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HLS 26RS-571 ORIGINAL
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 208
BY REPRESENTATIVE ROBBY CARTER
LOCAL GOVERNMENT: Provides for a local option election to establish term limits for
members of the governing authority of St. Helena Parish
1 AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 33:1221.3, relative to term limits for members of the governing authority of
3 St. Helena Parish; to require a local option election in St. Helena Parish to determine
4 if the members of the governing authority shall have term limits; to specify the term
5 limitation if approved by the electors; to provide for applicability; to provide
6 relative to the conduct of such elections and the costs thereof; to provide for
7 effectiveness; and to provide for related matters.
8 Notice of intention to introduce this Act has been published
9 as provided by Article III, Section 13 of the Constitution of
10 Louisiana.
11 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
12 Section 1. R.S. 33:1221.3 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
13 §1221.3. St. Helena Parish governing authority; term limits; local option election
14 A. At the statewide election to be held on November 3, 2026, a proposition
15 shall appear on the ballot in St. Helena Parish to determine whether the members of
16 the governing authority of St. Helena Parish shall have term limits.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-571 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 208
1 B. The ballot for the election shall state as follows:
2 "LOCAL OPTION ELECTION
3 Shall the number of terms of office that any member of the St. Helena
4 Parish governing authority may serve be limited to three consecutive four-
5 year terms?"
6 C. If the question of such term limitation is approved by a majority of the
7 qualified electors voting on the proposition in the parish, then each member of the
8 governing authority who at the end of a term of office on the governing authority
9 will have served as a member of the governing authority for more than two and one-
10 half terms in three consecutive terms, such service being during terms that began on
11 or after January 10, 2028, shall not be elected to the governing authority for the
12 succeeding term. If a majority of the qualified electors voting on the proposition in
13 the parish vote against such proposition, then no such term limitation shall apply.
14 D. The secretary of state shall prepare the ballot for the election.
15 E. Except as otherwise provided, the election required pursuant to this
16 Section shall be conducted in accordance with the Louisiana Election Code.
17 F. Notwithstanding Chapter 8-A of the Louisiana Election Code, the costs
18 of the election required pursuant to this Section shall be borne by the state.
19 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
20 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
21 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
22 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
23 effective on the day following such approval.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 208 Original 2026 Regular Session Robby Carter
Abstract: Requires a local option election in St. Helena Parish during the statewide election
on Nov. 3, 2026, to determine whether the members of the governing authority of St.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-571 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 208
Helena Parish shall have term limits and, if adopted by a majority of the electors,
imposes a term limit of three consecutive terms.
Present law (R.S. 33:1221) provides that in every parish governing authority in La.
organized under the police jury system of government, including St. Helena Parish, police
jurors shall be elected at the state general election and shall serve for terms of four years.
Present law generally does not impose term limits on police jurors.
Proposed law retains present law.
Proposed law provides that at the statewide election to be held on Nov. 3, 2026, a
proposition shall appear on the ballot in St. Helena Parish to determine whether the members
of the governing authority of St. Helena Parish shall have term limits.
Proposed law provides for ballot language.
Proposed law provides that if the question of such term limitation is approved by a majority
of the qualified electors voting on the proposition in the parish, then each member of the
governing authority who at the end of a term of office on the governing authority will have
served as a member of the governing authority for more than two and one-half terms in three
consecutive terms, such service being during terms that began on or after Jan. 10, 2028, shall
not be elected to the governing authority for the succeeding term. If a majority of the
qualified electors voting on the proposition in the parish vote against such proposition, then
no such term limitation shall apply.
Proposed law provides that the secretary of state shall prepare the ballot for the election and
the election shall be conducted in accordance with the La. Election Code.
Present law requires the parish to pay a portion of the cost of an election when a local option
election item is included on the ballot during a gubernatorial or congressional election.
Proposed law instead provides that the costs of the election required pursuant to proposed
law shall be borne by the state.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 33:1221.3)
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.