House Bill No. 323, introduced by Representative Beaullieu, amends existing laws regarding the election dates for municipal officers and school board members in Louisiana. The bill allows school board elections to coincide with gubernatorial elections, starting with the 2031 fall gubernatorial election. It also permits municipalities to hold their elections at the same time as gubernatorial elections, with the first such election occurring in 2031. The bill establishes that school board members elected under this new plan will take office on January 1 following their election and serve four-year terms, while municipal officers will take office on July 1 following their election.

The bill includes specific provisions for the adoption of election plans by school boards and municipalities, requiring these plans to be filed with the secretary of state by set deadlines—July 28, 2026, for school boards and January 12, 2027, for municipalities. Additionally, it clarifies that any adopted plans are irrevocable. The legislation retains existing laws regarding the terms of office for elected officials and the procedures for filling vacancies. Overall, the bill aims to streamline the election process for local governance by aligning it with state-level elections.

Statutes affected:
HB323 Original: 17:52(A), 33:383(A)(1)
HB323 Engrossed: 17:52(A), 33:383(A)(1)
HB323 Reengrossed: 17:52(A), 33:383(A)(1)