There will be four amendments on the December 7, ballot. Voters can use this checklist to prepare for the upcoming Voter Checklist for Dec. 7 ballot.
Amendment: “Do you support an amendment to allow the supreme court to sanction a judge upon an investigation by the judiciary commission, and provide that the recommended sanction shall be instituted by the judiciary commission or by a majority of the supreme court, and to provide for the appointment of five members of the judiciary commission?”
A vote for would: Increase the number of members of the state Judiciary Commission and give the Louisiana Supreme Court authority to direct the commission to investigate judicial misconduct allegations.
A vote against would: Maintain the current nine-member Judiciary Commission and keep the Louisiana Supreme Court’s authority over judicial ethics and discipline limited to action based on recommendations from the commission.
Amendment 2: “Do you support an amendment to require that the legislature wait for at least forty-eight hours prior to concurring in a conference committee report or amendments to a bill appropriating money?”
A vote for would: Require lawmakers to wait at least 48 hours to review proposed amendments to bills appropriating money before they can take a final vote.
A vote against would: Continue to allow state lawmakers to take a final vote on bills appropriating money and send them to the governor at any time in a legislative session.
Amendment 3: “Do you support an amendment to allow the legislature to extend a regular session in increments of two days up to a maximum of six days if necessary to pass a bill appropriating money?”
A vote for would: Allow lawmakers, with a two-thirds vote, to extend a regular legislative session up to six days if they need more time to pass a bill appropriating money
A vote against would: Maintain the current legislative session calendar, in which the House and Senate meet during a period of 85 calendar days in even-numbered years and during a period of 60 calendar days in odd-numbered years.
Amendment 4: “Do you support an amendment to eliminate mandatory tax sales for nonpayment of property taxes and require the legislature to provide for such procedures by law; to limit the amount of penalty and interest on delinquent property taxes; and to provide for the postponement of property tax payments under certain circumstances?
A vote for would: Shift Louisiana from a tax sale process to a tax lien auction process when a property owner hasn’t paid property taxes and the local government wants to satisfy the tax debt.
A vote against would: Keep Louisiana’s tax sale process in place for local governments seeking to satisfy a tax debt when a property owner hasn’t paid property taxes.