On March 29, 2025, Louisiana voters participated in a municipal primary election, decisively rejecting all four proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot. The voter turnout was just over 21%, according to the Louisiana Secretary of State.
Amendment 1: Jurisdiction Over Out-of-State Lawyers and Specialty Courts
This amendment sought to grant the Louisiana Supreme Court jurisdiction to discipline out-of-state lawyers for unethical practices within the state and to authorize the legislature to establish trial courts of limited and specialized jurisdiction. Voters rejected this proposal, maintaining the current legal framework.
Amendment 2: Overhaul of Budget and Tax Provisions
Amendment 2 aimed to revise Article VII of the Louisiana Constitution, encompassing changes such as lowering the maximum income tax rate, increasing income tax deductions for citizens over 65, implementing a government growth limit, and providing a permanent teacher salary increase by requiring surplus payments to teacher retirement debt. The rejection of this amendment means existing budget and tax provisions remain unchanged.
Amendments 3 and 4
Details on Amendments 3 and 4 were not specified in the available sources. However, it is confirmed that both were rejected by voters in this election.
Implications of the Vote
The rejection of these amendments, particularly Amendment 2, represents a significant setback for Governor Jeff Landry’s administration, which had prioritized the proposed tax and budget reforms. Nearly two-thirds of voters opposed the amendments, indicating substantial public resistance to the governor’s policy agenda.
Local Election Results
In addition to the statewide constitutional amendments, local races and tax propositions were decided across various parishes. For instance, Orleans Parish held municipal primary elections, with full results available through local news outlets.
Looking Ahead
The next scheduled election in Louisiana is the Municipal General Election on May 3, 2025, which will include special primary elections for State Representative positions in the 45th and 67th Representative Districts. Key dates and information for this upcoming election are available through the Louisiana Secretary of State’s office.
