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On March 29, residents of the River Parishes—St Charles, St James, and St John the Baptist—will have the chance to vote on four proposed amendments to the Louisiana Constitution.

This month, all four proposed amendments will appear on every ballot, and some parishes will also vote on local issues. Twenty-three parishes will consider the amendments, while 41 will participate in local races or propositions.

Early voting occurs from March 15 to March 22, excluding Sunday, and early voting locations are open from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

On election day, polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters can discover their polling places at www.GeauxVote.com, through the GeauxVote mobile app, or by contacting their parish registrar of voters.

Amendment 1 

This amendment would allow lawmakers to create new regional and statewide specialty courts.

It would also clarify that, according to the Louisiana Constitution, the state Supreme Court holds authority over disciplinary cases involving lawyer misconduct by out-of-state attorneys practicing in Louisiana. The constitution only says the Supreme Court has authority over “disciplinary proceedings against a member of the bar.”

Amendment 2

This item would lower the maximum rate of the state’s income tax and increase deductions for citizens over 65; establish a “government growth limit” that restricts how much lawmakers can raise spending from one year to the next; and allows parishes to opt out of the property tax on business inventory. 

The amendment would give teachers a $2,000 raise and school support workers a $1,000 raise. However, funding those raises would affect other educational programs.

Under the constitution, groceries, residential utilities, and prescription drugs would continue to be exempt from state sales tax. Local governments are required to match the state’s sales tax exemptions constitutionally. The constitution permits the state to create and manage a centralized tax collection system.

Public lands, property owned by nonprofits, labor groups, fraternal organizations, boats, and medical equipment are among the property tax exemptions affected.

The Industrial Tax Exemption Program, which generates millions of dollars of tax breaks for significant businesses, would also move into statute where it could be more easily changed.

It ensures authority for local governments to adjust property tax millages based on changing property values is removed from the constitution but remains in the statute.

Amendment 3 

This item would expand the list of crimes in the Constitution for which juveniles could be prosecuted as adults. The constitution currently outlines a list of 16 felony crimes for which juveniles may be charged as adults, including 14 violent offenses such as murder, rape, and armed robbery 

It would eliminate the current felony list and allow state lawmakers to decide whether juveniles can be charged as adults for any felony offense.

Amendment 4 

This item would change the election timeline for vacant and newly created judgeships. Elections for judicial seats must happen within 12 months. The amendment requires them to occur during the next gubernatorial or congressional polls or on the earliest available election date as specified by law.

The Legislature recently changed some elections—including the state Supreme Court—to a closed-party primary system, starting in 2026. This could require three elections instead of two: two during the party primary race and one in a general election.