Read the full stored bill text
HLS 26RS-949 REENGROSSED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 446
BY REPRESENTATIVE BOYER
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 and to repeal
3 Article VI, Section 30(B) of the Constitution of Louisiana, relative to the procedure
4 for certain special elections; to provide for local government bond and tax elections,
5 parcel fee elections, and gaming elections; to provide for such elections to be held
6 only during a regularly scheduled open primary election; to repeal provisions
7 prohibiting a political subdivision from submitting the same tax proposition to the
8 electorate more than once in a six month period except in the case of an emergency;
9 to authorize the legislature to provide for a special election; to provide for
10 submission of the proposed amendment to the electors; and to provide for related
11 matters.
12 Section 1. Be it resolved by the Legislature of Louisiana, two-thirds of the members
13 elected to each house concurring, that there shall be submitted to the electors of the state of
14 Louisiana, for their approval or rejection in the manner provided by law, a proposal to
15 amend Article VI, Section 22 of the Constitution of Louisiana, to read as follows:
16 §22. Procedure for Certain Special Elections
17 Section 22.(A) When an election is required in a political subdivision under
18 the provisions of this constitution which require submission to the electors of a
19 proposition or question, the election shall be called, conducted, and the returns
20 thereof canvassed, in accordance with the procedures established by the law then in
21 effect pertaining to elections for incurring bonded indebtedness and special taxes
22 relative to local finance, or as may be otherwise provided by law.
Page 1 of 4
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-949 REENGROSSED
HB NO. 446
1 (B) When an election is required in a political subdivision under the
2 provisions of this constitution or other law regarding bonded indebtedness or special
3 taxes relative to local finance, a fee imposed within a special district, the primary
4 purpose of which is provided for in Article III, Section 13(B) of this Constitution, or
5 gaming, gambling, or wagering, the election may be held only during a regularly
6 scheduled open primary election. The legislature may provide by law enacted by
7 two-thirds of the elected members of each house of the legislature for the calling of
8 special elections in the case of emergency.
9 Section 2. Be it resolved by the Legislature of Louisiana, two-thirds of the members
10 elected to each house concurring, that there shall be submitted to the electors of the state of
11 Louisiana, for their approval or rejection in the manner provided by law, a proposal to repeal
12 Article VI, Section 30(B) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
13 Section 3. Be it further resolved that this proposed amendment shall become
14 effective on January 1, 2029.
15 Section 4. Be it further resolved that this proposed amendment shall be submitted
16 to the electors of the state of Louisiana at the statewide election to be held on November 3,
17 2026.
18 Section 5. Be it further resolved that on the official ballot to be used at the election,
19 there shall be printed a proposition, upon which the electors of the state shall be permitted
20 to vote YES or NO, to amend the Constitution of Louisiana, which proposition shall read as
21 follows:
22 Do you support an amendment to require that any local bond or tax election,
23 parcel fee election, or gaming election be held only during a regularly
24 scheduled open primary election and to repeal the prohibition against a
25 political subdivision submitting the same tax proposition to the electorate
26 more than once in a six month period except in the case of an emergency?
27 (Amends Article VI, Section 22; Repeals Article VI, Section 30(B))
Page 2 of 4
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-949 REENGROSSED
HB NO. 446
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 446 Reengrossed 2026 Regular Session Boyer
Abstract: Provides that local tax, bond, parcel fee, and gaming elections may be held only
during a regularly scheduled open primary election, except as otherwise provided by
law enacted by two-thirds vote of the legislature.
Present constitution (Art. VI, §22) provides that when an election is required in a political
subdivision under the provisions of the 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
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.
Present constitution (Art. XI, §1) provides that the legislature shall adopt an election code
which shall provide for the conduct of all elections.
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, a parcel fee, or gaming, gambling, or
wagering, the election may be held only during a regularly scheduled open primary election.
Further provides that the legislature may provide by law enacted by two-thirds of the elected
members of each house of the legislature for the calling of special elections in cases of
emergency.
Present constitution (Art. VI, §30(B)) provides that no political subdivision shall submit the
same tax proposition, or a new tax proposition that includes such a tax proposition, to the
electorate more than once within a six month period except in the case of an emergency as
determined by the governing authority of the political subdivision.
Proposed constitutional amendment repeals present constitution.
Provides for submission of the proposed amendment to the voters at the statewide election
to be held on November 3, 2026.
Effective January 1, 2029.
(Amends Const. Art. VI, §22; Repeals Const. Art. VI, §30(B))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The House Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill:
1. Apply proposed constitutional amendment to parcel fee and gaming elections.
2. Authorize the legislature to provide for the calling of special elections
specifically in the case of emergency.
Page 3 of 4
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-949 REENGROSSED
HB NO. 446
3. Provide for the repeal of present constitution provisions that prohibit a political
subdivision from submitting the same tax proposition, or a new tax proposition
that includes such a tax proposition, to the electorate more than once within a six
month period.
4. Add an effective date.
Page 4 of 4
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.