Jonah Patel
The Louisiana Constitution, the state constitution of Louisiana, has been amended several times since its adoption in 1974. The process of amending the constitution is outlined in Article 13, which details the legislative process and the state constitutional convention. A simple majority vote (50% plus 1) is required for voters to approve constitutional amendments, and amendments can be referred to the ballot in odd-numbered and even-numbered years. The state legislature can refer constitutional amendments to the ballot, with a two-thirds vote required during one session of the Louisiana State Legislature for an amendment to be placed on the ballot. This process does not require the governor's signature.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of mechanisms to amend the constitution | 2 |
| Mechanisms | Legislative process, state constitutional convention |
| Minimum vote required for approval | Simple majority (50% + 1) |
| Minimum vote required to place an amendment on the ballot | Two-thirds (66.67%) |
| Minimum votes required in the Louisiana House of Representatives | 70 |
| Minimum votes required in the Louisiana State Senate | 26 |
| Governor's signature required to place an amendment on the ballot | No |
| Years in which amendments can be referred to the ballot | Odd-numbered, even-numbered |
| Number of proposed amendments on the ballot from 1978 to 2024 | 321 |
| Number of proposed amendments adopted by voters from 1978 to 2024 | 221 |
| Number of proposed amendments on the ballot on March 29, 2025 | 4 |
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What You'll Learn
Legislative process
The Louisiana Constitution provides two mechanisms for amending the state's constitution: a legislative process and a state constitutional convention. A legislative process involves the state Legislature referring constitutional amendments to the ballot for voters to decide. A two-thirds vote (66.67%) is required during one session of the Louisiana State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. This 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 can be referred to the ballot in odd-numbered and even-numbered years and do not require the governor's signature.
Legislatively referred constitutional amendments are placed on the ballot for voters to approve or reject. Louisiana requires a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) for voters to approve constitutional amendments. Voters last approved new amendments to the Louisiana Constitution on 7 December 2024, when four constitutional amendments were approved.
The Louisiana State Taxation Policy Amendment was on the ballot in March 2025 as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment. This amendment proposed revisions to Article VII of the Constitution of Louisiana, including lowering the maximum rate of income tax, increasing income tax deductions for citizens over 65, providing for a government growth limit, modifying the operation of certain constitutional funds, providing for property tax exemptions, and making other modifications.
Another legislatively referred constitutional amendment on the ballot in March 2025 was the Louisiana Allow Legislature to Create Trial Courts of Specialized Jurisdiction and Provide Supreme Court Original Jurisdiction to Discipline Out-of-State Lawyers Amendment. This amendment proposed granting the Louisiana Supreme Court jurisdiction to discipline out-of-state lawyers for unethical legal practices in Louisiana and expanding the Legislature's authority to create specialty courts.
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State constitutional convention
The Louisiana Constitution can be amended through a state constitutional convention. This method requires a two-thirds majority vote (approximately 66.67%) in both chambers of the Louisiana State Legislature to call for a convention. Once the convention is convened, any proposed amendments must be approved by a simple majority (50% plus one) of voters.
The state constitutional convention is one of two mechanisms for amending the Louisiana Constitution, the other being a legislative process. The legislative process involves the state legislature referring constitutional amendments to the ballot for voter approval. A two-thirds vote in the state legislature is required to place a legislative amendment on the ballot, and amendments can be referred in odd-numbered or even-numbered years.
The Louisiana Constitution, adopted in 1974, is the fundamental document outlining the state's framework for governance. It encompasses matters such as the powers, structure, and limitations of the state government, as well as individual and civil rights. Since 1978, 321 proposed amendments have been on the ballot, with 221 of them (68.84%) being adopted by voters.
On March 29, 2025, four constitutional amendments were on the ballot for voter consideration. These included the Louisiana State Taxation Policy Amendment, which proposed revisions to income tax rates, deductions, government growth limits, and property tax exemptions. Another amendment concerned the authority of the Louisiana Supreme Court to discipline out-of-state lawyers and the legislature's power to create specialty courts.
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State Legislature referral to ballot
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.
According to Article XII, the state legislature can refer constitutional amendments to the ballot for voters to decide. A two-thirds vote (66.67%) 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 and even-numbered years in Louisiana.
The Louisiana Allow Legislature to Create Trial Courts of Specialized Jurisdiction and Provide Supreme Court Original Jurisdiction to Discipline Out-of-State Lawyers Amendment was on the ballot in Louisiana as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on March 29, 2025. Voters were asked whether they supported an amendment granting the Louisiana Supreme Court jurisdiction to discipline out-of-state lawyers for unethical legal practices in the state of Louisiana and to grant the legislature the authority to establish trial courts of limited and specialized jurisdiction.
The Louisiana State Taxation Policy Amendment was also on the ballot in Louisiana as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on March 29, 2025. Voters were asked whether they supported an amendment to revise Article VII of the Constitution of Louisiana, including revisions to lower the maximum rate of income tax, increase income tax deductions for citizens over sixty-five, provide for a government growth limit, modify the operation of certain constitutional funds, provide for property tax exemptions retaining the homestead exemption and exemption for religious organizations, provide a permanent teacher salary increase by requiring a surplus payment to teacher retirement debt, and make other modifications.
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![Amendments to the Constitution of the State of Louisiana, Adopted by the Electors of the State of Louisiana at the Congressional Elections Held in 1914 and 1916. 1914-1916. (1917) [Leather Bound]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61FbOFgXaEL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
Supreme Court's authority
The Louisiana Constitution is the state constitution of Louisiana. It was adopted in 1974 and has since undergone several amendments. The state has had 11 constitutions, and the current one consists of 14 articles.
The Louisiana Constitution provides two mechanisms for amending the state's constitution: a legislative process and a state constitutional convention. Both methods require voter approval. A simple majority (50% plus 1) of voters is required to approve constitutional amendments.
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. This amounts to a minimum of 70 votes in the Louisiana House of Representatives and 26 votes in the Louisiana State Senate.
One of the proposed amendments for the March 29, 2025, ballot involves granting the Louisiana Supreme Court jurisdiction to discipline out-of-state lawyers for unethical legal practices in the state. This amendment would also expand the Legislature's authority to create specialty courts not limited to parish jurisdictions.
The amendment specifically targets lawyers who work in Louisiana but are not members of the Louisiana State Bar. While the Supreme Court already possesses the power to sanction non-local attorneys, this amendment seeks to explicitly outline the Court's authority in the Constitution.
Another proposed amendment, also on the ballot for March 29, 2025, concerns taxation policy. This amendment proposes revisions to Article VII of the Constitution of Louisiana, including modifications to income tax rates, deductions, government growth limits, constitutional fund operations, property tax exemptions, and teacher salary increases.
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State Taxation Policy Amendment
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. A two-thirds (66.67%) vote is required during one session of the Louisiana State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot.
The State Taxation Policy Amendment is a legislatively referred constitutional amendment. It proposes to revise Article VII of the Constitution of Louisiana, which includes revisions to lower the maximum rate of income tax and increase income tax deductions for citizens over sixty-five. It also seeks to provide for a government growth limit, modify the operation of certain constitutional funds, and provide for property tax exemptions, retaining the homestead exemption and exemption for religious organizations.
The amendment would also make changes to the funding structure for education. It would eliminate several constitutionally protected K-12 education funds. Additionally, it would not guarantee any additional funding for teacher pay raises. The amendment proposes a permanent teacher salary increase by requiring a surplus payment to teacher retirement debt.
In terms of the impact on nonprofit organizations, the amendment would remove the constitutional protection for property tax exemptions currently enjoyed by these entities, including hospitals, schools, unions, social aid, and pleasure clubs.
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Frequently asked questions
The Louisiana Constitution is the state constitution of Louisiana. The current state constitution was adopted in 1974 and has been amended several times since.
The Louisiana Constitution provides two mechanisms for amending the state's constitution: a legislative process and a state constitutional convention. A simple majority (50% plus 1) of voters is required to approve constitutional amendments.
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. Amendments can be referred to the ballot in odd-numbered and even-numbered years.
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.
