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HB 446

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

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Chad Boyer

Requires local bond/tax elections to be held only during regularly scheduled primaries, with a two-thirds legislative override to allow a special election.

Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs.
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Bill Summary · HB 446

Legislative Bill Summary – HB 446 (2026, Louisiana)

Title

ELECTIONS/BOND & TAX: (Constitutional Amendment) Provides for eligible election dates for bond and tax elections

What this bill does (Purpose and intent)

  • Proposes a constitutional amendment to Article VI, Section 22 of the Louisiana Constitution.
  • Establishes that local government bond and tax elections may be held only during a regularly scheduled primary election, with an exception: a special election may be authorized by law enacted by a two-thirds vote of both chambers of the Legislature.
  • The amendment aims to standardize the timing of bond and tax elections, potentially limiting such elections to primary election dates unless a special override is enacted.

Key provisions and changes

  • Section 22(A): Retains the existing framework for how elections on bonded indebtedness and local finance-related propositions are called, conducted, and canvassed, according to the law then in effect or as otherwise provided by law.
  • Section 22(B): Adds the main restriction that, for bond or tax elections, the vote may be held only during a regularly scheduled primary election. It also clarifies that a special election can be authorized by law enacted with two-thirds approval in both houses of the Legislature.
  • Section 2: The amendment is to be submitted to voters at the statewide election on November 3, 2026.
  • Section 3: Ballot language for the November 2026 election asks voters to approve: “Do you support an amendment to require that any local bond or tax election beheld only during a regularly scheduled primary election? (Amends Article VI, Section 22).”
  • The amendment retains the overall structure of the current constitution but adds the primary-election timing requirement and the two-thirds legislative override mechanism for special elections.

Who/what is affected

  • Local governments in Louisiana that issue bonds or raise taxes through ballot measures.
  • Elections governed under Article VI, Section 22 (bonded indebtedness and local finance-related taxes).
  • The Legislature would have the authority to override the primary-election constraint via a two-thirds vote to schedule a special election.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Constitutional amendment proposal to be put to voters on November 3, 2026.
  • If approved, the change would apply going forward to eligible bond and tax elections, with the potential for a legislatively authorized special election (two-thirds vote of both houses).
  • The bill contains standard procedural steps for constitutional amendments: two-thirds concurrence in both houses, submission to voters, and publication of ballot language.

Additional notes

  • The bill preserves the existing framework for how bond and tax elections are conducted but restricts timing to regularly scheduled primary elections unless overridden by the Legislature.
  • This could affect planning and timing for local finance measures, debt issuance, and tax-related propositions, potentially influencing voter turnout dynamics and election logistics.

If you’d like, I can provide a side-by-side comparison with the current constitutional language or a budgetary impact note based on typical bond/tax election frequencies.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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