Louisiana voters to decide on 4 constitutional amendments on March 29

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — Voters across Louisiana will decide on four proposed constitutional amendments during the Municipal Primary election on Saturday, March 29. The amendments address specialty courts, tax reforms, juvenile prosecution, and judicial vacancies.

What are the amendments on the March 29 ballot?

Amendment 1 – Specialty Courts and Discipline of Lawyers

This amendment would grant the Louisiana Supreme Court the authority to discipline out-of-state lawyers if they engage in unethical practices in Louisiana. The move is partly in response to predatory lawsuits filed by a Houston-based law firm after Hurricanes Laura and Delta, where some residents were reportedly unaware lawsuits had been filed in their names.

The amendment also seeks to expand the legislature’s ability to create specialty courts. While there are already restrictions tied to specific jurisdictions, the change would allow for broader establishment of specialized courts, such as a business court to handle complex litigation involving securities laws, corporate governance, and antitrust issues.

Opponents say the amendment is too vague and could potentially undermine the authority of some New Orleans judges.

Amendment 2 – Tax and Budget Changes

If approved, this amendment would:

• Lower the maximum state income tax rate.
• Increase tax deductions for residents over 65.
• Limit government spending growth and change how certain state funds operate.
• Require a portion of the state’s budget surpluses to address teacher retirement debt, potentially increasing teacher salaries.
• Keep property tax exemptions, including the homestead exemption and religious organization exemptions, unchanged.

This amendment is seen as a sweeping effort to overhaul the state’s tax system and permanently cut income taxes.

Amendment 3 – Prosecution of Juveniles as Adults for Felony Cases

Currently, Louisiana law allows for juveniles aged 14-16 to be tried as adults for 16 specific felony crimes, most of which are violent offenses. The Louisiana Legislature cannot add to that list without a constitutional amendment.

If passed, this amendment would move the list of felonies out of the state constitution and into statute. This change would make it easier for lawmakers to add or remove offenses from the list, allowing more flexibility in handling juvenile crime.

Supporters want the amendment to cover crimes like sex trafficking, carjacking, and home invasion, which are not currently listed. Opponents argue that most of these crimes are already covered by existing provisions.

While the amendment wouldn’t change the age restriction, which only allows teens 14 and older to be tried as adults, the legislature could amend that law in the future.

Amendment 4 – Special Elections for Judicial Vacancies

Under current law, a special election must be held within a year when there is a new judgeship or judicial vacancy. Until then, the Louisiana Supreme Court appoints someone qualified to serve temporarily.

This amendment proposes a change to ensure vacancies can be filled more efficiently. If a vacancy occurs within 12 months of a scheduled congressional or gubernatorial election, the governor would be required to call a special election on that date.

If no such election is scheduled within a year, the governor would be required to select the next available election date.

Supporters argue the change addresses rare but critical scenarios, such as if a Supreme Court justice dies or resigns before the end of their term. Opponents believe the amendment is unnecessary, claiming the current system is sufficient.

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The amendments cover a wide range of issues, including taxes, judicial processes, and the legal system. Read PAR Louisiana’s constitutional amendment guide for a more in-depth explanation of each amendment. Read the official amendment text here on the Secretary of State’s website.

Voting information:

• Absentee ballots: Ballots must be returned by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, March 28.
• Poll hours: Voting will take place on March 29 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Where to vote: Voters can find their polling place and view a sample ballot on the GeauxVote app or GeauxVote.com.
• Identification required: The Louisiana Secretary of State reminds voters to bring a valid ID to the polls.

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