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SB 341

SELF INSURANCE: Provides for the Louisiana Churches and Nonprofit Religious Organizations Self-Insured Fund. (gov sig)

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Dennis Bamburg and 10 co-sponsors

SB 341 lets church and nonprofit pools provide broader commercial coverages, not just property, with rules to regulate and approved by the Louisiana Insurance Commissioner.

Enrolled. Signed by the President of the Senate.
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Bill Summary · SB 341

Summary: Senate Bill 341 (SB 341), 2026 Regular Session, Louisiana

Purpose

SB 341 proposes to broaden the authority and scope of self-insurance pools for churches and nonprofit religious organizations. Specifically, it changes the scope from excluding to allowing self-insurance pools to cover “commercial coverages” (not just property insurance) and to include other types of risk with approval from the Louisiana Commissioner of Insurance. The bill also standardizes terminology and directs administrative amendments to reflect the broadened scope.

Key Provisions

  • ** broadened scope of self-insurance pools: **

    • Current law allows churches and nonprofit religious organizations to form self-insurance pools primarily for property insurance.
    • SB 341 authorizes pools to provide commercial coverage for churches and nonprofit religious organizations. This expands the potential lines of coverage beyond property, to broader commercial coverages commonly offered in private property insurance markets.

  • Definition changes:

    • Introduces and defines “fund” or “self-insurance fund” as the pool established from member contributions to provide commercial property and other types of insurance for churches and nonprofit religious organizations.
    • Adds a definition for “Property Commercial Coverage” and clarifies that it can include:
    • Damage or loss to a member’s immovable structures or buildings
    • Premises liability
    • Contents coverage for furniture or equipment
    • Wind and hail coverage
    • Loss of use coverage
    • Medical payments coverage

  • Regulatory authority and rules:

    • Requires the Louisiana Department of Insurance to promulgate necessary rules under the Administrative Procedure Act to implement and regulate activities under the chapter.

  • Other potential risk management options:

    • The bill allows, with approval of the Commissioner of Insurance, self-insurance pools for other types of risk beyond property/commercial coverage, aligning with broader risk management needs of churches and nonprofit religious organizations.

Who is Affected

  • Primary actors:
    • Churches and nonprofit religious organizations in Louisiana that form or participate in self-insurance pools.
  • Regulatory body:
    • Louisiana Department of Insurance (for rulemaking and supervision).
  • Potential participants:
    • Religious denominations or multiple congregations that are financially solvent with a positive net worth and who can meet the obligations of the self-insurance arrangement under the amended framework.

Practical and Policy Implications

  • Financial considerations:
    • Pools would be funded by member contributions, as defined in the act, for the purpose of providing the broadened suite of coverage.
  • Risk management impact:
    • By enabling self-insurance for commercial coverages and other risk types, participating organizations may gain more control over coverage terms, pricing, and claims handling relative to traditional commercial insurance markets.
  • Regulatory oversight:
    • The state would regulate these pools to ensure solvency, financial integrity, and compliance with applicable insurance and corporate law.
  • Effective date:
    • The act becomes effective upon the governor’s signature or, if not signed, upon expiration of the time for gubernatorial action, with a potential legislative acquiescence path if vetoed and overridden.

Effective Date

  • Effective upon the governor’s signature or as otherwise provided by law if not signed (with potential override provisions as applicable).

If you’d like, I can provide a side-by-side comparison with current law (R.S. 12:1853 and 1854) to highlight all changes line-by-line, or a brief outline of potential compliance steps for a hypothetical church considering joining or forming a self-insurance pool under SB 341.

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

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