REGISTRARS OF VOTERS: Adjusts compensation schedule for Registrar of Voters. (7/1/26) (EN +$496,168 GF EX See Note)
Summary
SB 25 revises Louisiana law governing the compensation of parish registrars of voters, their chief deputies, and confidential assistants. It updates the salary tables tied to parish population ranges and step levels, and it preserves the merit-evaluation system under which employees rated “excellent” may advance to the next step, with additional five percent increases available after remaining at step ten for more than twelve months, subject to a cap on the number of such increases.
The bill also changes how often those salaries may be adjusted for population changes. Instead of allowing ongoing adjustments based on population updates, the Department of State is prohibited from changing annual salaries for registrars, chief deputies, and confidential assistants except once every ten years, one year after receipt of the federal census. The bill further amends Louisiana’s Senate district statute to redraw Districts 33, 34, and 35 using specified precinct lists, with the precinct boundaries tied to the Legislature’s 2026 precinct shapefiles and related redistricting data. It includes transition language stating that the redistricting changes do not shorten current officeholders’ terms, but future appointments and elections must follow the new district descriptions.
Impact
SB 25 directly amends Title 18 compensation provisions for registrars of voters and their staff, increasing the salary schedules and limiting mid-decade salary recalculations based on population changes. It also amends Title 24’s Senate district descriptions for Districts 33, 34, and 35, updating the legal precinct composition of those districts and making the new boundaries controlling for future elections and appointments. The bill’s fiscal note indicates a general fund cost increase, reflecting the higher compensation levels.
Sentiment
The available context suggests the bill moved forward without recorded committee debate or roll-call votes in the provided materials, and it ultimately became law without the governor’s signature as Act 955. The caption and structure indicate a largely administrative and technical measure focused on pay adjustments and district boundary updates rather than a controversial policy overhaul. Overall, the bill appears to have been treated as a routine election-administration and redistricting update.
Contention
The main substantive issue is compensation: the bill raises pay for registrars, chief deputies, and confidential assistants, which carries a state cost and may have prompted budget concerns, as reflected in the fiscal note. A second point of potential concern is the redistricting language, because it changes the precinct makeup of Senate Districts 33, 34, and 35 and relies on specific 2026 precinct shapefiles, which can affect representation and election administration. The bill also narrows the frequency of salary adjustments, which may be viewed differently by state administrators and local election officials depending on whether they prefer more frequent updates or greater predictability.
Exempts purchases of motor vehicles by certain veterans and their spouses from sales and use taxes and the vehicle registration and license tax. (7/1/25) (RE DECREASE GF RV See Note)