House Bill No. by Representative Billings aims to amend the qualifications, maintenance, and recognition of political parties in Louisiana. The bill proposes significant changes to the current law regarding party affiliation and recognition. Notably, it prohibits individuals from registering as "Independent" or with the "Independent Party" starting August 1, 2025, and mandates that any such registrations will be changed to "No Party." Additionally, the bill increases the threshold for a political party's recognition from 1,000 to 5,000 registered voters and raises the registration fee from $1,000 to $5,000. It also establishes that no political party can be recognized if it solely declares its name as "Independent" or the "Independent Party."

Furthermore, the bill introduces a process for political parties to request rescission of their recognition through their bylaws, requiring a notarized rescission statement to be filed with the secretary of state. If a party's recognition is rescinded, any registrant affiliated with that party will also have their affiliation changed to "No Party." These changes aim to streamline the political party recognition process and clarify the rules surrounding party affiliation for voters in Louisiana.

Statutes affected:
HB420 Original: 18:441(B)(1)