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HLS 26RS-358 ENGROSSED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 393
BY REPRESENTATIVE FONTENOT
ELECTIONS/BOND & TAX: (Constitutional Amendment) Provides for eligible election
dates for bond and tax elections
1 A JOINT RESOLUTION
2 Proposing to amend Article VI, Section 22 of the Constitution of Louisiana, relative to the
3 procedure for certain special elections; to provide for local government bond and tax
4 elections; to provide for eligible dates for local government bond and tax elections;
5 to provide for effectiveness; to provide for submission of the proposed amendment
6 to the electors; and to provide for related matters.
7 Section 1. Be it resolved by the Legislature of Louisiana, two-thirds of the members
8 elected to each house concurring, that there shall be submitted to the electors of the state of
9 Louisiana, for their approval or rejection in the manner provided by law, a proposal to
10 amend Article VI, Section 22 of the Constitution of Louisiana, to read as follows:
11 §22. Procedure for Certain Special Elections
12 Section 22.(A) When an election is required in a political subdivision under
13 the provisions of this constitution which require submission to the electors of a
14 proposition or question, the election shall be called, conducted, and the returns
15 thereof canvassed, in accordance with the procedures established by the law then in
16 effect pertaining to elections for incurring bonded indebtedness and special taxes
17 relative to local finance, or as may be otherwise provided by law.
18 (B) When an election is required in a political subdivision under the
19 provisions of this constitution or other law regarding bonded indebtedness or special
20 taxes relative to local finance, the election may be held only during a regularly
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-358 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 393
1 scheduled statewide congressional or gubernatorial election that is not a party
2 primary election. In a calendar year during which there is no regularly scheduled
3 statewide congressional or gubernatorial election, the election may be held at the
4 same time as a regularly scheduled election in the city of New Orleans, if any. A
5 special election may be authorized by law enacted by two-thirds of the elected
6 members of each house of the legislature.
7 Section 2. Be it further resolved that this proposed amendment shall become
8 effective on January 1, 2028.
9 Section 3. Be it further resolved that this proposed amendment shall be submitted
10 to the electors of the state of Louisiana at the statewide election to be held on November 3,
11 2026.
12 Section 4. Be it further resolved that on the official ballot to be used at the election,
13 there shall be printed a proposition, upon which the electors of the state shall be permitted
14 to vote YES or NO, to amend the Constitution of Louisiana, which proposition shall read as
15 follows:
16 Do you support an amendment to require that any local bond or tax election
17 be held only during a regularly scheduled congressional or gubernatorial
18 election, or in a calendar year when there is no regularly scheduled
19 congressional or gubernatorial election, at the same time as a regularly
20 scheduled election in New Orleans? (Amends Article VI, Section 22)
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 393 Engrossed 2026 Regular Session Fontenot
Abstract: Requires local bond and tax elections to be held only during a regularly
scheduled congressional or gubernatorial election, or in a calendar year during which
there is no regularly scheduled congressional or gubernatorial election, at the same
time as a regularly scheduled election in New Orleans.
Present constitution provides that when an election is required in a political subdivision
under the provisions of present constitution which require submission to the electors of a
proposition or question, the election shall be called, conducted, and the returns thereof
canvassed, in accordance with the procedures established by the law then in effect pertaining
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-358 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 393
to elections for incurring bonded indebtedness and special taxes relative to local finance, or
as may be otherwise provided by law.
Proposed constitutional amendment retains present constitution.
Proposed constitutional amendment provides that when an election is required in a political
subdivision under the provisions of present constitution or other law regarding bonded
indebtedness or special taxes relative to local finance, the election may be held only during
a regularly scheduled statewide congressional or gubernatorial election that is not a party
primary election. In a calendar year during which there is no regularly scheduled statewide
congressional or gubernatorial election, the election may be held at the same time as a
regularly scheduled election in the city of New Orleans, if any. Further provides that a
special election may be authorized by law enacted by two-thirds of the elected members of
each house of the legislature.
Effective January 1, 2028.
Provides for submission of the proposed amendment to the voters at the statewide election
to be held on November 3, 2026.
(Amends Const. Art. VI, §22)
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.