Guide to Louisiana's constitutional amendments in the Dec. 7 election
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Louisiana voters head to the polls Saturday to make selections on four constitutional amendments.
Why it matters: The amendments aim to make procedural updates to the state budget process, create a new judicial investigation process, and install new rules around how the state deals with property tax debt.
State of play: Some Orleans Parish voters will also decide between two School Board candidates — Gabriela Biro and Eric J. Jones — in the District 2 runoff. Go deeper.
- In Jefferson Parish, voters will say yes or no to a property tax that would fund teacher pay raises. Go deeper.
- The city of Harahan also has two local propositions, and Jefferson Parish's Fire Protection District 3 has a millage increase up for consideration.
Here's a closer look at the four amendments.
Amendment 1 would expand the state's Judiciary Commission from nine to 14 members and would give the Louisiana Supreme Court authority to direct it to investigate judicial misconduct allegations.
- The commission has oversight over all Louisiana judges, and it receives hundreds of complaints per year, which it can investigate.
- Currently, the commission is comprised of judges, lawyers and civilians who are selected by other judges and the Louisiana District Judges Association, according to PAR Louisiana.
- If the amendment passes, the new members would be appointed by state legislative leaders and the governor.
Amendment 2 would require Louisiana lawmakers to wait at least 48 hours between a proposed state budget change and when a final vote gets taken on that change in the Legislature.
- An existing rule already requires a 48-hour waiting period, the Illuminator reports, but lawmakers often bypass it with a majority vote in each chamber.
- By shifting the rule to a constitutional amendment, lawmakers would have to abide by the pause.
Amendment 3 would let Louisiana lawmakers extend a regular legislative session by up to six days so they can address state budget bills.
- The state budget is typically the last piece of the legislative puzzle that lawmakers get to, so it can be a bit of a rush at the end of a regular session.
- An extension could theoretically help lawmakers avoid a special session.
Amendment 4 would change how local governments in Louisiana handle property seizures when an owner hasn't paid their taxes.
- Currently, if someone hasn't paid their property taxes, they risk having their land seized and sold at auction, usually a "sheriff's sale." But the taxpayer has up to three years to pay the taxes back and reclaim the property.
- Louisiana's unusual system for this has been heavily litigated, according to PAR, and may now be illegal after a 2023 Supreme Court ruling.
- If the amendment passes, Louisiana would use a longer, lien-based system and likely update its laws around how these properties are handled in the future.
Go deeper: See the full text of the amendments.
- PAR Louisiana's guide has detailed explanations, including arguments for and against each amendment. This election's amendments start on page 4.
- See sample ballots on the Secretary of State's website.
What's next: Polls are open from 7am to 8pm on Saturday.