Bill
HB 1131
HB 1131 strengthens voter list maintenance by ensuring transparency, banning removals for nonvoting alone, and requiring notices, audits, and a new Voter Data Transparency Task For
HB 1131 (Louisiana, 2026 Regular Session)
Summary for readers
Purpose and intent
- The bill overhauls voter registration list maintenance in Louisiana. Its core aims are to modernize how inactive registrants are identified, reduce the risk of improper cancellations, increase transparency in data practices, improve notices to voters, and establish a formal advisory mechanism (the Louisiana Voter Data Transparency Task Force) to review and report on list maintenance and data-sharing practices.
- Key themes: stricter timing for inactivity processes, prohibition on cancellations based on nonvoting or inactivity alone, enhanced notification requirements, greater public reporting, and increased oversight of data transfers to federal agencies.
Main provisions and changes
1) Transmission of voter data to federal agencies (new R.S. 18:32)
- Secretary of State may not transmit sensitive voter data to a federal agency unless:
- Required by federal law or court order, or
- Provided for in a written intergovernmental agreement posted on the SOS website at least 30 days prior to transmission.
- Notices to affected voters at least 30 days before transmission by mail, email, SMS (if available), and automated call (if available), including:
- Receiving agency, purpose, data categories, and how to seek clarification or contest the transmission.
- If immediate transmission is required by court order or federal directive, notice within 30 days after transmission (unless prohibited).
2) Definition of sensitive voter data (R.S. 18:32, §20)
- Personal data not publicly available, such as:
- Social Security numbers (full or partial), driver’s license numbers, dates of birth, protected residential addresses, contact information, and identifiable voting history.
3) Voter status notification system (new R.S. 18:33)
- SOS must establish a statewide automatic notification system for:
- Address confirmation requirements
- Placement on the inactive list
- Risk of cancellation
- Actual cancellation of registration
- Notification methods: mail, email, SMS, and automated calls.
- Timelines:
- Initial notice within 5 business days of event
- Second notice within 30 days
- Third notice not less than 60 days before cancellation
- Cancellation allowed only after at least 90 days from initial notice
- Voters receive simple instructions to update or verify registration online, by mail, or in person.
4) Louisiana Voter Data Transparency Task Force (new R.S. 18:34)
- Structure and membership:
- SOS or designee; gubernatorial appointee; appointee from the House; appointee from the Senate; two party representatives (per party with >1,000 registered voters); one nonpartisan representative from League of Women Voters; one data privacy expert from ACLU of Louisiana; one civil rights attorney from Power Coalition for Equity and Justice; one parish registrar of voters.
- Operations:
- First task force organizational meeting by Sept 15, 2026; quarterly meetings; annual report due Feb 1 each year to House and Senate Governmental Affairs committees.
- Quorum and majority-vote requirements; members serve without salary (may receive per diem/expenses); SOS provides staff support.
5) Voter list maintenance practices (amended R.S. 18:193, 195, 196; new R.S. 18:202)
- List maintenance to be performed uniformly and nondiscriminatory, in line with state and federal law.
- Safeguards:
- No cancellations or inactive-list placement solely for failure to vote or inactivity.
- No removals based on party affiliation, changes in party, or nonaffiliation; equal treatment across parties and voters.
- Prohibition on systematic removal activities within 90 days of a fall election.
6) Annual and quarterly reporting (R.S. 18:203)
- Secretary of State must publish quarterly, searchable reports on:
- Total registered voters
- Total voters on the inactive list
- Total cancellations during the period
- Cancellations broken down by parish, reason, party affiliation (including unaffiliated), gender, and race
7) Legislative auditor oversight (R.S. 24:513(D)(9))
- The Legislative Auditor must conduct an annual compliance audit of voter list maintenance procedures and report findings to the Legislature.
8) Repeal of annual canvass requirement (repeals R.S. 18:192(B))
- The current annual canvass to identify and move voters to inactive status is repealed.
Affected parties and practical impact
Timeline and procedural notes
Overall assessment
HB 1131 seeks to strengthen transparency, standards, and fairness in voter list maintenance, reduce the risk of improper cancellations, and increase voter awareness of their status and registration. It imposes careful safeguards on data sharing with federal agencies and creates a formal oversight mechanism to review and report on maintenance practices.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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