Senate Bill No. 358 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, with an effective date of January 1, 2027, if approved.

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 committee amendments. The effective date of the amendment was also changed from January 1, 2026, to January 1, 2027, and the election date was adjusted from November 15, 2025, to November 3, 2026. The bill aims to provide judges with the opportunity to continue serving without age-related restrictions, thereby potentially enhancing judicial experience and continuity.