ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT: Provides for the increase of parish board of election supervisor meetings in certain parishes for certain races. (8/1/26) (EN +$192,000 GF EX See Note)
Summary
SB 202 amends Louisiana law governing parish boards of election supervisors by increasing the number of days for which members may be compensated for election-related duties. Under current law, board members receive $150 per day for work preparing for and supervising elections, with a cap of six days per election, and up to eight days for presidential or certain congressional primary or general elections. The bill raises those caps to seven days generally and nine days for presidential or regularly scheduled or special congressional primary or general elections.
The bill also preserves the existing $50 per day witness fee for non-public-official board members who are subpoenaed to testify in litigation related to their election duties. Its effective date is contingent on a separate appropriation becoming law, so the compensation increase does not take effect unless funding is provided. The act is identified in the fiscal note as having an estimated general fund expenditure increase of $192,000.
Impact
SB 202 directly amends R.S. 18:423(E), which sets compensation rules for parish boards of election supervisors. The practical effect is to expand the number of paid days available to board members for election preparation and supervision, increasing state election administration costs and affecting parish board members who perform these duties. Because implementation is tied to a specific appropriation, the law changes the compensation framework but conditions actual payment on future funding.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been broadly supported and noncontroversial. It passed the Senate 34-0 and the House by overwhelming margins, with final concurrence also unanimous in the Senate. The lack of recorded opposition and the smooth passage suggest general agreement that the additional compensation was warranted for election administration responsibilities.
Contention
No major substantive opposition is reflected in the available record. The main practical issue is fiscal: the bill carries an estimated $192,000 increase in general fund expenditures, and its operative provisions are delayed until a separate appropriation is enacted. Any concern would likely center on the cost of expanding compensation for election supervisors versus the need to support election administration, but no specific objections are documented in the provided materials.
(Constitutional Amendment) Authorizes parishes to exempt business inventory from ad valorem taxes and authorizes parishes to reduce the percentage of fair market value applicable to business inventory (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX See Note)