HB73 • 2026

PUBLIC MEETINGS: Provides for the method of voting in public meetings

Elections

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Tony Bacala
Last action: 2026-05-11
Official status: Subject to call - Senate final passage
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The candidate explanation includes details about electronic voting machines and public display requirements which are implied by the bill but not explicitly stated.

Public Meetings Voting Method

This bill allows members of public bodies to use electronic voting machines during meetings, provided that the votes are publicly displayed.

What This Bill Does

Amends Louisiana law to allow members of a public body to vote using an electronic voting machine in public meetings if it displays how each member voted.

Who It Names or Affects

Members of public bodies who vote during meetings.

Terms To Know

viva voce: A way of voting out loud, so everyone can hear how each person votes.
public document: An official record that anyone can read and see.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill only applies to future meetings and does not affect any lawsuits already in progress.
It is unclear what kind of electronic voting machines will be used or how this change will be implemented.

Bill History

2026-05-11 S
Read by title and returned to the Calendar, subject to call.
2026-05-04 S
Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.
2026-04-29 S
Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
2026-04-28 S
Reported favorably.
2026-04-13 S
Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs.
2026-04-08 S
Received in the Senate. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.
2026-04-08 H
Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 88, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
2026-04-07 H
Scheduled for floor debate on 04/08/2026.
2026-04-01 H
Read by title, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.
2026-03-31 H
Reported favorably (11-0).
2026-03-09 H
Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on House and Governmental Affairs.
2026-02-06 H
First appeared in the Interim Calendar on 2/6/2026.
2026-02-03 H
Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on House and Governmental Affairs.
2026-02-03 H
Prefiled.

Official Summary Text

PUBLIC MEETINGS: Provides for the method of voting in public meetings

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HLS 26RS-231 ENGROSSED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 73
BY REPRESENTATIVES BACALA AND JACKSON
PUBLIC MEETINGS: Provides for the method of voting in public meetings
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 42:14(C), relative to voting in public meetings; to provide for
3 voting by electronic voting machine; to provide for applicability; and to provide for
4 related matters.
5 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 42:14(C) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
7 §14. Meetings of public bodies to be open to the public
8 * * *
9 C.(1) All votes made by members of a public body shall be viva voce and
10 shall be recorded in the minutes, journal, or other official, written proceedings of the
11 body, which shall be a public document.
12 (2) For purposes of this Subsection, members of a public body may also vote
13 by electronic voting machine that publicly displays how each member votes.
14 * * *
15 Section 2. The provisions of this Act shall be given prospective application only and
16 shall not apply to any litigation pending on the effective date of this Act.
Page 1 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
HLS 26RS-231 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 73
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 73 Engrossed 2026 Regular Session Bacala
Abstract: Authorizes the use of electronic voting machines for purposes of voting in public
meetings.
Present law provides that every meeting of any public body shall be open to the public unless
closed pursuant to a present law exception.
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law provides that all votes made by members of a public body in a public meeting
shall be viva voce and shall be recorded in the minutes, journal, or other official, written
proceedings of the body, which shall be a public document.
Proposed law retains present law and further provides that members of a public body may
also vote by electronic voting machine that publicly displays how each member votes.
Proposed law shall be given prospective application only and shall not apply to any pending
litigation.
(Amends R.S. 42:14(C))
Page 2 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.