A law going into effect in Louisiana next year seeks to incentivize trucking companies to outfit their vehicles with dash cams and telematics systems.

House Bill 549, authored by Louisiana State Rep. Rodney Schamerhorn, was signed into law by Governor Jeff Landry on May 28, 2025. It will go into effect on January 1, 2026.

I’m proud to announce that House Bill 549 has been officially signed into law by Governor Jeff Landry!
THANK YOU to Governor Landry for your commitment to wise policy and safer communities. This law goes into effect January 1, 2026! pic.twitter.com/cYE6L8irLR

— State Rep. Rodney Schamerhorn (@RodneyRep) May 30, 2025

The new law will require commercial vehicle insurance providers to provide a discount on liability premiums for commercial motor vehicles equipped with a dashboard camera and telematics system.

The purpose of the discount is “to enhance public safety, reduce insurance fraud, and lower costs of claims by incentivizing the use of dashboard cameras paired with telematics systems in commercial motor vehicles.”

To qualify for the insurance discount, fleets must comply with the following provisions:

• The dash cam/telematics device must be installed and operational at the time of policy issuance or renewal.
• The dash cam/telematics device must meet minimum technical standards as prescribed by the commissioner, including compatibility between the dashboard camera and telematics system for data verification.
• Remain in continuous use during the policy term.
• The policyholder must provide proof of installation and operation, such as a certificate from a licensed vendor or telematics data report, upon request of the insurer.
• Insurers must annually verify compliance through the policyholder’s submission of a telematics summary report or a signed affidavit attesting to the continuous operation of the dashboard camera and telematics system.
• A policyholder’s failure to maintain an operational dashboard camera and telematics system shall result in the forfeiture of the discount at the next policy renewal, unless the discount is reinstated upon proof of compliance.

For 40 years, Rep. Schamerhorn owned Schamerhorn, Inc., a company specializing in trucking, site work, roll-off containers, and construction debris services.