House Bill No. 323 proposes amendments to 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 stipulates that any school board or municipality wishing to adopt this plan must do so by resolution, and these plans cannot be revoked once established. Additionally, it requires that these plans be filed with the secretary of state by specific deadlines: July 29, 2026, for school boards and January 13, 2027, for municipalities.

The bill amends existing laws regarding the terms of office for elected officials, specifying that school board members will serve four-year terms beginning January 1 following their election, while municipal officers will take office on July 1 following their election. It also clarifies that members elected under the new plans will serve until their successors take office, with specific provisions for those elected at the 2026 congressional election and the 2027 spring municipal election. Overall, the bill aims to streamline the election process for local officials by aligning their election dates with the gubernatorial election schedule.

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