On May 16, voters will consider five amendments to the Louisiana Constitution. Two of them are parts of Amendment #2 from 2025, the major effort to rewrite the entirety of the constitution’s lengthy Article VII. Voters rejected that amendment last year, but it was a complicated revision that contained many provisions that citizens likely had a difficult time understanding. Leaders for a Better Louisiana supported Amendment #2 and likewise supports the two pieces from the amendment on this year’s ballot.
Both of these are significant for the state. One utilizes about $2 billion in revenues from three trust funds to pay down debt in the retirement system for teachers and directs the savings to teacher pay raises. The other gives local governments the option to eliminate, phase out, or reduce their business inventory tax.
The other three amendments are also consequential. They deal with a major change to the state’s civil service system, an increase in the mandatory retirement age for judges, and the creation of a new school district in East Baton Rouge Parish.
That is why Better Louisiana has once again analyzed the amendments and offered our thoughts and recommendations. Our hope is that voters will use this guide and other resources that are available to familiarize themselves with the issues before they cast their votes.
Changing our constitution is not something we should undertake lightly. If we make a mistake, it is often difficult to repair in short order. Nevertheless, deciding constitutional matters is one of our important responsibilities as citizens, and we hope voters will consider these proposals thoughtfully and make their voices heard.
