Authorizes a citizens advisory referendum election (OR SEE FISC NOTE LF EX)

HB 544 creates a new mechanism allowing parish residents to petition their parish governing authority to hold advisory referendums on specific matters. The legislation adds Chapter 6-F to Title 18 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes, establishing sections 1300.41 through 1300.47, which establish the complete procedural framework for citizens advisory referendums. The core mechanism requires that at least ten percent of registered voters in a parish sign a petition directed to the parish governing authority requesting that an election be called to place a single question on the ballot. The Secretary of State must provide a standardized, attorney general-approved petition form with pre-printed line numbers, and all petition signatures must be handwritten. The chairman designated by the petition signers files the petition form with the Secretary of State, which triggers a ninety-day period before the signed petition must be submitted to the parish registrar of voters, with a maximum total timeline of one hundred eighty days after initial filing. The registrar then certifies whether the petition contains valid signatures from at least ten percent of the parish's registered voters within thirty working days. The election itself must be conducted according to the Louisiana Election Code, and the ballot must clearly state that the results are for advisory purposes only and non-binding.

This legislation directly affects parish residents, parish governing authorities, the Secretary of State, and registrars of voters. Registered voters in any parish can now initiate advisory referendums by gathering signatures equal to at least ten percent of the parish's registered voter population, providing them with a mechanism to formally poll their parish on specific issues without binding the governing authority to any particular action. Parish governing authorities gain the authority and obligation to hold elections when a valid petition is submitted, though the results do not require them to take any action. The Secretary of State assumes responsibility for creating and distributing the standardized petition form, reporting the number of qualified electors in a parish upon receiving a petition, and ensuring that ballot language complies with existing content requirements in Louisiana law. Parish registrars of voters take on substantial certification duties, including verifying that each signature comes from an actual parish resident, completing their review within thirty working days, and managing requests from voters to add or remove their signatures from the petition. The legislation also allows registrars to request assistance from the Department of State and registrars from other parishes to complete the certification work.

The legislation operates within Louisiana's existing election law framework, incorporating by reference the Louisiana Election Code for conducting the actual elections and the requirements of R.S. 18:3 regarding petition signature requirements and registrar duties. The bill retains existing language from R.S. 18:1299.1 governing the preparation of ballot propositions, requiring that citizens advisory referendum questions be written in simple, unbiased, concise, and easily understood language, not exceed two hundred words, and comply with formatting restrictions. The legislation also operates within existing election date restrictions under R.S. 18:402, meaning citizens advisory referendums must be scheduled on dates already designated as permissible election dates under state law. The advisory nature of these referendums is emphasized throughout the bill and distinguished from binding elections, as the results are explicitly non-binding on the parish governing authority even if a majority votes in favor of the proposed matter. The mechanism parallels existing Louisiana initiative and referendum law but creates a distinctive advisory channel that allows constituent engagement without creating legal obligations for parish officials.