BATON ROUGE, La. – Following a bill signing by Gov. Jeff Landry, the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI) released the following statement from President and CEO Will Green.

“On behalf of our members, LABI has long championed the need for comprehensive legal reform to address Louisiana’s deeply imbalanced civil justice system and improve the state’s business climate, rejecting the piecemeal, diluted approaches that have failed to deliver meaningful change.  Legal reform is a core pillar of LABI’s LA Driven strategic plan, and reflects years of advocacy to create a fairer, more competitive environment for Louisiana employers.

“With this goal in mind, LABI has spent months steadfastly working with lawmakers and a broad coalition of business and industry advocates representing Louisiana job creators to craft a robust package of legislation focused on bringing fairness, accountability and transparency to our courtrooms. The goal of this approach was not to reinvent the wheel; it was driven by data and laws that have proven successful in other states, recognizing the imperative need to make Louisiana a more attractive place for insurance companies to do business.

“We thank Governor Landry for signing HBs 431, 434 and 450 into law and extend our sincere thanks to the lawmakers who demonstrated courage and commitment to get their bills across the finish line: Rep. Emily Chenevert, Rep. Jason DeWitt and Rep. Michael Melerine. These leaders, and many of their colleagues from both parties, refused to accept the status quo and stood up to entrenched interests for the good of Louisiana’s working families and business community.

“That said, critical pieces of legislation are currently still working through the legislative process. It is imperative that lawmakers get them across the finish line. For too long, soaring insurance premiums have threatened businesses across Louisiana, forcing employers to make difficult decisions or move operations elsewhere. Rebalancing the scales of justice by reining in lawsuit abuse is essential to supporting our job creators and making our business climate one that fosters investment and innovation. Our commitment to this multi-year effort is unwavering. We will continue to assess the progress made in recent months while also confronting the remaining barriers standing in the way of real relief for the people who drive our state forward.”

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The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry: The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry was organized in 1975 to represent Louisiana businesses, serving as both the state chamber of commerce and state manufacturers association. LABI’s primary goal is to foster a climate for economic growth by championing the principles of the free enterprise system and representing the general interest of the business community through active involvement in the political, legislative, judicial and regulatory processes. Find out more information at labi.org.