HLS 25RS-550 ENGROSSED
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 it be dissolved; and
8 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. The notice shall contain an explanation for the change in registration.
Page 1 of 4
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 25RS-550 ENGROSSED
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. The notice shall contain an explanation for
5 the change in registration.
6 * * *
7 §441. Recognition
8 * * *
9 B.(1) A political party shall be recognized if ninety days prior to the opening
10 of the qualifying period for any election at least one five thousand registered voters
11 in the state are registered as being affiliated with such political party; such political
12 party has filed a notarized registration statement as described in Paragraph (2) of this
13 Subsection with the secretary of state; and the political party has paid a registration
14 fee of one five thousand dollars to the secretary of state upon filing the registration
15 statement. The political party designation of a candidate shall not be listed on the
16 ballot unless the political party was recognized prior to the close of qualifying for the
17 office the candidate is seeking.
18 * * *
19 (4) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, no political party
20 shall be recognized in this state which declares its name solely to be "Independent"
21 or the "Independent Party".
22 * * *
23 E.(1) A political party may through its bylaws provide for the process of
24 dissolution. A political party that has been recognized pursuant to Subsection B of
25 this Section may request to have the party dissolved by the secretary of state. A
26 political party that requests the party's dissolution shall file a notarized dissolution
27 statement with the secretary of state made in accordance with the party's bylaws.
28 (2) A registrant who is registered as being affiliated with a political party
29 that is dissolved pursuant to this Subsection shall have his party affiliation changed
Page 2 of 4
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 25RS-550 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 420
1 to "No Party". The Department of State shall notify the registrant of the change
2 pursuant to R.S. 18:109. The notice shall contain an explanation for the change in
3 registration.
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 Engrossed 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 not be 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 prohibits 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.
Page 3 of 4
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 25RS-550 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 420
Proposed law retains preset law.
Proposed law provides for dissolution of a party. Provides that a party may create a
procedure for dissolution in the party's bylaws. Provides that a party may request to be
dissolved through a notarized dissolution statement made in accordance with the party's
bylaws. Further provides that a registrant who is affiliated with a party that is dissolved, will
have his party affiliation changed to "No Party". Requires the Dept. of State to notify the
registrant of the change in affiliation.
(Amends R.S. 18:441(B)(1); Adds R.S. 18:107(G) and 441(B)(4) and (E))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on House and
Governmental Affairs to the original bill:
1. Replace the words "rescission" and "rescinded" with "dissolution" and
"dissolved".
2. Provide for a political party's dissolution rather than the party's rescission of
recognition.
3. Provide that the Dept. of State include an explanation for the change in
registration within a notice that is sent to a registrant who has his party affiliation
changed pursuant to proposed law.
Page 4 of 4
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.