Louisiana State Legislature
| Louisiana State Legislature | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Type: | State legislature |
| Term limits: | Senate: 3 terms (12 years) House: 3 terms (12 years) |
| Session start: | March 11, 2024 |
| Website: | Official Legislature Page |
| Leadership | |
| Senate President: | Patrick Cortez (R) |
| House Speaker: | Clay Schexnayder (R) |
| Structure | |
| Members: | 39 (Senate), 105 (House) |
| Length of term: | 4 years (Senate), 4 years (House) |
| Authority: | Art III, Louisiana Constitution |
| Salary: | $16,800/year + per diem |
| Elections | |
| Last election: | November 18, 2023 |
| Next election: | November 20, 2027 |
| Redistricting: | Louisiana Legislature has control |
The Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of Louisiana. It is a bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana State Senate.
The legislature meets in Louisiana's state capital, Baton Rouge.
The powers and privileges of the legislature are laid out in Article III of the Constitution of Louisiana.
Section 3 of Article III says that the number of members of each chamber of the legislature is set by state law, which means the number of senators and representatives can be changed over time, but in no case can there be more than 39 senators or 105 representatives.
Louisiana has a divided government where neither party holds a trifecta. The Democratic Party controls the office of governor, while the Republican Party controls both chambers of the state legislature.
Elections
2023
Elections for the Louisiana State Senate took place in 2023. The general election was November 18, 2023. A primary was October 14, 2023. The filing deadline was August 10, 2023.
Elections for the Louisiana House of Representatives took place in 2023. The general election was November 18, 2023. A primary was October 14, 2023. The filing deadline was August 10, 2023.
2019
Elections for the Louisiana State Senate took place in 2019. The primary was on October 12, 2019, and the general election was on November 16. The filing deadline for candidates was August 8, 2019.
Elections for the Louisiana House of Representatives took place in 2019. The primary was on October 12, 2019, and the general election was on November 16. The filing deadline for candidates was August 8, 2019.
2015
Elections for the Louisiana State Senate took place in 2015. A primary election was held on October 24, 2015, with a general election held in districts where necessary on November 21, 2015. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was September 10, 2015, at 4:30 p.m. CDT.[1]
Louisiana elections use the Louisiana majority-vote system. All candidates compete in the same primary, and a candidate can win the election outright by receiving more than 50% of the vote. If no candidate does, the top two vote recipients from the primary advance to the general election, regardless of their partisan affiliation.
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
Elections for the Louisiana House of Representatives took place in 2015. A primary election was held on October 24, 2015, with a general election held in districts where necessary on November 21, 2015. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was September 10, 2015, at 4:30 p.m. CDT.[2]
Louisiana elections use the Louisiana majority-vote system. All candidates compete in the same primary, and a candidate can win the election outright by receiving more than 50% of the vote. If no candidate does, the top two vote recipients from the primary advance to the general election, regardless of their partisan affiliation.
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
2011
Elections for the office of Louisiana State Senate consisted of a primary election on October 22, 2011, and a runoff election on November 19, 2011. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was September 8, 2011.
Elections for the office of Louisiana House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on October 22, 2011, and a runoff election on November 19, 2011. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was September 8, 2011.
Sessions
Article III of the Louisiana Constitution establishes when the Legislature is to be in session. Section 2 of Article III states that, in even-numbered years, the Legislature shall convene on the last Monday in March and meet for no more than sixty legislative days during a period of eighty-five calendar days. In odd-numbered years, the Legislature is to convene on the last Monday in April and meet for no more than forty-five legislative days during a period of sixty calendar days. During regular sessions in odd-numbered years, the Legislature can only consider measures regarding the state budget, revenues, and appropriations.
Section 2 of Article III also allows the Legislature to be called into a special session by the Governor of Louisiana or by a majority of the members of each legislative house. During special sessions, the Legislature can only legislate on matters related to the proclaimed purposes of the session.
Section 2 of Article III also authorizes the Governor of Louisiana to call an emergency session without prior notice in the event of a public emergency.[3]
Bills may be prefiled at any time, except between when the legislature adjourns for an election and when the election results are certified.[4][5]
2024
- See also: 2024 Louisiana legislative session and Dates of 2024 state legislative sessions
In 2024, the legislature is scheduled to convene on March 11, 2024, and adjourn on June 3, 2024.
2023
In 2023, the legislature was scheduled to convene on April 10, 2023, and adjourn on June 8, 2023.
| Click [show] for past years' session dates. | |||
|---|---|---|---|
2022In 2022, the legislature was scheduled to convene on March 14, 2022, and adjourn on June 6, 2022. 2021In 2021, the legislature was scheduled to convene on April 12, 2021, and adjourn on June 10, 2021. 2020In 2020, the legislature was scheduled to convene on March 9, 2020, and adjourn on June 1, 2020.
Several state legislatures had their sessions impacted as a result of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. The Louisiana State Legislature initially suspended its session from March 16, 2020, through March 31, 2020.[6] After reconvening on March 31, 2020, the legislature suspended its session indefinitely. The legislature resumed its session on May 4, 2020. It adjourned on June 30, 2020.[7][8] 2019In 2019, the legislature was in session from April 8, 2019, through June 6, 2019. 2018In 2018, the legislature was in session from March 12, 2018, through May 18, 2018. To read about notable events and legislation from this session, click here. 2017
In 2017, the legislature was in session from April 10, 2017, through June 8, 2017. The legislature held its first special session from February 13, 2017, to February 22, 2017. The legislature held its second special session from June 8, 2017, to June 16, 2017. 2016
In 2016, the legislature was in session from March 14 through June 6. A special session was held from February 14 to March 9 to address the state's budget gap.[9] A second special session was held from June 6 to June 23. 2015
In 2015, the legislature was in session from April 13 through June 11. Major issues in 2015Major issues in the 2015 legislative session included a $1.6 billion deficit, increases in the cigarette and gasoline taxes, the Common Core education standards, marijuana legislation, and religious freedom legislation.[10][11][12][13] 2014
In 2014, the legislature was in session from March 10 through June 3. Major issues in 2014Major issues in the 2014 legislative session included Common Core, education funding, Medicaid expansion, the coastal erosion lawsuit filed by the South Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East, and legalization of medical marijuana.[14][15] 2013
In 2013, the legislature was in session from April 8 to June 6. Major issues in 2013Major issues during the 2013 legislative session included the state budget, an overhaul of public education, increasing the retirement age of public workers, gun control, and abortion.[16] 2012
In 2012, the legislature was in session from March 12 through June 4. 2011
In 2011, the Legislature was in regular session from April 25 through June 23. The Legislature undertook a special session from March 20 to April 13, focusing on redistricting following the 2010 census.[17][18] 2010
In 2010, the Legislature was in session from March 29 to June 21.[19] |
Role in state budget
- See also: Louisiana state budget and finances
Louisiana on 
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The state operates on an annual budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is:[20]
- Budget instructions are sent to state agencies by September 20.
- State agencies submit their budget requests by November 15.
- The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the state legislature 45 days before the legislature convenes. (Newly elected governors have until 30 days before the legislature convenes.)
- The legislature typically adopts a budget in June. A simple majority is required to pass a budget.[21] The fiscal year begins July 1.
Louisiana is one of 43 states in which the governor has line item veto authority.[20]
The governor is constitutionally required to submit a balanced budget proposal. Likewise, the legislature must pass a balanced budget.[20]
Redistricting
- See also: Redistricting in Louisiana
In Louisiana, both congressional and state legislative districts are drawn by the state legislature. These lines are subject to veto by the governor. In the event that the legislature is unable to approve state legislative district boundaries, the state supreme court must draw the lines. There is no such practice that applies to congressional districts.[22]
The state legislature has adopted guidelines for redistricting. These guidelines suggest that both congressional and state legislative districts be contiguous and "respect recognized political boundaries and the natural geography of the state to the extent practicable." These guidelines are non-binding; as such, the legislature may alter them at its discretion.[22]
2020
The legislative maps that both chambers passed during a special legislative session in February 2022 became law 20 days after their passage as Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) neither signed not vetoed the redistricting plans. The legislative redistricting plan passed the state Senate, 25-11, with all votes in favor by Republicans and 10 Democrats and one Republican voting against. The state House of Representatives approved it by a 82-21 vote with 68 Republicans, 12 Democrats, and two independents voting in favor and 20 Democrats and one independent voting against.[23][24] After the legislature voted on the maps, Tyler Bridges wrote in The Advocate, "Without much fuss, the Republican-controlled Legislature...approved new district boundaries for the state House and Senate that would maintain GOP legislative dominance for the next decade."[25]
Edwards announced on March 9, 2022, that he would not act on the legislative boundaries, releasing a statement that said, in part, "While neither the congressional or legislative maps passed by Louisiana’s Legislature do anything to increase the number of districts where minority voters can elect candidates of their choosing, I do not believe the Legislature has the ability to draw new state House and Senate maps during this upcoming legislative session without the process halting the important work of the state of Louisiana. At a time when we face unprecedented challenges, but have unprecedented opportunities to make historic investments in our future, the Legislature should be focused on the issues in the upcoming session and not concerned about what their own districts will look like in the 2023 elections."[26]
2010
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Louisiana had the third-slowest growth rate of any state in the nation between 2000 and 2010. Only Rhode Island and Michigan experienced smaller population gains during this time period. Louisiana grew 1.4 percent from 2000 to 2010, with a total population rise from 4.47 million in 2000 to 4.53 million in 2010. The South as a region experienced overall growth of 14.29 percent.[27][28] Hurricane Katrina affected the state's population growth. The population shifts also affected state legislative districts, including New Orleans.[29]
During the redistricting process, Louisiana legislators faced a compressed timeline compared to other states. The odd-year elections meant that the 2011 elections in the fall would need districts soon enough to gain clearance from the Department of Justice per the Voting Rights Act, allow candidates to file in the appropriate districts, and leave time for the blanket primary and the general election to happen in early November 2011.
The new state House of Representatives map added two new majority-minority seats, which was one fewer than some lawmakers wanted. The Justice Department accepted Louisiana's first map for the first time since the VRA came into enforcement. Three more seats were allocated to the Baton Rouge area, and the legislators who voted against the new map came primarily from the New Orleans suburbs or were African American Democrats, many of whom were from New Orleans.
The State Senate added two new majority-minority districts for the 2011 elections, but took away seats from the New Orleans area overall, reflecting the loss of population in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The new Senate map had 11 majority-minority districts.
Legislators
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2023 | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $16,800/year | $175/day. |
Swearing in dates
Louisiana legislators assume office at noon on the second Monday in January after their election.[30][31]
Senate
The Louisiana Senate is the upper house of the state legislature of Louisiana.
As of the 2020 Census, Louisiana state senators represented an average of 119,525 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 116,768 residents.
| Party | As of January 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 12 | |
| Republican Party | 27 | |
| Other | 0 | |
| Vacancies | 0 | |
| Total | 39 | |
Click here for a list of members of this chamber.
Republicans won control of the Louisiana State Senate in 2011. In 2019, they won a 27-12 majority.
The table below shows the partisan history of the Louisiana Senate following every general election from 1991 to 2019. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.
Louisiana State Senate election results: 1991-2019
| Party | 91 | 95 | 99 | 03 | 07 | 11 | 15 | 19 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 33 | 25 | 27 | 24 | 24 | 15 | 14 | 12 |
| Republicans | 6 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 24 | 25 | 27 |
House of Representatives
The Louisiana House of Representatives is the lower house in the Louisiana State Legislature. The House is composed of 105 Representatives.
As of the 2020 Census, Louisiana state representatives represented an average of 44,395 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 43,371 residents.
Members serve four-year terms with a term limit of three terms (twelve years). The House is one of the five state legislative lower houses that has a four-year term, as opposed to the more common two-year term.
| Party | As of January 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 33 | |
| Republican Party | 71 | |
| Independent | 0 | |
| Vacancies | 1 | |
| Total | 105 | |
Click here for a list of members of this chamber.
Republicans won control of the Louisiana House of Representatives in 2011. In 2019, they won a 68-35-2 majority.
The table below shows the partisan history of the Louisiana House following every general election from 1991 to 2019. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.
Louisiana House of Representatives election results: 1991-2019
| Party | 91 | 95 | 99 | 03 | 07 | 11 | 15 | 19 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 86 | 76 | 75 | 68 | 53 | 45 | 42 | 35 |
| Republicans | 17 | 28 | 30 | 36 | 50 | 58 | 61 | 68 |
| Other | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Leadership of the House
The speaker of the House presides over the House of Representatives. The speaker is elected by the full House. In addition to presiding over the body, the speaker is also the chief leadership position and controls the flow of legislation and committee assignments. The House of Representatives also elects a speaker pro tempore to preside in the absence of the speaker.[32]
District maps
State Senate
State House
Veto overrides
- See also: Veto overrides in state legislatures
State legislatures can override governors' vetoes. Depending on the state, this can be done during the regular legislative session, in a special session following the adjournment of the regular session, or during the next legislative session. The rules for legislative overrides of gubernatorial vetoes in Louisiana are listed below.
How many legislators are required to vote for an override? Two-thirds of members in both chambers.
| Two-thirds of members in both chambers must vote to override a veto, which is 70 of the 105 members in the Louisiana House of Representatives and 26 of the 39 members in the Louisiana State Senate. Louisiana is one of 36 states that requires a two-thirds vote from both of its legislative chambers to override a veto. |
How can vetoes be overridden after the legislature has adjourned?
| According to Article III, Section 18 of the Louisiana Constitution, the legislature shall convene 40 days after the legislative session has ended to consider veto overrides for a period not to exceed five days. If a majority of members agree, the veto session can be cancelled. |
Authority: Article III, Section 18 of the Louisiana Constitution.
| "A bill vetoed and returned and subsequently approved by two-thirds of the elected members of each house shall become law. The legislature shall meet in veto session in the state capital at noon on the fortieth day following final adjournment of the most recent session, to consider all bills vetoed by the governor. " |
History
Partisan balance 1992-2013
Louisiana State Senate: From 1992-2013, the Democratic Party was the majority in the Louisiana State Senate for 19 years while the Republicans were the majority for three years. The Louisiana State Senate is 1 of 16 state senates that was Democratic for more than 80 percent of the years between 1992-2013. The final three years of the study depicted a shift in the Louisiana senate with all three years being Republican trifectas.
Across the country, there were 541 Democratic and 517 Republican state senates from 1992 to 2013.
Louisiana State House of Representatives: From 1992-2013, the Democratic Party was the majority in the Louisiana State House of Representatives for the first 19 years while the Republicans were the majority for the last three years. The Louisiana State House of Representatives is one of 18 state Houses that was Democratic for more than 80 percent of the years between 1992-2013. Louisiana was under Republican trifectas for the final three years of the study period.
Across the country, there were 577 Democratic and 483 Republican State Houses of Representatives from 1992 to 2013.
Over the course of the 22-year study, state governments became increasingly more partisan. At the outset of the study period (1992), 18 of the 49 states with partisan legislatures had single-party trifectas and 31 states had divided governments. In 2013, only 13 states had divided governments, while single-party trifectas held sway in 36 states, the most in the 22 years studied.
The chart below shows the partisan composition of the Office of the Governor of Louisiana, the Louisiana State Senate and the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1992 to 2013.
.PNG)
SQLI and partisanship
- To read the full report on the State Quality of Life Index (SQLI) in PDF form, click here.
The chart below depicts the partisanship of the Kentucky state government and the state's SQLI ranking for the years studied. For the SQLI, the states were ranked from 1-50, with 1 being the best and 50 the worst. Louisiana has had three periods of trifectas, two Democratic trifectas (1992-1995 and 2004-2007) and one Republican trifecta (2011-2013). Louisiana had its longest period of divided government between 1996 and 2003. For all but two years of the study, Louisiana has ranked in the bottom-10 in the SQLI ranking and only left the bottom-10 in the last two years of the study, 2011 and 2012. The state’s lowest ranking came in 1993 and 1994 under a Democratic trifecta. Its highest ranking (36th) came in 2012 under a Republican trifecta.
- SQLI average with Democratic trifecta: 46.25
- SQLI average with Republican trifecta: 38.00
- SQLI average with divided government: 45.73
Joint legislative committees
- See also: Public policy in Louisiana
Constitutional amendments
In every state but Delaware, voter approval is required to enact a constitutional amendment. In each state, the legislature has a process for referring constitutional amendments before voters. In 18 states, initiated constitutional amendments can be put on the ballot through a signature petition drive. There are also many other types of statewide measures.
The methods in which the Louisiana Constitution can be amended:
The Louisiana Constitution provides two mechanisms for amending the state's constitution— a legislative process and a state constitutional convention. Louisiana requires a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) for voters to approve constitutional amendments.
Legislature
According to Article XII, the state Legislature can refer constitutional amendments to the ballot for voters to decide. A two-thirds (66.67%) vote is required during one session of the Louisiana State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 70 votes in the Louisiana House of Representatives and 26 votes in the Louisiana State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot. Amendments can be referred to the ballot in odd-numbered years and even-numbered years in Louisiana.
Convention
According to Article XII, the state legislature can provide for the calling of a constitutional convention by law enacted by two-thirds of the members of each chamber of the legislature.
2025 measures:
- See also: 2025 ballot measures
Certified:
- The following measures have been certified for the ballot.
No measures to list
Potential:
- The following measures have made it through one chamber—or one session for two session states—and may appear on the ballot in 2025.
No measures to list
2024 measures:
Below is a list of measures that were referred to the 2024 ballot by the legislature or that have made it approximately halfway through the process in the legislature for referral to the ballot in 2024.
- See also: 2024 ballot measures
Certified:
- The following measures have been certified for the ballot.
No measures to list
Potential:
- The following measures have made it through one chamber—or one session for two session states—and may appear on the ballot in 2024.
No measures to list
See also
| Elections | Louisiana State Government | State Legislatures | State Politics |
|---|---|---|---|
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Louisiana Secretary of State, "2015 Elections," accessed January 2, 2015
- ↑ Louisiana Secretary of State, "2015 Elections," accessed January 2, 2015
- ↑ Louisiana State Senate, "Constitution of Louisiana," accessed February 11, 2021
- ↑ Louisiana House of Representatives, "HRULE 7.2," accessed February 11, 2021
- ↑ Louisiana State Senate, "Senate Rules of Order," accessed February 11, 2021 (Referenced Rule 9.1)
- ↑ WDSU, "Louisiana state legislature will temporarily adjourn due to COVID-19," March 16, 2020
- ↑ Bossier Press-Tribune, "Louisiana legislature meets briefly before suspending session again," March 31, 2020
- ↑ The Advocate, "75% in attendance and many without masks: Louisiana legislature reconvenes amid coronavirus," May 4, 2020
- ↑ Washington Times, "Edwards officially calls special session on budget, taxes," accessed February 8, 2016
- ↑ The Times-Picayune, "2015 Louisiana Legislature: What to expect from Bobby Jindal, lawmakers," April 11, 2015
- ↑ American Press, "How different will session be?" April 12, 2015
- ↑ Bossier Press-Tribune, "Jindal taps budget, education, relgious freedom as major 2015 session issues," April 13, 2015
- ↑ Gannett Louisiana, "Marijuana fight returning to Legislature this session," April 12, 2015
- ↑ Associated Press, "Jindal pushes worker training as legislative session opens," March 10, 2014
- ↑ American Press, "Education, lawsuit key issues," March 9, 2014
- ↑ wwltv.com, "A look at major issues at session's halfway point," April 24, 2013
- ↑ Louisiana House of Representatives, "2011 Regular Session Journals," accessed February 10, 2021
- ↑ Louisiana House of Representatives, "2011 1st Extraordinary Session Journals," accessed February 10, 2021
- ↑ Louisiana House of Representatives, "2010 Regular Session Journals," accessed February 10, 2021
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 National Association of State Budget Officers, "Budget Processes in the States, Spring 2021," accessed January 24, 2023
- ↑ For budgets with one-time money, two-thirds of elected House members must approve for it to pass.
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 All About Redistricting, "Louisiana," accessed April 30, 2015
- ↑ Louisiana State Legislature, "2022 First Extraordinary Session - HB14," accessed February 24, 2022
- ↑ The Advocate. "Legislature ends redistricting session by passing new maps for state House and Senate, PSC and BESE," February 18, 2022
- ↑ The Advocate. "Legislature ends redistricting session by passing new maps for state House and Senate, PSC and BESE," February 18, 2022
- ↑ State of Louisiana, Office of the Governor, "Gov. Edwards Vetoes Proposed Congressional District Map, Announces Other Action on Newly Drawn District Maps," March 9, 2022
- ↑ Ruston Daily Leader, "Loss of one congressional seat a result of low population growth in state," accessed February 11, 2021
- ↑ U.S. Census Bureau, "Population Distribution and Change," accessed February 11, 2021
- ↑ New Orleans Times Picayune, "Redistricting is expected to cost New Orleans three districts in the Louisiana House of Representatives," January 19, 2011
- ↑ Louisiana Constitution, "Article 3, Section 5," accessed February 10, 2021
- ↑ Louisiana Constitution, "Article 4, Section 3," accessed February 10, 2021
- ↑ Louisiana State Legislator, "House Rules," accessed February 11, 2021
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