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2024 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 49
BY REPRESENTATIVE BACALA
LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS: (Constitutional Amendment) Provides for the limited
extension of regular sessions for specific purposes
1 A JOINT RESOLUTION
2Proposing to amend Article III, Section 2(A)(3)(a) and (4)(a) of the Constitution of
3 Louisiana and to add Article III, Section 2(A)(5) of the Constitution of Louisiana,
4 relative to regular sessions of the legislature, to allow the legislature to extend a
5 regular session for a limited time period for a specific purpose; to provide for
6 submission of the proposed amendment to the electors; and to provide for related
7 matters.
8 Section 1. Be it resolved by the Legislature of Louisiana, two-thirds of the members
9elected to each house concurring, that there shall be submitted to the electors of the state of
10Louisiana, for their approval or rejection in the manner provided by law, a proposal to
11amend Article III, Section 2(A)(3)(a) and (4)(a) of the Constitution of Louisiana and to add
12Article III, Section 2(A)(5) of the Constitution of Louisiana, to read as follows:
13 §2. Sessions
14 Section 2.(A) Annual Session.
15 * * *
16 (3)(a) All regular sessions convening in even-numbered years shall be
17 general in nature and shall convene at noon on the second Monday in March. The
18 legislature shall meet in such a session for not more than sixty legislative days during
19 a period of eighty-five calendar days. No such session shall continue beyond six
20 o'clock in the evening of the eighty-fifth calendar day after convening except as
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HB NO. 49
1 provided in Subparagraph (5) of this Paragraph. No new matter intended to have the
2 effect of law shall be introduced or received by either house after six o'clock in the
3 evening of the twenty-third calendar day. No matter intended to have the effect of
4 law, except a measure proposing a suspension of law, shall be considered on third
5 reading and final passage in either house after six o'clock in the evening of the fifty-
6 seventh legislative day or the eighty-second calendar day, whichever occurs first,
7 except by a favorable record vote of two-thirds of the elected members of each
8 house.
9 * * *
10 (4)(a) All regular sessions convening in odd-numbered years shall convene
11 at noon on the second Monday in April. The legislature shall meet in such a session
12 for not more than forty-five legislative days in a period of sixty calendar days. No
13 such session shall continue beyond six o'clock in the evening of the sixtieth calendar
14 day after convening except as provided in Subparagraph (5) of this Paragraph. No
15 new matter intended to have the effect of law shall be introduced or received by
16 either house after six o'clock in the evening of the tenth calendar day. No matter
17 intended to have the effect of law, except a measure proposing a suspension of law,
18 shall be considered on third reading and final passage in either house after six o'clock
19 in the evening of the forty-second legislative day or fifty-seventh calendar day,
20 whichever occurs first, except by a favorable record vote of two-thirds of the elected
21 members of each house.
22 * * *
23 (5) Notwithstanding any contrary provision of Subsubparagraphs (3)(a) and
24 (4)(a) of this Paragraph and only if necessary to finally pass a bill appropriating
25 money, the legislature, by a favorable record vote of two-thirds of the elected
26 members of each house, may extend a regular session in increments of two
27 legislative or calendar days. During the time a regular session has been extended,
28 the legislature shall not consider any matter having the effect of law other than those
29 contained in a bill appropriating money. No regular session shall be extended more
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HB NO. 49
1 than six calendar days beyond the original time and day for the session to adjourn
2 sine die.
3 Section 2. Be it further resolved that this proposed amendment shall be submitted
4to the electors of the state of Louisiana at the statewide election to be held on December 7,
52024.
6 Section 3. Be it further resolved that on the official ballot to be used at the election,
7there shall be printed a proposition, upon which the electors of the state shall be permitted
8to vote YES or NO, to amend the Constitution of Louisiana, which proposition shall read as
9follows:
10 Do you support an amendment to allow the legislature to extend a regular
11 session in increments of two days up to a maximum of six days if necessary
12 to pass a bill appropriating money? (Amends Article III, Sections 2(A)(3)(a)
13 and (4)(a); Adds Article III, Section 2(A)(5))
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)]
HB 49 Reengrossed 2024 Regular Session Bacala
Abstract: Allows the legislature, by a two-thirds vote, to extend a regular session in
increments of two legislative or calendar days up to a maximum of six calendar days
beyond the original sine die adjournment time and date if necessary to pass a bill
appropriating money.
Present constitution provides that in even-numbered years the regular session of the
legislature convenes at noon on the second Monday in March, in which the legislature shall
meet for not more than 60 legislative days during a period of 85 calendar days. Specifies
that no such session shall continue beyond 6 p.m. of the 85th calendar day after convening.
Present constitution prohibits consideration of any matter having the effect of law, except
a measure proposing a suspension of law, beyond the 57th legislative day or the 82nd
calendar day, except by a two-thirds vote of the elected members of each house of the
legislature.
Present constitution provides that in odd-numbered years the legislature shall convene at
noon on the second Monday in April, in which the legislature shall meet for not more than
45 legislative days during a period of 60 calendar days. Specifies that no such session shall
continue beyond 6 p.m. of the 60th calendar day after convening. Present constitution
prohibits consideration of any matter having the effect of law, except a measure proposing
a suspension of law, beyond the 42nd legislative day or the 57th calendar day, except by a
two-thirds vote of the elected members of each house of the legislature.
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HB NO. 49
Proposed constitutional amendment provides that if necessary to finally pass a bill
appropriating money, the legislature, by a favorable record vote of two-thirds of the elected
members of each house, may extend a regular session in increments of two legislative or
calendar days. Prohibits the legislature from considering any matter having the effect of law
other than a bill appropriating money during such an extension and prohibits a regular
session from being extended more than six calendar days beyond the original time and day
for the session to adjourn sine die. Makes technical changes and otherwise retains present
constitution.
Provides for submission of the proposed amendment to the voters at the statewide election
to be held Dec. 7, 2024.
(Amends Const. Art. III, §2(A)(3)(a) and (4)(a); Adds Const. Art. III, §2(A)(5))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The House Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill:
1. Change the election date for submission to the electors from Nov. 5 to Dec. 7,
2024.
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