HB 446 — ELECTIONS/BOND & TAX: (Constitutional Amendment) Provides for eligible election dates for bond and tax elections (RE SEE FISC NOTE LF EX)

HLS 26RS-949 ENGROSSEDREENGROSSED Regular Session HOUSE BILL NO.

(Constitutional Amendment) Provides for eligible election dates for bond and tax elections A JOINT RESOLUTION Proposing to amend Article VI, Section 22 of the Constitution of Louisiana and to repeal Article VI, Section 30(B) of the Constitution of Louisiana, relative to the procedureforcertainspecialelections;toprovideforlocalgovernmentbondandtaxprocedure forcertainspecialelections;to provideforlocalgovernmentbondandtax elections, parcel fee elections, and gaming elections;

to provide thatfor localsuch government bond and tax elections maybeto be held only duringaregularlyscheduledprimaryelection;toauthorizethelegislaturetoduring providea forregularly ascheduled specialopen primary election;

to repeal provisions prohibiting a political subdivision from submitting the same tax proposition to the electorate more than once in a six month period except in the case of an emergency;

to authorize the legislature to provide for a special election;

BeitresolvedbytheLegislatureofLouisiana,two-thirdsofthemembersBeit resolvedbytheLegislatureofLouisiana,two-thirdsofthemembers elected to each house concurring, that there shall be submitted to the electors of the state of Louisiana, for their approval or rejection in the manner provided by law, a proposal to amend Article VI, Section 22 of the Constitution of Louisiana, to read as follows:

Procedure for Certain Special Elections Section 22.(A) When an election isrequiredinis arequiredin politicalapolitical subdivision under the provisions of this constitution which require submission to the electors of a proposition or question, the election shall be called, conducted, and the returns thereof canvassed, in accordancewith the procedures established bythe law then in effect pertaining to elections for incurring bonded indebtedness and special taxes relative to local finance, or as maybe otherwise provided by law.

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HLS 26RS-949 ENGROSSEDREENGROSSED HB NO.

446 (B) When an election is required in a political subdivision under the provisionsofthisconstitutionorotherlawregardingbondedindebtednessorspecial taxes relative to local finance, a fee imposed within a special district, the primary purposeofwhichis providedforin Article III, Section13(B)ofthis Constitution, or gaming, gambling, or wagering, the election may be held only during a regularly scheduledprimaryelection.scheduled open primary election.

AspecialelectionmaybeauthorizedbylawenactedbyThe legislature may provide by law enacted by two-thirds of the elected members of each house of the legislature.legislature for the calling of special elections in the case of emergency.

SectionSection2. 2.

BeBeitresolvedbytheLegislatureofLouisiana,two-thirdsofthemembers itelected furtherto resolvedeach thathouse thisconcurring, proposedthat amendmentthere shall be submitted to the electors of the state of LouisianaLouisiana,fortheirapprovalorrejectioninthemannerprovidedbylaw,aproposaltorepeal atArticle theVI, statewideSection election30(B) toof bethe heldConstitution onof NovemberLouisiana. 3, 2026.

Be it further resolved that this proposed amendment shall become effective on January 1, 2029.

Section 4.

Be it further resolved that this proposed amendment shall be submitted to the electors of the state of Louisiana at the statewide election to be held on November 3, 2026.

Section 5.

Do you support an amendment to require that anylocal bond or tax election, parcel fee election, or gaming election beheldonlyduringaregularlyscheduledprimaryelection?(AmendsArticlebe VI,held Sectiononly 22)during DIGESTa ThedigestprintedbelowwaspreparedbyHouseLegislativeregularly Services.scheduled open primary election and to repeal the prohibition against a political subdivision submitting the same tax proposition to the electorate more than once in a six month period except in the case of an emergency? (Amends Article VI, Section 22;

ItconstitutesRepeals nopartArticle ofVI, theSection legislative30(B)) instrument.Page 2 of 4 CODING:

Wordsinstruckthroughtypearedeletionsfromexistinglaw;wordsunderscored are additions.

HLS 26RS-949 REENGROSSED HB NO.

446 DIGEST ThedigestprintedbelowwaspreparedbyHouseLegislative Services.

It constitutes nopart of the legislative instrument.

1:13(B) and 24:177(E)] HB 446 EngrossedReengrossed 2026 Regular Session Boyer Abstract:

Provides that local taxtax, bond, parcel fee, and bondgaming elections maymaybe be held only duringduringaregularlyscheduledopenprimaryelection,exceptasotherwiseprovidedby a regularly scheduled primary election, except as otherwise provided by law enacted by two-two-thirds thirds vote of the legislature.

VI, §22) provides that when an election is required in a political subdivisionundertheprovisionsoftheconstitutionwhichrequiresubmissiontotheelectors of a proposition or question, the election shall be called, conducted, and the returns thereof canvassed,inaccordancewiththeproceduresestablishedbythelawthenineffectpertaining to elections for incurringbonded indebtedness and special taxes relative to local finance,orfinance, or as may be otherwise provided by law.

PageProposed 2constitutional amendment provides that when anelectionis requiredin a political subdivision under the provisions of 3present CODING:constitution or other law regarding bonded indebtedness or special taxes relative to local finance, a parcel fee,or gaming, gambling, or wagering, theelectionmaybeheldonlyduringaregularlyscheduledopenprimaryelection.

Wordsinstruckthroughtypearedeletionsfromexistinglaw;wordsunderscoredFurtherprovidesthatthelegislaturemayprovidebylawenactedbytwo-thirdsoftheelected aremembers additions.of each house of the legislature for the calling of special elections in cases of emergency.

HLSPresentconstitution 26RS-949(Art.VI,§30(B))providesthatnopoliticalsubdivisionshallsubmit ENGROSSEDthe HBsame NO.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.

446 Proposed constitutional amendment providesthatwhenanelectionrepeals is requiredin a political subdivision under the provisions of present constitutionconstitution. or other law regarding bonded indebtedness or special taxes relative to local finance, the election maybe held only during a regularly scheduled primary election.

Further provides that a special election may be authorized by law enacted by two-thirds of the elected members of each house of the legislature.

Effective January 1, 2029.

VI, §22)§22; Page 3 of 3 CODING:

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.