Louisiana 2026 Regular Session Status: Passed House 1 R cosponsors

HB 906 — ELECTIONS/CANDIDATES: Provides for nominating petitions and party primary elections

Last action — Rules suspended.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has passed the House. Introduced February 27, 2026. It now moves to the second chamber.

Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the Senate.

Odds of enactment

Moderate chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a moderate chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 48% · moderate confidence

  • Passed House

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (1 R).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 1 recorded vote so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

In plain language

This bill outlines processes for nominating petitions and party primary elections.

The bill specifies how candidates can be nominated and the procedures for holding party primary elections. It aims to clarify the rules and processes involved in these election-related aspects.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

183 added · 36 removed

Plain-language change summary

The latest version of Bill HB 906 introduces significant changes regarding party primary elections. It allows voters who are not affiliated with any political party to participate in major party primaries, provided the party's bylaws permit it. This is important because it could increase voter participation and engagement by giving unaffiliated voters a voice in party nominations, potentially leading to more representative outcomes in elections. Additionally, the bill revises requirements for nominating petitions for presidential candidates, now requiring fewer signatures, which may make it easier for candidates to qualify.

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HLS 26RS-1154 ORIGINAL Regular Session HOUSE BILL NO.
HLS 26RS-1154 ENGROSSED Regular Session HOUSE BILL NO.
Provides for the nominating petition for presidential candidates AN ACT ToamendandreenactR.S.18:1280.22(A)and(B)(3)(b),relativetonominatingpetitionsfor candidates for presidential nominee;
Provides for nominating petitions and party primary elections AN ACT To amend and reenact R.S.
to provide for the required number of signatures;
18:410.3, 445.1, 521(B)(1), 1280.21, and 1280.22(A) and (B)(3)(b), relative to elections;
to provide for requirementsfor voters who sign the nominating petition;
to provide relative to party primary elections;
to provide relative to participation byunaffiliated voters in party primaryelections;
to authorize a major political party to allow for participation by unaffiliated voters;
to provide for notification to the Department of State;
to provide for nominating petitionsforcandidatesforpresidentialnominee;toprovidefortherequirednumber of signatures;
to provide for requirements for voters who sign the nominating petition;
to provide for effectiveness;
18:1280.22(A) and (B)(3)(b) are herebyamended and reenacted to read as follows:
18:410.3, 445.1, 521(B)(1), 1280.21, and 1280.22(A) and (B)(3)(b) are herebyamended and reenacted to read as follows:
§410.3.
Purpose and nature of partyprimary elections A.
For general elections, major political parties shall make all nominations of candidates for party primary office by direct primary elections held pursuant to this Part.
In party primary elections, each voter voting in such election may vote onlyfora candidatewho is affiliated with the same partyas thevoter.
However,the statecentralcommitteeofamajorpolitical partymayin itsbylawsallowvoterswho are not affiliated with a political partyto participate in its party primary elections.
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HLS 26RS-1154 ENGROSSED HB NO.
906 B.(1) Voters not affiliated with a political party may vote in a major party primary if a party primary ballot is selected by the voter prior to casting his ballot, but such a voter may vote only in one major party primary.
If an unaffiliated voter chooses to vote in the first partyprimaryof onepolitical party,theunaffiliatedvoter shallnotvoteinthesecondpartyprimaryofanotherpoliticalparty.
Thestatecentral committee of a major political partyshall notifytheDepartmentofStateatleast one hundredeightydays priortotheopeningofqualifyingforthefirstpartyprimarythat its bylaws allow for participation by voters not affiliated with a political party.
The notificationshallbeconsideredvalidwhenthestatecentralcommitteesubmitstothe Department of State a letter, on the major political party's letterhead and signed by the state central committee's chairman, and a copy of the major political party's current bylaws.
(2) If the state central committee of a major political party prohibits an unaffiliated voter from participating in its primary elections, the state central committee of such party shall notify the Department of State at least one hundred eightydays priorto theopeningofqualifyingforthefirstpartyprimarythatthestate central committee prohibits participation by voters not affiliated with a political party.
The notification shall be considered valid when the state central committee submits to the Department of State a letter, on the major political party's letterhead and signed by the state central committee's chairman, and a copy of the major political party's current bylaws.
C.
Anunaffiliatedvoterwhoisallowedtoparticipateintheprimaryelection ofamajorpoliticalpartypursuantto SubsectionBofthisSectionmayvoteifaparty primaryballotisselectedbythevoterpriortocastinghisballot,butsuchavotermay vote only in one major partyprimary.
If an unaffiliated voter chooses to vote in the first party primary of one major political party, the unaffiliated voter shall not vote in the second party primary of another major political party.
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HLS 26RS-1154 ENGROSSED HB NO.
906 §445.1.
Political party committees;
election A.
Notwithstanding any other provision in this Part, if the presidential preferenceprimaryisrepealed,allelectionsformembersofastatecentralcommittee or a parish executive committee of a recognized political party shall occur at the same time as the statewide presidential general election.
B.
If the state central committee of a major political party notifies the Department of State that voters not affiliated with a political party may choose to participate in its primary elections pursuant to R.S.
18:410.3(B), such notification shall also allow unaffiliated voters to choose to participate in elections for the state central committee and parish executive committee of the major political party.
Any voterwhoisnotaffiliatedwithanypoliticalpartyandwhoisallowedtocasthisvote on the ballot of a major political party shall cast his vote on the ballot for only one major political party.
* * * §521.
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Qualifications of voters * * * B.
Candidates for partyoffice.
(1) Inaprimaryorgeneralelection at which members of a political party committee are voted on, onlyqualified voters who are registered as being affiliated with the same political party as the candidates for membership on a political partycommitteemayvote on such candidates.
However, thestatecentralcommitteeofamajorpoliticalpartyasdefinedinR.S.18:410.1may allowinitsbylawsvoterswhoarenotaffiliatedwithanypoliticalpartytoparticipate in an election at which members of a political party committee are voted on.
The secretary of state shall adjust the voting machines so that the candidates for membership on a political partycommittee mayonly be voted on byvoters who are registered as being affiliated with the same political party as the candidates, unless provided for otherwise by a state central committee.
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HLS 26RS-1154 ENGROSSED HB NO.
906 §1280.21.
Presidential preference primaryelection A.
A statewide presidential preferenceprimaryelection shall be held on the last Saturday in March in 2024 and every fourth year thereafter for the purpose of allowing the electors voters of each political party in the state which has forty thousand or more registered members to express their preference fora person to be the nominee of the party for president of the United States.
B.
Each elector voter voting in such election may vote only for a candidate who is affiliated with the same party as the elector voter.
C.
If the state central committee of a major political partyas defined in R.S.
18:410.1 notifies the Department of State that voters not affiliated with a political partymay choose to participate in its party primaries pursuant to R.S.
18:410.3(B), such notification shall also allow unaffiliated voters to chose to participate in the statewide presidential preferenceprimaryelection of the major political party.
Any voterwhoisnotaffiliatedwithanypoliticalpartyandwhoisallowedtocasthisvote on the ballot of a major political party shall cast his vote on the ballot of only one major political party.
Prior to qualification as a candidate of a political party for presidential nominee, a person shall pay a qualifying fee of one thousand dollars and anyadditionalfeesasauthorizedbyR.S.
Prior to qualification as a candidate of a political party for presidential nominee, a person shall pay a qualifying fee of one thousanddollarsandanyadditional fees as authorizedbyR.S.
18:464(B)(5)and(C) or shall have obtained a nominating petition, bearing the handwritten signatures of no less than one thousand two thousand five hundred registered voters affiliated with the party, not less than two hundred fifty of which shall be from each of the congressional districts into which the state is divided.
18:464(B)(5)and(C) or shall have obtained a nominating petition, bearing the handwritten signatures of nolessthanonethousandtwothousandfivehundredregisteredvotersaffiliatedwith the party, not less than two hundred fifty of which shall be from each of the congressional districts into which the state is divided.
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HLS 26RS-1154 ORIGINAL HB NO.
HLS 26RS-1154 ENGROSSED HB NO.
* * * DIGEST ThedigestprintedbelowwaspreparedbyHouseLegislative Services.
* * * Section 2.
This Act shall become effective January 1, 2027.
DIGEST ThedigestprintedbelowwaspreparedbyHouseLegislative Services.
1:13(B) and 24:177(E)] HB 906 Original 2026 Regular Session Billings Abstract:
1:13(B) and 24:177(E)] HB 906 Engrossed 2026 Regular Session Billings Abstract:
Provides for the required number of signatures for a nominating petition for a presidential nominee and provides for the required information to be included with a voter's signature on a nominating petition.
Providesfornominatingpetitions for presidentialnomineeandforparticipation in party primary elections by unaffiliated voters.
18:1280.22(A) provides the manner in which a candidate for presidential nominee shall qualify.
18:410.3) provides that political parties make all nominations of candidatesforpartyprimaryofficebydirectprimaryelections.
Provides that a candidate, prior to qualifying, shall either pay a qualifying fee of $1,000 or shall have obtained a nominating petition, bearing the handwritten signatures of no less than 1,000 registered voters affiliated with the partyfrom each congressional district.
Providesthateachvotermay vote only for a candidate who is affiliated with the same partyas the voter.
Proposed law retains present law.
Presentlawprovidesthatvotersnotaffiliatedwithapoliticalpartymayvoteinamajorparty primaryif a partyprimaryballot is selected bythe voter prior to casting his ballot, but such a voter may vote only in one major party primary.
Proposed law repeals present law and provides that a state central committee of a major political party may, through its bylaws, allow unaffiliated voters to participate in its party primary elections.
Provides that a state central committee of a major political party shall notifytheDept.ofStateatleast180dayspriortotheopeningofqualifyingforthefirst party primarythat its bylaws either alloworprohibit participationbyvoterswhoarenot affiliated with a political party.
Present law (R.S.
18:445.1) provides that if the presidential preferenceprimaryis repealed, all elections for members of a state central committee or a parish executive committee of a recognized political partyshall occur at the same time as the statewide presidential general election.
Proposed law retains present law and provides that if a state central committee of a major politicalpartyallowsunaffiliatedvoterstoparticipateinitspartyprimaryelections,thenthe unaffiliatedvotersarealsoallowedtoparticipateinelectionsforthestatecentralcommittee and parish executive committee elections.
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HLS 26RS-1154 ENGROSSED HB NO.
906 Present law (R.S.
18:521(B)) provides that in a primary or general election at which members of a political party committee are voted on, only qualified voters who are registered as beingaffiliatedwith the same political partyas the candidatesfor membership on a political partycommittee mayvote on such candidates.
Requires the secretaryof state to adjust the voting machines so that the candidates for membership on a political party committee may only be voted on by voters who are registered as being affiliated with the same political party.
Proposed law retains present law and provides that a state central committee of a major political party may, through its bylaws, allow unaffiliated voters to participate in its party committee elections.
Presentlaw(R.S.18:1280.21)providesforwhenastatewidepresidentialpreferenceprimary election is to be held.
Provides that each voter voting in such election may vote only for a candidate who is affiliated with the same partyas the voter.
Proposed law retains present law and provides that if a state central committee of a major politicalparty,throughitbylaws,allowsunaffiliatedvoterstoparticipateinitspartyprimary elections, then the unaffiliated voters shall also be allowed to vote in the statewide presidential preference primaryelection.
Present law (R.S.
18:1280.22(A)) provides for the manner in which a candidate for presidentialnomineeshallqualify.
Providesthatacandidate,priortoqualifying,shalleither pay a qualifying fee of $1,000 or shall have obtained a nominating petition bearing the handwritten signatures of no less than 1,000 registered voters affiliated with the partyfrom each congressional district.
Otherwise retains present law.
Provides for what is to be included within the nominating petition.
Provides for what is to be included in the nominating petition.
Presentlawprovidesthateachvoter who signs anominatingpetition shall includehis name and residence address.
Present lawprovidesthateachvoterwhosigns anominatingpetition shall include his name and residence address.
Furtherprovidesthatonceavoterhassignedanominatingpetitionhemaynot withdrawthe nomination.
Furtherprovidesthatonceavoterhassignedanominatingpetition hemaynotwithdrawthe nomination.
Effective January 1, 2027.
18:1280.22(A) and (B)(3)(b)) Page 2 of 2 CODING:
18:410.3, 445.1, 521(B)(1), 1280.21, and 1280.22(A) and (B)(3)(b)) Summary of Amendments Adopted by House The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs to the original bill:
1.
Add language givingtheabilityforastatecentralcommittee of a major political party to allow, through its bylaws, unaffiliated voters to participate in its party Page 6 of 7 CODING:
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HLS 26RS-1154 ENGROSSED HB NO.
906 primaryelectionsandprovidethatunaffiliatedvoterscanonlyvoteinonemajor political party's primary elections, if allowed.
2.
Require a state central committee to notify the Dept.
of State if it allows or prohibits unaffiliated voters from participating in its party primary elections.
3.
Provide that if a state central committee allows unaffiliated voters to participate in its party primary elections, then the unaffiliated voters shall also be allowed to participate in the elections for the state central committee, parish executive committee, and the statewide presidential preference primary.
4.
Make technical changes.
5.
Add effective date of Jan.
1, 2027.
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Amendments

2 amendments

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Action History

  1. Rules suspended.

  2. Read by title and returned to the Calendar, subject to call.

  3. Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments. Read by title and passed to third reading and final passage.

  4. Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.

  5. Reported favorably.

  6. Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs.

  7. Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 67, nays 19. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

  8. Received in the Senate. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.

  9. Read by title, amended, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.

  10. Scheduled for floor debate on 04/29/2026.

  11. Reported with amendments (11-0).

  12. Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on House and Governmental Affairs.

  13. Prefiled.

  14. Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on House and Governmental Affairs.

  15. First appeared in the Interim Calendar on 2/27/2026.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 146 not signed on · 19 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (146)

146 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 146 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

FINAL PASSAGE (#824)

Passed 67 Yea · 19 Nay · 19 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 15906
Republican 4710011
Unaffiliated 5002
Total 6719019
% of votes cast 64%18%0%18%
How each member voted (105)
Member Party Vote
Amedee — Yea
Galle — Yea
Stagni — Yea
Mr. Speaker — Not Voting
Johnson, T. — Not Voting
Landry, T. — Yea
St. Blanc — Yea
Adrian Fisher Democrat Yea
Aimee Adatto Freeman Democrat Not Voting
Alonzo L. Knox Democrat Not Voting
Barbara Carpenter Democrat Yea
C. Denise Marcelle Democrat Nay
Candace N. Newell Democrat Nay
Chasity Martinez Democrat Nay
Dana Henry Democrat Yea
Delisha Boyd Democrat Yea
Ed Murray Democrat Not Voting
Edmond Jordan Democrat Nay
Gerald Boudreaux Democrat Yea
III, Ed Larvadain Democrat Yea
Joy Walters Democrat Yea
Jr., Kyle M. Green Democrat Yea
Ken Brass Democrat Nay
Mandie Landry Democrat Nay
Marcus Anthony Bryant Democrat Nay
Pat Moore Democrat Yea
Rashid Armand Young Democrat Not Voting
Robby Carter Democrat Yea
Rodney Lyons Democrat Yea
Roy Daryl Adams Democrat Yea
Shaun Raphael Mena Democrat Nay
Sr., Wilford Carter Democrat Yea
Steven Jackson Democrat Not Voting
Sylvia Elaine Taylor Democrat Yea
Tammy T. Phelps Democrat Yea
Tehmi Jahi Chassion Democrat Not Voting
Vanessa Caston LaFleur Democrat Nay
Annie Spell Republican Yea
Barbara Reich Freiberg Republican Nay
Beth Anne Billings Republican Yea
Brett F. Geymann Republican Not Voting
Brian Leonard Glorioso Republican Yea
Bryan Fontenot Republican Yea
Chad Michael Boyer Republican Yea
Chance Keith Henry Republican Nay
Christopher Turner Republican Yea
Danny McCormick Republican Yea
Daryl Andrew Deshotel Republican Yea
Debbie Villio Republican Nay
Dixon Wallace McMakin Republican Yea
Dodie Horton Republican Yea
Emily Chenevert Republican Yea
Foy Bryan Gadberry Republican Yea
Francis C. Thompson Republican Not Voting
Gregory A. Miller Republican Nay
III, Roger William Wilder Republican Yea
III, Vincent E. Cox Republican Nay
IV, Gerald "Beau" Beaullieu Republican Yea
Jack McFarland Republican Yea
Jacob Braud Republican Yea
Jacob Jules Landry Republican Yea
Jason Brian DeWitt Republican Yea
Jeffrey "Jeff" Fons Wiley Republican Yea
Jeremy LaCombe Republican Not Voting
Jerome Zeringue Republican Not Voting
Jessica Domangue Republican Yea
John E. Wyble Republican Yea
Joseph A. Orgeron Republican Yea
Josh Carlson Republican Not Voting
Jr., Dennis Bamburg Republican Yea
Jr., John R. Illg Republican Yea
Jr., Michael Robert Bayham Republican Yea
Kathy Edmonston Republican Nay
Kellee Hennessy Dickerson Republican Not Voting
Kim Carver Republican Yea
Kimberly Landry Coates Republican Yea
Larry A. Bagley Republican Not Voting
Lauren Ventrella Republican Yea
Laurie Schlegel Republican Nay
Les Farnum Republican Not Voting
Mark Wright Republican Not Voting
Michael "Gabe" Firment Republican Yea
Michael Charles Echols Republican Yea
Michael Melerine Republican Yea
Mike Johnson Republican Yea
Neil Riser Republican Yea
Nicholas Muscarello Republican Yea
Paul Sawyer Republican Nay
Phillip Eric Tarver Republican Not Voting
Polly Thomas Republican Nay
R. Dewith Carrier Republican Yea
Raymond J. Crews Republican Yea
Reese "Skip" Broussard Republican Yea
Rhonda Gaye Butler Republican Not Voting
Robert "Bob" Owen Republican Yea
Rodney Schamerhorn Republican Yea
Ryan Bourriaque Republican Yea
Shane Mack Republican Yea
Sr., Peter F. Egan Republican Yea
Stephanie H. Berault Republican Yea
Stephanie Hilferty Republican Nay
Timothy P. Kerner Republican Yea
Tony Bacala Republican Yea
Troy Jude Hebert Republican Yea
Wayne McMahen Republican Yea

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Subjects

elections
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 906?
HB 906 is sponsored by Beth Anne Billings (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 906?
This bill has passed the House. Introduced February 27, 2026. It now moves to the second chamber.
Where can I track HB 906?
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