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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE BILL NO. 373
BY REPRESENTATIVE CARTER
LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS: (Constitutional Amendment) Provides relative to legislative
sessions and bill introduction limits
A JOINT RESOLUTION1
Proposing to amend Article III, Section 2(A)(3) and (4) and to add Article III, Section2
2(A)(5) of the Constitution of Louisiana, to provide relative to legislative sessions;3
to provide for the length and date of convening of a regular session in an even-4
numbered year; to provide deadlines for introducing and considering certain matters5
in a regular session in an even-numbered year; to limit the number of certain matters6
that may be introduced during a regular session in an even-numbered year; to7
provide for submission of the proposed amendment to the electors; and to provide8
for related matters.9
Section 1. Be it resolved by the Legislature of Louisiana, two-thirds of the members10
elected to each house concurring, that there shall be submitted to the electors of the state of11
Louisiana, for their approval or rejection in the manner provided by law, a proposal to12
amend Article III, Section 2(A)(3) and (4) and to add Article III, Section 2(A)(5) of the13
Constitution of Louisiana, to read as follows:14
§2. Sessions15
Section 2.(A) Annual Session.16
* * *17
(3)(a) (3) All regular sessions convening in even-numbered years shall be18
general in nature and shall convene at noon on the second Monday in March April.19
The legislature shall meet in such a session for not more than sixty forty-five20 HLS 14RS-318 ORIGINAL
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legislative days during a period of eighty-five sixty calendar days. No such session1
shall continue beyond six o'clock in the evening of the eighty-fifth sixtieth calendar2
day after convening. No new matter intended to have the effect of law shall be3
introduced or received by either house after six o'clock in the evening of the twenty-4
third tenth calendar day. No matter intended to have the effect of law, except a5
measure proposing a suspension of law, shall be considered on third reading and6
final passage in either house after six o'clock in the evening of the fifty-seventh7
forty-second legislative day or the eighty-second fifty-seventh calendar day,8
whichever occurs first, except by a favorable record vote of two-thirds of the elected9
members of each house.10
(b) (4)(a) All regular sessions convening in even-numbered years shall be11
general in nature. No measure levying or authorizing a new tax by the state or by12
any statewide political subdivision whose boundaries are coterminous with the state;13
increasing an existing tax by the state or by any statewide political subdivision14
whose boundaries are coterminous with the state; or legislating with regard to tax15
exemptions, exclusions, deductions or credits, shall be introduced or enacted during16
a regular session held in an even-numbered year.17
(b) Except as provided in Subsubparagraph (c) of this Subparagraph, no18
member of the legislature may introduce more than ten matters intended to have the19
effect of law in a regular session convening in an even-numbered year.20
(c) The limitation provided in Subsubparagraph (b) of this Subparagraph21
shall not apply to a matter intended to have the effect of law the object of which is22
to enact a local or special law which is required to be and has been advertised in23
accordance with Section 13 of this Article and which is not prohibited by the24
provisions of Section 12 of this Article.25
(4)(a) All regular sessions convening in odd-numbered years shall convene26
at noon on the second Monday in April. The legislature shall meet in such a session27
for not more than forty-five legislative days in a period of sixty calendar days. No28
such session shall continue beyond six o'clock in the evening of the sixtieth calendar29 HLS 14RS-318 ORIGINAL
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day after convening. No new matter intended to have the effect of law shall be1
introduced or received by either house after six o'clock in the evening of the tenth2
calendar day. No matter intended to have the effect of law, except a measure3
proposing a suspension of law, shall be considered on third reading and final passage4
in either house after six o'clock in the evening of the forty-second legislative day or5
fifty-seventh calendar day, whichever occurs first, except by a favorable record vote6
of two-thirds of the elected members of each house.7
(b) (5) During any session convening in an odd-numbered year, no matter8
intended to have the effect of law, including any suspension of law, shall be9
introduced or considered unless its object is to enact the General Appropriation Bill;10
enact the comprehensive capital budget; make an appropriation; levy or authorize a11
new tax; increase an existing tax; levy, authorize, increase, decrease, or repeal a fee;12
dedicate revenue; legislate with regard to tax exemptions, exclusions, deductions,13
reductions, repeals, or credits; or legislate with regard to the issuance of bonds. In14
addition, a matter intended to have the effect of law, including a measure proposing15
a suspension of law, which is not within the subject matter restrictions provided in16
this Subparagraph may be considered at any such session if:17
(i) (a) It is prefiled no later than the deadline provided in Subparagraph (2)18
of this Paragraph, provided that the member shall not prefile more than five such19
matters pursuant to this Subsubparagraph; or20
(ii) (b) Its object is to enact a local or special law which is required to be and21
has been advertised in accordance with Section 13 of this Article and which is not22
prohibited by the provisions of Section 12 of this Article.23
* * *24
Section 2. Be it further resolved that this proposed amendment shall be submitted25
to the electors of the state of Louisiana at the statewide election to be held on November 4,26
2014.27
Section 3. Be it further resolved that on the official ballot to be used at the election,28
there shall be printed a proposition, upon which the electors of the state shall be permitted29 HLS 14RS-318 ORIGINAL
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to vote YES or NO, to amend the Constitution of Louisiana, which proposition shall read as1
follows:2
Do you support an amendment to shorten the maximum length of a regular3
session in an even-numbered year from sixty legislative days in eighty-five4
calendar days to forty-five legislative days in sixty calendar days, make5
related changes to deadlines for introducing and considering certain matters6
in such sessions, and move the date on which such sessions convene from the7
second Monday in March to the second Monday in April, all to be the same8
as regular sessions in odd-numbered years, and to limit to ten the number of9
matters that are not local or special that a member of the legislature may10
introduce during a regular session in an even-numbered year? (Amends11
Article III, Section 2(A)(3) and (4); Adds Article III, Section 2(A)(5))12
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Carter HB No. 373
Abstract: Shortens the maximum length of regular sessions in even-numbered years and
limits to 10 the number of matters that are not local or special that a member of the
legislature may introduce during such sessions.
Present constitution provides separately for regular sessions in odd-numbered and even-
numbered years. Provides that regular sessions in odd-numbered years convene at noon on
the second Mon. in April and last for no more than 45 legislative days in a period of 60
calendar days. Provides related deadlines for introducing and considering certain matters.
Limits the introduction of matters to certain specified fiscal matters; provides exceptions for
local and special matters and for up to five general matters that are prefiled.
Proposed constitutional amendment retains present constitution.
Present constitution provides that regular sessions in even-numbered years are general in
nature. Prohibits the introduction of certain specified measures involving certain taxes.
Proposed constitutional amendment retains present constitution.
Present constitution provides that regular sessions in even-numbered years convene at noon
on the second Mon. in March and last for no more than 60 legislative days in a period of 85
calendar days. Provides for related deadlines for introducing and considering certain
matters.
Proposed constitutional amendment shortens the maximum length of regular sessions in
even-numbered years from 60 legislative days in 85 calendar days to 45 legislative days in
60 calendar days, makes related changes to deadlines for introducing and considering certain HLS 14RS-318 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 373
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matters in those sessions, and moves the date on which the session convenes, all to be the
same as regular sessions in odd-numbered years. Additionally, limits to ten the number of
matters that are not local or special that a member of the legislature may introduce during
a regular session in an even-numbered year.
Provides for submission of the proposed amendment to the voters at the statewide election
to be held November 4, 2014.
(Amends Art. III, §2(A)(3) and (4); Adds Art. III, §2(A)(5))