Senate Bill No. 86 proposes a constitutional amendment to eliminate the mandatory retirement age for judges in Louisiana, which currently requires judges to retire by their 70th birthday. The bill seeks to amend Article V, Section 23 of the Louisiana Constitution, allowing judges to serve beyond this age limit. The proposed amendment will be submitted to voters during the statewide election scheduled for November 3, 2026, and, if approved, will take effect on January 1, 2027.

In addition to repealing the mandatory retirement age, the bill originally included language stating that no person should be denied the right to hold public office based solely on age; however, this provision was removed during the Senate committee's amendments. The effective date for the amendment was also changed from January 1, 2026, to January 1, 2027. Overall, the bill aims to provide judges with the option to continue serving without age-related restrictions, thereby potentially enhancing judicial experience and continuity.