ELECTION DAYS: Provides for local bond and tax elections to be held only during a primary election

HLS 26RS-951 ENGROSSED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 534
BY REPRESENTATIVE BOYER
ELECTION DAYS: Provides for local bond and tax elections to be held only during a
primary election
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 18:402(F), relative to the dates of bond and tax elections; to
3 provide for bond and tax elections to be held only during a primary election; to
4 provide for effectiveness; and to provide for related matters.
5 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 18:402(F) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
7 §402. Dates of primary and general elections; prohibited election days
8 * * *
9 F. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, every Every
10 bond, or tax, or other election at which a proposition or question is to be submitted
11 to the voters shall be held only on an a primary election date established in
12 Subsections B, C, and D of this Section in accordance with Article VI, Section 22 of
13 the Constitution of Louisiana. Every other election at which a proposition or
14 question is to be submitted to the voters shall be held only on an election date
15 established in Subsection B, C, or D of this Section. However, the sixth Saturday
16 after the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of any congressional
17 election year shall not be applicable in a parish containing a municipality with a
18 population of three hundred thousand or more for an election relative to a parcel fee
19 imposed within a security or neighborhood improvement district. For purposes of
20 this Subsection, "security or neighborhood improvement district" means a special
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-951 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 534
1 district, one of the primary purposes of which is aiding in crime prevention and
2 adding to the security of district residents by providing for an increased presence of
3 law enforcement personnel in the district or otherwise promoting and encouraging
4 security in the district.
5 * * *
6 Section 2. This Act shall take effect and become operative if and when the proposed
7 amendment of Article VI, Section 22 of the Constitution of Louisiana contained in the Act
8 which originated as House Bill No. 446 of this 2026 Regular Session of the Legislature is
9 adopted at a statewide election and becomes effective.
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 534 Engrossed 2026 Regular Session Boyer
Abstract: Provides that bond or tax elections shall be held only during a regularly
scheduled primary election.
Present law provides that every bond, tax, or other election at which a proposition or
question is to be submitted to the voters shall be held only on the regularly scheduled spring
or fall election dates.
Proposed law retains present law as it applies to elections at which a proposition or question
is to be submitted to the voters. However, proposed law provides that bond or tax elections
shall be held only on the regularly scheduled primary election dates.
Effective if and when the proposed amendment of Article VI, Section 22 of the Constitution
of La. contained in the Act which originated as House Bill No. 446 of this 2026 R.S. of the
Legislature is adopted at a statewide election and becomes effective.
(Amends R.S. 18:402(F))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on House and
Governmental Affairs to the original bill:
1. Make technical changes.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.