HOUSE floor amendments [LINK] are date changes

Proposes changes to the election schedules for municipal officers and school board members in Louisiana. Currently, these elections are held during congressional election cycles. The bill allows school boards and municipalities to adopt plans to align their elections with the gubernatorial election cycle, starting with the 2031 gubernatorial elections. To implement this change, school boards must file their plans with the Secretary of State by July 29, 2026. Members elected under this new schedule would begin their terms on January 1 following the election and serve four-year terms. The bill also includes provisions for handling vacancies and unfilled positions under the new election schedule.

Proposes comprehensive revisions to the state's Code of Governmental Ethics. The bill aims to clarify definitions, adjust regulations concerning public servants' interactions with nonpublic entities, and refine procedures related to financial disclosures and the Board of Ethics' operations.

Key provisions include:

·       Definitions and Scope: The bill seeks to amend definitions pertinent to legislators and legislative employees, particularly regarding "reasonable transportation" for educational, informational, or entertainment purposes. It specifies conditions under which such transportation is permissible, including geographic limitations and prior approval requirements.

Conditions under which "reasonable transportation" is permissible for legislators and legislative employees:

For Both Legislators and Legislative Employees:

·       Transportation organized primarily for educational or informational purposes, including on-site inspections, is allowed to any location within Louisiana's boundaries, its territorial waters, and offshore structures on the outer continental shelf seaward of these waters and offshore of Louisiana.

Additional Provisions for Legislative Employees:

·       Such transportation must be for official legislative purposes.

·       Prior approval from the presiding officer of the respective house is required.

Additional Provisions for Legislators:

·       Transportation organized primarily for entertainment purposes incidental to food, drink, or refreshments is permitted to locations within Louisiana that are either:

o  Within a 50-mile radius of the perimeter of the legislator's district, or

o  Within a 50-mile radius of the perimeter of the parish where the state capitol is located, provided the legislator is conducting official business in that parish.

·       Transportation is also allowed when organized primarily for making a public speech, covering travel from the legislator's home or the capitol to and from the site of the speaking engagement, as provided by the sponsoring group or organization.

Other key provisions:

·       Financial Interactions: Adjustments are proposed to regulations governing payments to public servants from nonpublic sources, aiming to delineate permissible contractual arrangements and exceptions within the ethical framework.

·       Gifts and Benefits: The legislation addresses limitations on food, drink, event admissions, lodging, and travel provided to public servants, including methods for calculating the value of air travel, to prevent undue influence.

·       Financial Disclosure: The bill proposes changes to the content and filing requirements of financial disclosure statements, enhancing transparency and accountability among public officials.

·       Board of Ethics Procedures: Revisions are suggested for the assessment of penalties related to reporting failures, the duties and reporting obligations of the Board of Ethics, and the conduct of educational seminars. The bill also outlines procedures for investigations and the issuance of subpoenas by the Board.

Redraws the 105 Louisiana House of Representatives districts using data from the 2020 federal census and updated 2025 precinct shapefiles. The bill replaces current district boundaries with new ones to reflect population shifts and ensure compliance with redistricting requirements.

Key Points:

- Uses an ideal district population of 44,359.

- Population deviations range from -4.86% to +4.94%, keeping all districts within the legally acceptable range.

- Bill becomes effective for candidate qualification and the 2027 regular elections upon gubernatorial signature or default enactment.

- For all other purposes, the new districts become effective at 10:00 a.m. on January 10, 2028.

- Does not shorten any current officeholder’s term; changes apply to future terms.

Impact: 

Ensures compliance with constitutional redistricting obligations using updated population data. Repeals prior district definitions (R.S. 24:35.3) and replaces them with updated statutory language (R.S. 24:35.2). 

Effective Date: 

- For 2027 House elections: upon signature by the governor or lapse of gubernatorial action. 

- For all other purposes: January 10, 2028, at 10:00 a.m. 

(Adds R.S. 24:35.2; Repeals R.S. 24:35.3)

MAP is included in bill text: https://www.legis.la.gov/Legis/ViewDocument.aspx?d=1403721

HOUSE committee amendments [LINK] revise the timing and terms for gubernatorial appointments to the Board of Tax Appeals. Specifically, they clarify that one new member shall be appointed shortly after the bill's effective date, serving an initial partial term, followed by a standard six-year term for successors. Additionally, the amendments add a provision stating the Act will only take effect upon the legislature appropriating specific funds for its implementation. If no appropriation occurs, the changes will not be implemented.

Expands administrative options for resolving state and local tax disputes. It authorizes mediation between taxpayers and tax collectors, allows the Louisiana Uniform Local Sales Tax Board (LULSTB) to issue binding policy advice and private letter rulings (PLRs), and modifies the structure and procedures of the Board of Tax Appeals (BTA). 

Key Provisions: 

Mediation: 

 - Taxpayers and collectors may agree in writing to mediate disputes within 15 days of receiving a tax assessment notice. 

 - Mediation must be completed within 45 days. 

 - Mediation is nonbinding unless otherwise agreed and may be terminated at any time by either party. 

 - After mediation ends, the taxpayer has 30 days to appeal or pay, but retains at least 60 days total from the original notice date. 

Policy Advice & Private Letter Rulings (PLRs): 

- LULSTB’s post-Jan. 1, 2025 policy advice becomes binding on local collectors unless challenged within 20 days via the BTA’s Local Tax Division. 

 - PLRs are binding on local collectors and subject to de novo review if appealed. 

 - Removes a provision allowing a single local collector to opt out of the PLR process. 

Board of Tax Appeals (BTA): 

 - Expands BTA membership from 3 to 4, with members required to have tax law credentials. 

 - Establishes random judicial panels and formalizes roles for judges in the Local Tax Division. 

 - Requires appointments from a list of 2–4 nominees, increases terms for new members, and designates a chief judge for the Local Tax Division. 

Intent: 

To streamline tax dispute resolution, improve clarity and consistency in local sales tax administration, and enhance the functionality and capacity of the BTA.

SENATE floor technical amendments

SENATE DID NOT OFFER THIS FLOOR AMENDMENT designed for BILL CASSIDY to win in the closed primary with a plurality (eliminates primary runoff). If the threat of this amendment is ELIMINATED, this bill will go back to N/A.

SENATE committee amendments [LINK] add R.S. 18:1284(F)(1) and 1284.1 to require that local ballot propositions be written by the governing authority in clear, simple, concise, and unbiased language. The proposition must be in question form, limited to 200 words, and may not use strikethroughs, underlines, or boldface type.

As amended, HB592 does not completely disallow unaffiliated voters from voting in closed party primaries, but it does restrict how and when they may participate.

Specifically:

Before amendment: Parties had the option to open or close their presidential primaries to unaffiliated voters through bylaws.

After amendment: That discretion was removed, and participation rules are now fixed in statute.

• Under the new closed primary system, voters affiliated with a major political party may vote in that party’s primary.
• However, the bill includes a provision allowing unaffiliated voters to participate in a major party’s first primary election, if they select a party ballot.
• Once an unaffiliated voter selects a party’s ballot in the first party primary, they cannot vote in another party’s second party primary.

Unaffiliated voters may vote in one party’s first primary, but are barred from switching to another party’s second primary. This limits crossover participation and reinforces the “closed” nature of the primaries.

ANOTHER KEY CHANGE:

Data-Sharing Agreements:

• Original: Allowed the Secretary of State to enter agreements broadly with “other entities.”
• Amended: Restricts this to written agreements with state and federal governmental agencies or private vendors that provide voter registration and address data. Removed explicit reference to permission to participate in (NGO) ERIC system, a biased leftist system that did not properly vet voter lists and improperly share data with biased left organizations. Louisiana removed itself from participation in ERIC along with many other states.

FULL AMENDMENT CHANGES:

Here is a concise breakdown of the key differences in HB592 as amended by HCAHB592 3645 1303, compared to the original engrossed version:

1. Data-Sharing Agreements:

• Original: Allowed the Secretary of State to enter agreements broadly with “other entities.”
• Amended: Restricts this to written agreements with state and federal governmental agencies or private vendors that provide voter registration and address data.

2. Ballot Proposition Language (R.S. 18:1299.1):

• Original: Required propositions to be simple, unbiased, concise, and in question form; prohibited formatting like bold or strikethrough.
• Amended: Assigns responsibility for language clarity to the governing authority, not the Secretary of State, who now ensures only the formatting and length requirements are met.

3. Challenges to Constitutional Amendments (R.S. 18:1405(C)):

• Original: Only included deadline (10 days after promulgation).
• Amended: Adds that a challenge cannot be filed before the day after the election.

4. Technical Terminology Corrections:

• Replaces “recognized” political party with “major” political party in party primary provisions.
• Corrects “must be cured” to “shall be cured” in absentee ballot instructions.

5. Unaffiliated Voter Rules in Closed Primaries:

• Clarified: If an unaffiliated voter selects a ballot in one major party’s first primary, they cannot vote in another party’s second primary.
• Also clarifies procedures to request a replacement absentee ballot if they change their party ballot selection before casting.

6. Superseding Earlier 2024 Acts:

• Expanded: Adds language that specific sections of Act No. 640 and Act No. 1 of 2024 are superseded by this bill's provisions, removing any ambiguity.

7. Party Primary Second Round Clarification:

• Original: Used a lengthy paragraph to describe tie scenarios and advancement rules.
• Amended: Simplifies language to clearly state that the top two vote-getters from each party move to the second party primary.

8. Section Reference Clean-Up and Formatting:

• Corrects or reorganizes section numbers, references, and cross-citations throughout the bill, especially in the effective dates and repeals sections.

ORIGINAL BREAKDOWN: Revises the Louisiana Election Code to align procedures with recent law changes, update terminology, and establish processes for the new closed party primary system.

Key Provisions: 

- Changes definitions (e.g., adds “affidavit,” expands “immediate family” to include grandparents and grandchildren). 

- Authorizes the Secretary of State to share voter registration data via written agreements, not limited to ERIC (removes the specific reference to ERIC and allows the SOS to enter into written agreements with other entities to share voter registration data).

- Revises voter registration processes, allowing for reinstatement without a 3-year limit and simplified name change procedures. 

- Consolidates polling places and adjusts emergency relocation rules; expands rules for commissioners and watchers, including disqualifying registered sex offenders. 

- Adds alternate “political party super watchers” and clarifies appointment timelines for election personnel. 

- Adjusts deadlines when they fall on holidays or weekends. 

- Prohibits elections on the three days following Thanksgiving. 

- Updates procedures for ballot layout, absentee voting, early voting, and recall elections. 

- Requires updated voter address confirmation for nursing home residents if mail is returned undeliverable. 

- Revises machine allocation formulas to increase thresholds from 1,400 to 1,800 voters per precinct. 

- Implements closed party primary procedures: 

 - Establishes first and second party primary dates. 

 - Limits voting in party primaries to affiliated voters, with some provisions for unaffiliated voters. 

 - Sets qualification and withdrawal procedures for party candidates. 

 - Allows unaffiliated voters to choose a party ballot in the first primary but not in the second. 

- Defines emergency authority to call elections for party vacancies. 

- Makes effective dates for Act 1 and Act 640 (2024) align with the June 12, 2025 implementation of the closed primary system. 

Effective Dates: 

- Closed primary provisions: June 12, 2025 (for 2026 election prep); fully effective January 1, 2026. 

- All other provisions: August 1, 2025. 

- Some technical corrections effective upon gubernatorial signature.

HOUSE floor amendments [LINK] require prior approval by the Iberia Parish Council before any taxes can be levied, specify that council vacancies will be filled by majority vote of the Iberia Parish Council, and make minor grammatical and technical corrections throughout the bill.

HOUSE committee amendments [LINK] establish conditions for creating the Acadiana Regional Airport district, requiring approval from both the Iberia Parish Council and the FAA. They specify that the Iberia Parish Council will appoint and may remove all board members, set residency requirements for members, and outline qualifications for serving on the board. The amendments also clarify language and correct references throughout the bill to ensure consistency and compliance with FAA regulations.

Creates the Acadiana Regional Airport and Lemaire Memorial Airport District in Iberia Parish to assume authority over local airport operations and facilities.

Key Provisions: 

- Establishes the district as a political subdivision with boundaries coterminous with Iberia Parish, including the Acadiana Regional Airport and Lemaire Memorial Airport. 

- Governs the district through a 7-member board of commissioners appointed by local entities, with requirements for professional qualifications and term limits. 

- Grants the district authority to acquire, operate, and develop airport properties and facilities, subject to FAA approval of operational jurisdiction. 

- Transfers operational control, contracts, assets, liabilities, and grant responsibilities from the local government to the district. 

- Requires the district to submit annual financial reports to the Iberia Parish Council. 

- Restricts local government from interfering with the district’s authority or disposing of airport assets without district and FAA consent. 

- Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.

HOUSE committee amendment [LINK] exempts school board and political party committee candidates from paying the new additional qualifying fee. It also clarifies that the new fee applies only to candidates qualifying on or after August 1, 2025.

Increases candidate qualifying fees and dedicates the revenue to a new Campaign Sign Recycling Fund.

Key Provisions:

• Adds a $25 qualifying fee for all election candidates.
• Creates the Campaign Sign Recycling Fund in the state treasury.
• Directs revenue from the new fee, plus donations or grants, into the fund.
• Fund will be used by the Secretary of State to recycle political campaign signs.
• Authorizes rulemaking for fund administration.
• Becomes effective upon governor’s signature, with some provisions tied to the effective date of Act 1 from the 2024 First Extraordinary Session.

HOUSE committee amendments technical

Requires all new sales and use tax exemptions, exclusions, credits, rebates, or refunds enacted after January 1, 2026, to apply to both state and local sales tax bases.

Key Provisions:

• Applies only to tax incentives created on or after January 1, 2026
• Prohibits the Legislature from enacting new exemptions or incentives that apply only to the state sales tax
• Mandates that any new tax incentive must apply uniformly across all taxing authorities, including local governments

Revises Louisiana’s Code of Governmental Ethics to expand exceptions, clarify disclosures, and strengthen procedural fairness. Some good in here like 5th amendment protections and investigations procedures.

Key Provisions:

• Expands allowable “reasonable transportation” for legislators and staff to include out-of-state and offshore travel for speeches or education.
• Deems certain stipends or awards to public school employees as public compensation (not ethics violations).
• Limits gifts to $100 per event and $200 per year; adds exceptions for sympathy gifts, holiday food, and small student gifts to teachers.
• Allows Racing Commission members to own or breed racehorses under defined conditions.
• Raises income disclosure thresholds and requires electronic filing for most financial disclosures.
• Strengthens investigation procedures: adds notice, hearing rights, and subpoena limits; requires dismissal after one year if no action taken.
• Requires Ethics Board to publish semi-annual reports and provide continuing education on campaign finance compliance.
• Repeals provision penalizing officials who invoke the 5th Amendment after being offered immunity.

Proposes to enact R.S. 40:2267.6. This legislation authorizes the Acadiana Criminalistics Laboratory Commission to name its new 40,000 square foot laboratory building the "Martin Bofill 'Bo' Duhé Acadiana Criminalistics Laboratory" in honor of District Attorney Martin Bofill "Bo" Duhé. Duhé served on the commission since 2015, including as president from 2017 to 2021, and played a key role in securing funding for the facility by working with the Acadiana Regional Legislative Delegation and other officials. The bill acknowledges his significant contributions to the project.