House Bill No. HLS 251ES-7 proposes significant changes to the election schedule for spring elections in Louisiana in 2026. The bill enacts new provisions under Part I-B of Chapter 5 of Title 18 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes, specifically R.S. 18:419.1 and 419.2. It establishes that the spring primary election will be held on May 16, 2026, instead of the previously scheduled April 18, 2026, and the spring general election will take place on June 27, 2026, instead of May 30, 2026. Additionally, the bill outlines the new qualifying period for candidates, which will open on February 11, 2026, and specifies that signatures collected on nominating petitions after September 16, 2025, will be considered timely.

The bill also addresses campaign finance disclosure deadlines, requiring candidates and committees to file reports by November 20, 2025, and extends the deadline for supplemental and annual reports to March 2, 2026. Furthermore, it grants the secretary of state the authority to make necessary adjustments to election-related materials to reflect the new dates and deadlines without prior approval. Importantly, the bill ensures that actions taken to place elections on the original April 18 and May 30 dates remain valid, thereby protecting the integrity of the electoral process despite the changes.