Louisiana special session starts: What to know about election-related bills

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — A Louisiana special legislative session starts Thursday afternoon for lawmakers to address several election-related bills.

The session is scheduled to end on Nov. 13. Lawmakers will consider six bills, four House bills and two Senate bills, related to the election code, dates, deadlines and plans ahead of the 2026 election cycle.

Here’s what to know about bills.

House Bill 1

HB 1 proposes moving the upcoming spring election dates. The proposal includes moving the spring primary election from April 18, 2026, to May 16, 2026, and the spring general election from May 30, 2026, to June 27, 2026.

Another proposal in the bill would move the candidate qualifying period from January to February, which would open on Feb. 11, 2026.

Senate Bill 1 serves as a companion bill to HB 1.

House Bill 2

HB 2 would change the date that proposed constitutional amendments are presented to voters from April 18, 2026, to May 16, 2026.

Senate Bill 2 serves as a companion bill to HB 2.

House Bill 3

HB 3 proposes lowering qualifying fees for state candidates. The bill aims to lower the qualifying fee in a 2026 primary election from $1,500 to $600 for U.S. representative candidates and from $3,500 to $600 for U.S. senator candidates.

House Bill 4

HB 4 addresses fall elections for party primary offices in the 2026 election cycle. The bill proposes that the 2026 fall primary and general elections serve as the election date for a party primary office, with the candidate who receives the most votes cast for the office elected.

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