Louisiana 2023 ballot measures
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In Louisiana, eight statewide ballot measures were certified to appear on the ballot in 2023.
- On October 14, voters decided on four constitutional amendments, each of which was approved.
- On November 18, voters decided on four constitutional amendments. Three were approved and one was defeated.
Want to learn more about ballot measures in other states in 2023?
- You can find a list of 2023's certified statewide ballot measures here.
- You can find a list of 2023's certified local ballot measures here.
- Here is a list of bills and resolutions passed passed in 2023 to change the laws governing ballot measures.
On the ballot
October 14, 2023:
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | Elections | Prohibit state and local governments from using funds, goods, and services donated by foreign governments or nongovernmental (private) sources for the purpose of conducting elections |
|
734,324 (73%) |
277,564 (27%) |
|
| Amendment 2 | Con rights and Religion | Provide in the Louisiana Constitution that "the freedom to worship in a church or other place of worship is a fundamental right that is worthy of the highest order of protection" |
|
805,676 (79%) |
211,621 (21%) |
|
| Amendment 3 | Pension and Budgets | Require a minimum of 25% of nonrecurring state revenue to be applied to the balance of the unfunded liability of the state retirement system |
|
559,540 (56%) |
436,717 (44%) |
|
| Amendment 4 | Housing, Property, and Taxes | Prohibit a nonprofit organization from receiving a property tax exemption when residential property is in disrepair and dangerous to the public's health or safety |
|
661,332 (66%) |
340,632 (34%) |
November 18, 2023:
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amendment 1 | State leg | Provide that the legislature may consider vetoed bills during a regular or extraordinary session rather than convening a separate veto session; clarify that the governor's deadline to act on a bill is based on the legislative session in which the bill was passed |
|
387,207 (61%) |
247,266 (39%) |
|
| Amendment 2 | Budgets | Repeals constitutional provisions establishing various state funds that are now inactive and transfers remaining money in the funds to the state general fund |
|
346,766 (55%) |
287,211 (45%) |
|
| Amendment 3 | Property and Taxes | Authorizes local governments to provide an additional property tax exemption of up to $2,500 for first responders including fire fighters, emergency medical service personnel, emergency response dispatchers, peace officers, police officers, and sheriffs. |
|
338,823 (53%) |
300,477 (47%) |
|
| Amendment 4 | Budgets | Allows the state legislature, through a two-thirds supermajority vote, to use up to $250 million of funds in the Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund to alleviate a budget deficit |
|
278,009 (44%) |
353,622 (56%) |
Referral of 2023 ballot measures
The following table illustrates the vote requirements for the legislative referrals certified for the ballot, the votes that the referrals received, and how Democrats and Republicans voted on the referrals in each legislative chamber:
| Louisiana Ban on Private or Foreign Funding of Election Costs Amendment | Democrats | Republicans | |||
| Senate: | Required: 26 | Yes votes: 27 (69.23%) | No votes: 12 (30.77%) | Yes: 0; No: 12 | Yes: 27; No: 0 |
| House: | Required: 70 | Yes votes: 70 (66.67%) | No votes: 30 (28.57%) | Yes: 3; No: 28 | Yes: 67; No: 0 |
| Louisiana Constitutional Right to Worship in a Church or Place of Worship Amendment | Democrats | Republicans | |||
| Senate: | Required: 26 | Yes votes: 39 (100.00%) | No votes: 0 (0.00%) | Yes: 12; No: 0 | Yes: 27; No: 0 |
| House: | Required: 70 | Yes votes: 86 (81.90%) | No votes: 13 (12.38%) | Yes: 16; No: 13 | Yes: 69; No: 0 |
| Louisiana State Retirement System Funding Amendment | Democrats | Republicans | |||
| Senate: | Required: 26 | Yes votes: 37 (94.87%) | No votes: 2 (5.13%) | Yes: 11; No: 1 | Yes: 26; No: 1 |
| House: | Required: 70 | Yes votes: 103 (98.09%) | No votes: 0 (0.00%) | Yes: 32; No: 0 | Yes: 69; No: 0 |
| Louisiana Prohibit Property Tax Exemptions for Nonprofits Owning Damaged Residential Property Amendment | Democrats | Republicans | |||
| Senate: | Required: 26 | Yes votes: 37 (94.87%) | No votes: 0 (0.00%) | Yes: 11; No: 0 | Yes: 26; No: 0 |
| House: | Required: 70 | Yes votes: 80 (76.19%) | No votes: 18 (17.14%) | Yes: 32; No: 0 | Yes: 46; No: 18 |
| Louisiana Legislative Veto Sessions Amendment | Democrats | Republicans | |||
| Senate: | Required: 26 | Yes votes: 33 (86.84%) | No votes: 0 (0.00%) | Yes: 8; No: 0 | Yes: 25; No: 0 |
| House: | Required: 70 | Yes votes: 99 (94.29%) | No votes: 0 (0.00%) | Yes: 32; No: 0 | Yes: 64; No: 0 |
| Louisiana Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund Amendment | Democrats | Republicans | |||
| Senate: | Required: 26 | Yes votes: 38 (97.44%) | No votes: 0 (0.00%) | Yes: 12; No: 0 | Yes: 26; No: 0 |
| House: | Required: 70 | Yes votes: 102 (97.14%) | No votes: 0 (0.00%) | Yes: 32; No: 0 | Yes: 69; No: 0 |
| Louisiana Remove Constitutional References to Inactive State Funds Amendment | Democrats | Republicans | |||
| Senate: | Required: 26 | Yes votes: 36 (92.31%) | No votes: 0 (0.00%) | Yes: 11; No: 0 | Yes: 25; No: 0 |
| House: | Required: 70 | Yes votes: 97 (92.38%) | No votes: 0 (0.00%) | Yes: 30; No: 0 | Yes: 66; No: 0 |
| Louisiana Property Tax Exemptions for First Responders Amendment | Democrats | Republicans | |||
| Senate: | Required: 26 | Yes votes: 38 (97.44%) | No votes: 1 (2.56%) | Yes: 12; No: 0 | Yes: 26; No: 1 |
| House: | Required: 70 | Yes votes: 98 (93.33%) | No votes: 1 (0.95%) | Yes: 33; No: 0 | Yes: 63; No: 1 |
Getting measures on the ballot
Citizens
In Louisiana, citizens do not have the power to initiate statewide initiatives or referendums. As of 2021, voters of Louisiana had never voted on a ballot measure to authorize a statewide initiative and referendum process.
Legislature
The Louisiana State Legislature can refer statewide ballot measures, in the form of constitutional amendments, to the ballot in odd-numbered years and even-numbered years. The Louisiana Constitution requires a two-thirds vote in each legislative chamber during one legislative session to refer a constitutional amendment to the ballot.
Historical facts
- See also: List of Louisiana ballot measures
A total of 56 constitutional amendments appeared on the statewide ballot in Louisiana during odd-numbered years from 1999 through 2021. Of the 56 amendments, 37 (67.27%) were approved and 19 (34.54%) were defeated.
| Legislatively-referred constitutional amendments, 1999-2021 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total number | Approved | Percent approved | Defeated | Percent defeated | Odd-year average | Odd-year median | Odd-year minimum | Odd-year maximum | |
| 56 | 37 | 67.27% | 19 | 34.54% | 5 | 4 | 0 | 16 | |
Not on the ballot
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LRCA | Prohibit Slavery and Involuntary Servitude Amendment | Constitutional language | Prohibits slavery and involuntary servitude; provides that convicted inmates may still be required to work | 
|
| LRCA | Post-Conviction Bail Amendment | Civil and criminal trials | Provides that the state legislature may provide in state law for post-conviction bail, rather than current law providing that bail is up to the sole discretion of judges |
|
| LRCA | Outer Continental Shelf Revenues for Coastal Protection and Restoration Fund Amendment | Energy and Taxes | Requires federal revenues received by the state from energy production (including wind, solar, tidal, wave, and other alternative or renewable energy sources) to be deposited in the Coastal Protection and Restoration Fund. As of 2023 the fund received federal revenues received by the state from oil and gas production |
|
| LRCA | Severance Taxes on Natural Resources for Parishes Amendment | Natural resources and State and local government finance | Sets a $10 million limit on annual severance taxes remitted to parishes beginning July 1, 2024; makes other changes to parish severance taxes |
|
| LRCA | Natural Resource Severance Tax Remittance to Parishes Amendment | Natural resources and State and local government finance | Sets a $2.85 million limit on annual severance taxes remitted to parishes beginning July 1, 2025, tied to inflation; makes other changes to parish severance taxes |
|
| LRCA | One-Year Appropriations Limit Exception for Nongovernmental Entities Amendment | State and local government finance | Provides for an exception to the constitutional requirement that appropriations cannot be made for longer than one year, allowing for appropriations to a nongovernmental entity to be made for two years |
|
Local ballot measures
- See also: Louisiana 2023 local ballot measures
Click here to read more about 2023 local ballot measures in Louisiana.
See also
External links
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