The Louisiana Allow Legislature to Create Trial Courts of Specialized Jurisdiction and Provide Supreme Court Original Jurisdiction to Discipline Out-of-State Lawyers Amendment is on the ballot in Louisiana as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on March 29, 2025

Do you support 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? (Amends Article V, Sections 5(B), 15(A) and 16(A))

What’s the amendment about?

This amendment does two main things:

1. Out-of-state lawyers: It gives the Louisiana Supreme Court the power to discipline lawyers who work in Louisiana but aren’t members of the Louisiana state bar. It is already well-established that the Supreme Court can sanction non-local attorneys, however - this language is intended to distract from the real goal, to create special courts (see below).
2. Special courts: Grants the state legislature the authority to create new courts that focus on specific types of cases, like business-related disputes. For this to happen, two-thirds of the lawmakers in both the House and Senate must agree.

This amendment isn’t about disciplining out-of-state attorneys. Out-of-state attorneys already get disciplined and disbarred for their actions in Louisiana, ALL THE TIME. So, what aren’t they telling us? This amendment sounds like politicians can punish out-of-state attorneys doing work they don’t agree with under the guise of ethics complaints.

What happens if you vote "YES"?

• There would be no change. The Louisiana Supreme Court already has the power to discipline lawyers working in the state, even if they’re from out of state.
• The state legislature would be allowed to create new courts that handle certain types of cases. This could include special courts for oil and gas, immigration, and abortion cases, among others.

What happens if you vote "NO"?

• The state legislature would not be granted the power to create an entirely new judiciary.

Proposed Constitutional Amendment 2

The Louisiana State Taxation Policy Amendment is on the ballot in Louisiana as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on March 29, 2025

Do you support 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 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? (Amends Article VII, Sections 1 through 28; Adds Article VII, Sections 29 through 42)

What’s the amendment about?

• It would eliminate several constitutionally protected K-12 education funds, and would not guarantee any additional funding for teacher pay raises as advertised.
• It would remove the constitutional protection for the property tax exemptions currently enjoyed by nonprofit organizations including hospitals, schools, unions, social aid and pleasure clubs, and more, as well as significantly curtail the exemption for religious institutions.
• It would create a spending limit on essential services like education and healthcare. Any state budget surplus would have to be spent on one-time projects instead of ongoing needs.
• It would lower the maximum state income tax rate, meaning that state income taxes could not be raised beyond a certain amount in the future.
• It would eliminate the state’s revenue stabilization fund and shift $1.76 billion into a new fund that helps cover budget shortfalls.
• It would limit local control over sales taxes.
• It would delete a fund supporting infant mortality programs.
• It would change gendered pronouns in the constitution.
• It would potentially increase taxes on take-out food.
• It would remove constitutional authorization for farmers’ and fishermen’s’ programs.

The Louisiana Legislative Authority to Determine Crimes for Trying Juveniles as Adults Amendment is on the ballot in Louisiana as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on March 29, 2025

Do you support an amendment to provide the legislature the authority to determine which felony crimes, when committed by a person under the age of seventeen, may be transferred for criminal prosecution as an adult? (Amends Article V, Section 19)

What’s the amendment about?

This amendment is about who decides which crimes are serious enough for kids under 17 (juveniles) to be tried as adults. Right now, the state constitution has a specific list of crimes for this. The amendment would take that list out of the constitution and let lawmakers decide which crimes should qualify through state law instead.

What happens if you vote "YES"?

• The list of crimes in the constitution (like murder or armed robbery) would be removed.
• The Louisiana legislature would have the power to decide which crimes could lead to a juvenile being tried as an adult. This would allow lawmakers to change the rules over time without needing a constitutional amendment.
• This change means that children under the age of 17 could be put in adult prisons at a higher rate.

What happens if you vote "NO"?

• The current list of crimes in the constitution stays the same.
• Only those specific crimes would qualify for juveniles to be tried as adults unless voters approve another constitutional change in the future.

What crimes are currently on the list?

Right now, the constitution lists serious crimes like:

• Murder (first or second degree)
• Manslaughter
• Rape (aggravated, forcible, or simple)
• Armed robbery.
• Kidnapping (aggravated or second degree)
• Multiple serious drug offenses (like selling drugs)
• Repeat offenses for crimes like burglary or aggravated battery

If the amendment passes, the legislature could make changes to this list in the future.

The  Louisiana Use Earliest Election Dates for Filling Judicial Vacancies Amendment is on the ballot in Louisiana as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on March 29, 2025

Do you support an amendment to provide for the use of the earliest election date to fill judicial vacancies? (Amends Article V, Section 22(B))

What’s the amendment about?

This amendment is a companion to Amendment 1, and determines how judges for the new courts created by the legislature would be elected.

What happens if you vote "YES"?

You’re saying you want to:

• Fill judge vacancies for new courts using the earliest election date allowed by state law, which are often extremely low-turnout elections.
• If a big election (like for governor or Congress) is happening within a year of the vacancy, the special election to fill the judge spot would happen at that time.

What happens if you vote "NO"?

• You’re saying you want to keep the current rule, which gives the state up to 12 months to hold a special election to fill a judge’s spot.