— WHAT’S NEXT ON AUTO INSURANCE? While Gov. Jeff Landry, Commissioner of Insurance Tim Temple, Republicans in the Legislature and the business lobby have been in agreement on most issues so far, Landry has been skeptical of Temple-backed measures the insurance and trucking sectors say could lead to lower auto insurance rates. The Joint Insurance, House Civil Law and Procedure and Senate Judiciary A committees will begin the process of figuring out the next steps in a meeting scheduled for Thursday at 9 a.m. Rates and laws in other states, the impact of fraud, and carrier accountability are on the agenda.

— TAX REFORM TALK: Also on Thursday, scheduled for 1 p.m., House Ways and Means and Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs members will hear from the Department of Revenue about the state’s current tax structure and potential changes to Article VII of the state Constitution, with an eye toward future changes. Revenue Secretary Richard Nelson, who campaigned for governor on eliminating the state income taxes, reportedly told lawmakers last month that eliminating some tax exemptions and broadening the tax base could allow the Legislature to address the looming fiscal cliff and potentially lower income tax rates. 

— LOCAL CASH: The Department of Public Safety-Public Safety Services, which is responsible for collecting and distributing motor vehicle sales taxes on behalf of parishes and municipalities, distributed about $606 million last year, the Louisiana Legislative Auditor reports. That’s down 1.8 percent from 2022. The Parish and Municipal Motor Vehicle Sales and Use Tax Escrow Fund had a balance of almost $42.7 million at the end of 2023. 

— MORE FROM LLA: Auditors also raised concerns about the Louisiana Sales and Use Tax Commission for Remote Sellers, pointing to issues with bank reconciliations, compliance with state regulations and controls over employee benefits. Reneé Ellender Roberie, the commission’s executive director, largely agreed with the findings, noting in part the growing pains for an agency created in 2017 that until October 2022 was operating with only three staffers. During the 2022-2023 fiscal year, the commission distributed about $450 million to the state and local governments, Roberie says in response to the LLA report. 

— MEETING CANCELED: Thursday’s scheduled meeting of the Louisiana Economic Development Corporation has been called off.