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HLS 26RS-645 ORIGINAL
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 524
BY REPRESENTATIVE BAYHAM
LEGISLATION/INSTRUMENTS: (Constitutional Amendment) Provides for introduction
of local bills
1 A JOINT RESOLUTION
2 Proposing to amend Article III, Section 13 of the Constitution of Louisiana, to provide for
3 the introduction of local bills; to require a local bill to be introduced only by a
4 legislator whose district includes the locality affected by the local bill; to provide for
5 exceptions; to provide for submission of the proposed amendment to the electors;
6 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 III, Section 13 of the Constitution of Louisiana, to read as follows:
11 §13. Local or Special Laws; Introduction; Notice of Intent; Publication
12 Section 13. (A)(1) No local law shall be enacted except by a bill introduced
13 by a member of the legislature whose district includes the locality where the matter
14 to be affected is situated.
15 (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subparagraph (1) of this Paragraph,
16 a bill to enact a local law may be introduced by any member of the legislature if
17 there is a vacancy within a district that includes the locality where the matter to be
18 affected is situated.
19 (A) (B) Except as otherwise provided in this Section, no local or special law
20 shall be enacted unless notice of the intent to introduce a bill to enact such a law has
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
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HLS 26RS-645 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 524
1 been published on two separate days, without cost to the state, in the official journal
2 of the locality where the matter to be affected is situated. The last day of publication
3 shall be at least thirty days prior to introduction of the bill. The notice shall state the
4 substance of the contemplated law, and every such bill shall recite that notice has
5 been given.
6 (B) (C) No local or special law relative to the creation of a special district,
7 the primary purpose of which includes aiding in crime prevention and adding to the
8 security of district residents by providing for an increased presence of law
9 enforcement personnel in the district or otherwise promoting and encouraging
10 security in the district, shall be enacted unless notice of the intent to introduce such
11 bill has been published on three separate days, without cost to the state, in the official
12 journal of the locality where the special district is to be situated. The last day of
13 publication shall be at least thirty days prior to introduction of the bill. The notice
14 shall state the substance of the contemplated law, and shall specifically disclose
15 whether the governing authority of the special district would be authorized by the
16 contemplated law to impose and collect a parcel fee within the district, whether the
17 parcel fee will be imposed or may be increased without an election, and the
18 maximum amount of the parcel fee if a maximum amount is set forth in the
19 contemplated law. Every such bill shall recite that the required notice has been
20 given.
21 Section 2. Be it further resolved that this proposed amendment shall be submitted
22 to the electors of the state of Louisiana at the statewide election to be held on November 3,
23 2026.
24 Section 3. Be it further resolved that on the official ballot to be used at the election,
25 there shall be printed a proposition, upon which the electors of the state shall be permitted
26 to vote YES or NO, to amend the Constitution of Louisiana, which proposition shall read as
27 follows:
28 Do you support an amendment to provide that local bills may only be
29 introduced by a legislator whose district includes the locality where the
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HLS 26RS-645 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 524
1 matter to be affected is situated, unless there is a vacancy in such a district?
2 (Amends Article III, Section 13)
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 524 Original 2026 Regular Session Bayham
Abstract: Provides that no local law shall be enacted except by a bill introduced by a
legislator whose district includes the locality where the matter to be affected is
located, unless there is a vacancy within such a district.
Present constitution provides that no local or special law shall be enacted unless notice of
the intent to introduce a bill to enact such a law has been published on two separate days in
the official journey of the locality where the matter to be affected is situated. Provides for
time constraints. Provides for the content of the notice.
Proposed constitutional amendment retains present constitution.
Present constitution provides that no local or special law relative to the creation of a special
district shall be enacted unless notice of the intent to introduce such a bill has been published
on three separate days in the official journal of the locality where the special district is to be
situated. Provides for time constraints. Provides for the content of the notice.
Proposed constitutional amendment retains present constitution.
Proposed constitutional amendment provides that no local law shall be enacted except by a
bill introduced by a legislator whose district includes the locality where the matter to be
affected is situated, unless there is a vacancy within such a district.
Provides for submission of the proposed amendment to the voters at the statewide election
to be held on November 3, 2026.
(Amends Const. Art. III, §13)
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.