuant to the Louisiana
4 Motor Vehicle Commission and Louisiana Used Motor Vehicle Merger Study Task
5 Force regarding some or all of the recommendations on merging the commissions,
6 unified governance, licensing, enforcement, and technology.
7 §1293. Definitions
8 For the purposes of this Chapter, "commission" means the Louisiana New
9 and Used Motor Vehicle Commission created by this Chapter or its designee.
10 §12794. Duties of the commission
11 A. The commission's powers and duties shall include but are not limited to
12 the following:
13 (1) Licensing and regulating independent used motor vehicle dealers and
14 salespersons, motor vehicle crushers, dealers of used motor vehicle parts and
15 accessories, rent-to-own dealers, scrap metal processors, wholesale motor vehicle
16 auctions, public or retail motor vehicle auctions, salvage pools that deal in used
17 motor vehicles, dismantlers and parts recyclers, catalytic converter dealers pursuant
18 to Part II-B of Chapter 21 of Title 37, manufacturers, distributors, recreational
19 product dealers, motor vehicle dealers and salespersons, factory branches, distributor
20 branches, satellite warranty and repair centers, brokers, motor vehicle lessors,
21 speciality vehicle dealers, and other occupations related to motor vehicle as
22 determined by the commission.
23 (2) Inspecting license applicants and licensee locations to ensure that they
24 are in an approved location, meet local zoning or other municipal requirements, and
25 have sufficient facilities which shall include but not be limited to a business sign, a
26 listed and usable telephone number, and a sales office.
27 (3) Requiring all licensees to maintain their records for a period of three
28 years and to keep their records, vehicles, and places of business open to inspection
29 by any peace officer or agent of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections or
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1 of the commission during reasonable hours. The records shall include bills of sale,
2 financing or mortgage records, and monthly sales reports.
3 (4) Holding and conducting hearings on appeals of license, denials,
4 violations, revoking or suspending licenses, imposing civil penalties, assessing
5 restitution, issuing cease and desist orders, and seeking injunctions pursuant to this
6 Chapter.
7 (5)(a) Taking possession of certificates of title and further distributing those
8 titles to the rightful owners pursuant to R.S. 32:705 from:
9 (i) An independent used motor vehicle dealer who failed or refused to
10 provide a certificate of title to his customer or to the rightful owners in accordance
11 with R.S. 32:705.
12 (ii) An independent used motor vehicle dealer who has ceased doing
13 business and who has failed to provide a certificate of title to his customer or to the
14 rightful owners in accordance with R.S. 32:705.
15 (iii) A floor plan financier or other similar holder of a security interest
16 relative to a used motor vehicle who has failed or refused to provide a certificate of
17 title to a bona fide retail purchaser in actual good faith in accordance with R.S.
18 32:710(D).
19 (b)(i) Empowering the executive director of the commission to take any and
20 all actions necessary to obtain and deliver a certificate of title to a retail purchaser
21 in actual good faith including instituting or participating in any legal action to obtain
22 a certificate of title and endorsing a certificate of title on behalf of any independent
23 used motor vehicle dealer who either refuses or is unavailable to sign or endorse the
24 certificate of title.
25 (ii) Providing that if the commission institutes or participates in legal action
26 to obtain a certificate of title for delivery to a retail purchaser in actual good faith,
27 the commission is entitled to an award of reasonable attorney fees and court costs to
28 be paid by the individual or entity responsible for delivery of the certificate of title.
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1 (6) Issuing, serving, and enforcing a subpoena or subpoena duces tecum
2 pursuant to any hearing or lawful investigation into the suspected misconduct of any
3 licensee or persons suspected of violation of this Chapter.
4 (7)(a) Having the sole and exclusive authority to administer all claims made
5 against the bonds including the denial or rejection of any claim.
6 (b) Authorizing the executive director of the commission to take any action
7 necessary to administer claims against any bond, including instituting or intervening
8 in a legal action to obtain payment of a claim or to prevent payment of an
9 unauthorized claim. If the commission institutes or intervenes in any legal action as
10 authorized by this Subparagraph and prevails, the court shall award the commission
11 reasonable attorney fees and court costs to be paid by the licensee, surety, or both.
12 (8) Having the authority to create and implement fees to administer the
13 provisions of the Chapter.
14 (9) Creating a task force to oversee revenue reserved for ongoing technology
15 maintenance, future system enhancements, and educational training programs.
16 (10) Adopting rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this
17 Chapter.
18 Section 2. The Louisiana State Law Institute is hereby directed to make technical
19 changes to statutory laws as necessary to reflect the merger of the Louisiana Used Motor
20 Vehicle Commission and the Louisiana Motor Vehicle Commission as provided in this Act.
21 Section 3.(A) The Louisiana Used Motor Vehicle Commission and the Louisiana
22 Motor Vehicle Commission shall take all necessary actions prior to the effective date,
23 including but not limited to amending, adopting, and repealing administrative rules, as are
24 necessary to implement the provisions of this Act.
25 (B) Unfinished business. Upon the transfer of duties and functions as provided in
26 this Section, any pending or unfinished business of the Louisiana Used Motor Vehicle
27 Commission and the Louisiana Motor Vehicle Commission shall be taken over and
28 completed by the Louisiana New and Used Motor Vehicle Commission. The Louisiana New
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1 and Used Motor Vehicle Commission shall be the successor in every way to the Louisiana
2 Used Motor Vehicle Commission and the Louisiana Motor Vehicle Commission.
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 939 Original 2026 Regular Session Carver
Abstract: Creates the La. New and Used Motor Vehicle Commission.
Proposed law creates the La. New and Used Motor Vehicle Commission.
Proposed law provides that notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the
La. Motor Vehicle Commission and the La. Used Motor Vehicle Commission are hereby
merged in the powers, duties and functions. The commission created by the provisions of
proposed law shall be called the La. New and Used Motor Vehicle Commission.
Proposed law provides that the commission shall operate and create rules pursuant to the La.
Motor Vehicle Commission and La. Used Motor Vehicle Merger Study Task Force
regarding some or all of the recommendations on merging the commissions, unified
governance, licensing, enforcement, and technology.
Proposed law defines "commission".
Proposed law provides that the commission's powers and duties shall include but are not
limited to the following:
(1) Licensing and regulating occupations related to motor vehicle as determined by
proposed law and the commission.
(2) Inspecting license applicants and licensee locations to ensure that they are in an
approved location, meet local zoning or other municipal requirements, and have
sufficient facilities which shall include but not be limited to a business sign, a listed
and usable telephone number, and a sales office.
(3) Requiring all licensees to maintain their records for a period of three years and to
keep their records, vehicles, and places of business open to inspection by any peace
officer or agent of the Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections or of the commission
during reasonable hours.
(4) Holding and conducting hearings on appeals of license, denials, violations, revoking
or suspending licenses, imposing civil penalties, assessing restitution, issuing cease
and desist orders, and seeking injunctions pursuant to proposed law.
(5) Taking possession of certificates of title and further distributing those titles to the
rightful owners.
(6) Issuing, serving, and enforcing a subpoena or subpoena duces tecum pursuant to any
hearing or lawful investigation into the suspected misconduct of any licensee or
persons suspected of violation of proposed law.
(7) Having the sole and exclusive authority to administer all claims made against the
bonds including the denial or rejection of any claim.
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(8) Having the authority to create and implement fees to administer the provisions of
proposed law.
(9) Creating a task force to oversee revenue reserved for ongoing technology
maintenance, future system enhancements, and educational training programs.
(10) Adopting rules and regulations to implement the provisions of proposed law.
Proposed law directs the La. State Law Institute is hereby directed to make technical changes
to statutory laws as necessary to reflect the merger of the La. Used Motor Vehicle
Commission and the La. Motor Vehicle Commission as provided in proposed law.
Proposed law provides that the La. Used Motor Vehicle Commission and the La. Motor
Vehicle Commission shall take all necessary actions prior to the effective date, including but
not limited to amending, adopting, and repealing administrative rules, as are necessary to
implement the provisions of proposed law.
Proposed law provides for unfinished business.
(Adds R.S. 32:1291-1294)
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