Changes election dates for the spring 2026 statewide election for submission of proposed constitutional amendments. (Item #1) (gov sig) (EN NO IMPACT See Note)
SB 2 changes the dates on which several proposed constitutional amendments approved during the 2025 Regular Session will be submitted to Louisiana voters. The bill establishes a special statewide election for Saturday, May 16, 2026, and revises the election dates contained in Acts 218, 219, 221, 222, and 223 so that the amendments will appear on that date instead of the previously designated spring 2026 election date. In two instances, the bill preserves a fallback November 3, 2026 election date if House Bill No. 625 does not become effective, but otherwise moves the amendments to the May 16 special election.
The bill also repeals Act No. 212 of the 2025 Regular Session in its entirety. It does not change the substance of the constitutional amendments themselves; rather, it adjusts the timing and administration of the statewide election at which voters will consider them. The act is effective upon gubernatorial signature or other standard enactment procedures under the Louisiana Constitution.
The bill’s practical impact is on election scheduling and the implementation of constitutional amendment referenda in Louisiana. It affects the Secretary of State, election officials, and voters by consolidating or rescheduling the submission of multiple proposed amendments to a special statewide election, and it supersedes prior statutory election dates set in the earlier acts.
The general sentiment appears to have been favorable enough for passage in both chambers, though not unanimous. SB 2 passed the Senate 27-9 and the House 72-28, indicating meaningful support but also a notable minority of opposition. No committee transcript is available, so the record does not show detailed debate, but the vote margins suggest the main issue was likely the election-date change itself rather than the underlying constitutional amendments.
The primary point of contention is the shift in timing for the constitutional amendment election, including the use of a special election date and the repeal of one prior act. The bill’s references to House Bill No. 625 also suggest some amendments were tied to whether that separate bill became effective, which may have added uncertainty or disagreement about the proper election date and sequencing.
SB 2 amends multiple 2025 acts that scheduled proposed constitutional amendments for statewide submission, replacing earlier April 18, 2026 dates with a special statewide election on May 16, 2026, and in two cases preserving a November 3, 2026 fallback if House Bill No. 625 does not become effective. It repeals Act No. 212 entirely. The bill affects Louisiana election administration and the timing of constitutional amendment referenda, but it does not alter the substance of the amendments themselves.
The bill appears to have received moderate-to-strong support overall, passing both chambers with clear majorities but not by unanimous or near-unanimous margins. The Senate approved it 27-9 and the House 72-28, suggesting some disagreement but broad acceptance of the need to reschedule the election. With no committee transcript available, the public record mainly reflects the final votes rather than detailed debate.
The main contention is the rescheduling of the statewide election for proposed constitutional amendments, especially the move to a special election date and the repeal of one prior act. Another likely point of disagreement is the conditional timing tied to House Bill No. 625, which creates alternate election dates for some amendments depending on whether that separate bill becomes law. Opposition likely centered on process, timing, and election logistics rather than the content of the amendments themselves.