HLS 25RS-550 ORIGINAL
2025 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 420
BY REPRESENTATIVE BILLINGS
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
POLITICAL PARTIES: Provides for the qualifications, maintenance, and recognition of
political parties
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 18:441(B)(1) and to enact R.S. 18:107(G) and 441(B)(4) and (E),
3 relative to political parties; to provide for recognition of a political party; to provide
4 for party affiliation for voter registration; to prohibit recognition of certain political
5 parties; to prohibit designation of party affiliation with certain parties for voter
6 registration; to require a change in party affiliation under certain circumstances; to
7 provide for a procedure allowing a political party to request that its recognition be
8 rescinded; and to provide for related matters.
9Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
10 Section 1. R.S. 18:441(B)(1) is hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 18:107(G)
11and 441(B)(4) and (E) are hereby enacted to read as follows:
12 §107. Party affiliation not required for registration; change in party affiliation
13 * * *
14 G.(1) A person who applies for registration on or after August 1, 2025, shall
15 not be designated as "Independent" or designated as being affiliated with the
16 "Independent Party". An applicant who declares party affiliation as "Independent"
17 or with the "Independent Party" shall have his party affiliation entered as "No Party".
18 The Department of State shall notify the registrant of the change pursuant to R.S.
19 18:109.
Page 1 of 4
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 25RS-550 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 420
1 (2) A registrant who is registered as "Independent" or designated as being
2 affiliated with the "Independent Party" before August 1, 2025, shall have his party
3 affiliation changed to "No Party". The Department of State shall notify the registrant
4 of the change pursuant to R.S. 18:109.
5 * * *
6 §441. Recognition
7 * * *
8 B.(1) A political party shall be recognized if ninety days prior to the opening
9 of the qualifying period for any election at least one five thousand registered voters
10 in the state are registered as being affiliated with such political party; such political
11 party has filed a notarized registration statement as described in Paragraph (2) of this
12 Subsection with the secretary of state; and the political party has paid a registration
13 fee of one five thousand dollars to the secretary of state upon filing the registration
14 statement. The political party designation of a candidate shall not be listed on the
15 ballot unless the political party was recognized prior to the close of qualifying for the
16 office the candidate is seeking.
17 * * *
18 (4) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, no political party
19 shall be recognized in this state which declares its name solely to be "Independent"
20 or the "Independent Party".
21 * * *
22 E.(1) A political party may provide for the process of rescission of
23 recognition in the party's bylaws. A political party that has been recognized pursuant
24 to Subsection B of this Section may request to have the party's recognition rescinded
25 by the secretary of state. A political party that requests the party's recognition be
26 rescinded shall file a notarized rescission statement made in accordance with the
27 party's bylaws with the secretary of state.
28 (2) A registrant who is registered as being affiliated with a political party
29 that has its recognition rescinded shall have his party affiliation changed to "No
Page 2 of 4
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 25RS-550 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 420
1 Party". The Department of State shall notify the registrant of the change pursuant
2 to R.S. 18:109.
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 420 Original 2025 Regular Session Billings
Abstract: Provides for the qualifications, maintenance, and recognition of political parties.
Present law (R.S. 18:107) provides that an applicant does not need to be a member of a
political party (party) in order to be registered to vote. Provides that a registrant may change
party affiliation, choose to be affiliated with a party if the registrant previously was not
affiliated, or choose to be not affiliated with a party if the registrant was previously
affiliated. Further provides that a registrant cannot be affiliated with more than one party
at the same time.
Proposed law retains present law.
Proposed law provides that on or after August 1, 2025, a registrant will not be allowed to
register as "Independent" or with the "Independent Party". Provides that an applicant who
applies to register as "Independent" or with the "Independent Party" will have his affiliation
changed to "No Party". Further provides that a registrant who was registered as
"Independent" or with the "Independent Party" before August 1, 2025, will have his
affiliation changed to "No Party". Requires the Dept. of State to notify the registrant of the
change in affiliation.
Present law (R.S. 18:441) provides for how a party is to be recognized. Provides that a party
will be recognized if 90 days before the opening of the qualifying period for any election,
the party has at least 1,000 registered voters in the state that are affiliated with that party; the
party has filed a notarized registration statement with the secretary of state; and the party has
paid a registration fee of $1,000 to the secretary of state.
Proposed law increases the registered voter threshold from 1,000 to 5,000. Further provides
for an increase to the registration fee from $1,000 to $5,000. Proposed law otherwise retains
present law.
Present law provides for what is to be contained in a party's registration statement. Further
provides for when a party's registration statement will not be accepted by the secretary of
state.
Proposed law provides for a prohibition against a party from being recognized when using
the name "Independent" or the "Independent Party". Proposed law otherwise retains present
law.
Present law provides that a political party will be recognized if any one candidate of the
party for presidential elector received at least five percent of the votes cast for presidential
electors in the last presidential election, or if one candidate of the party for any statewide
office received at least five percent of the votes cast for statewide office in any primary or
general election. Provides that a party will no longer be recognized if it does not comply
with present law for a period of four consecutive years.
Proposed law retains preset law.
Page 3 of 4
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 25RS-550 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 420
Proposed law provides for rescission of recognition for a party. Provides that a party may
create a procedure for rescission in the party's bylaws. Provides that a party may request
rescission of the party's recognition by the secretary of state through a notarized rescission
statement made in accordance with the party's bylaws. Further provides that a registrant who
is affiliated with a party that has its recognition rescinded, will have his party affiliation
changed to "No Party".
(Amends R.S. 18:441(B)(1); Adds R.S. 18:107(G) and 441(B)(4) and (E))
Page 4 of 4
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.