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SB 431

MOTOR VEHICLES: Requires tow truck companies to be open seven days a week. (8/1/26)

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Franklin Foil

SB 431 requires weekend staff to release vehicles/personal property; if lacking 4 hours on Sat/Sun, storage charges for those days cannot apply.

Effective date 8/1/2026.
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 431

Summary of SB 431 (Louisiana, 2026 Session)

Overview

  • Bill: SB 431
  • Jurisdiction: Louisiana
  • Topic: Requirements for towing and storage companies
  • Effective Date: August 1, 2026
  • Sponsor: Senator Foil (Co-sponsor: Senator Franklin Foil)
  • Status: Senate Committee amendments approved; in original form, the bill would add a weekend staffing requirement

Main purpose and intent

The bill expands the existing “normal business hours” for towing or storage companies by requiring availability of personnel to release vehicles or personal property on weekends. Specifically, it ensures customers can retrieve their belongings even when the business is closed for regular weekday hours.

Key provisions and changes

1) Weekend release availability (new requirement)

  • What it adds: If a towing or storage company does not have a person available to release vehicles or personal property for a minimum of four hours on Saturdays and Sundays, the company shall not charge storage fees for those days.
  • Scope: Applies to the release of vehicles and personal property held by the towing/storage company.
  • Context: This provision is designed to improve customer access to stored property during weekends by ensuring staffing for releases.

2) Maintains existing weekday hours

  • The bill retains the existing “normal business hours” requirement:
    • Currently in statute: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, exclusive of legal holidays.
  • Implication: The new weekend staffing is in addition to, not a replacement of, the existing weekday hours.

3) Technical and statutory updates

  • The amendments include a technical modification to implement the weekend release requirement.
  • Statutes affected:
    • Amends R.S. 32:1735(F)
    • Adds R.S. 32:1734(G)

Who/what would be affected

  • Affect on towing and storage companies: Must ensure a person is available for weekend releases or face the restriction on charging weekend storage fees.
  • Customers/consumers: Potentially gain weekend access to released vehicles and personal property without incurring weekend storage fees if staffing criteria are not met.
  • Enforcement/administrative: Applies to how storage fees are assessed for Saturdays and Sundays; clarified in the amended statute.

Procedural and timeline notes

  • Effective date: August 1, 2026
  • Legislative action history:
    • Introduced and referred in early 2026 session
    • Reported with amendments by the Senate Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works on April 15, 2026
  • Next steps (potential): If enacted, the amended provisions would become law on and after August 1, 2026, with enforcement aligned to the new weekend release staffing requirement.

Bottom line

SB 431 adds a weekend release staffing requirement for towing/storage businesses, providing for weekend access to release property and prohibiting weekend storage charges if no dedicated staff is available for at least four hours on Saturdays and Sundays. The bill preserves existing weekday hours and makes targeted technical amendments to Louisiana Revised Statutes.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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