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Conference report on Sabine/DeSoto term‑limits fails after heated floor debate
Summary
A conference committee report combining term‑limit proposals for DeSoto and Sabine parishes failed on the House floor after extended debate over committee process and local opposition; motion to adopt the report failed 24 yeas to 66 nays.
Representative Miller moved to adopt the conference committee report on Senate Bill 113, a local measure addressing police‑jury term limits for DeSoto and Sabine parishes. Floor debate became contentious, with multiple members saying Sabine Parish residents and police jurors had opposed term limits at committee hearings while DeSoto sought the authority to submit a local referendum. The motion to adopt the conference committee report failed, recorded as 24 yeas and 66 nays.
Opponents on the floor, including Representative Cox and Representative Stagney, said language from a bill that failed in a House committee had been resurrected in the conference report and that the change undermined the municipal committee’s process. Members said Sabine Parish officials and many residents had submitted letters and resolutions opposing the local measure; DeSoto Parish had submitted a local resolution in favor. Representative Bagley, who represents part of Sabine, said he had not received requests to impose term limits from Sabine residents and noted heavy opposition in Sabine’s local vote.
Supporters, including Representative Shammelhorn (the bill’s floor advocate) and Representative Miller (who moved adoption), argued the conference report addressed concerns raised in committee. They said changes made in conference removed retroactive application and relaxed an absolute three‑term bar so that the proposed limits would not permanently disqualify someone who left office and later returned. Authors said the conference language altered election timing to conform to the election code and addressed a constitutional concern about who calls elections.
Multiple members said the process had left local residents surprised because a standalone Sabine bill had failed in committee and similar language was later added in conference. Several members urged colleagues to consider the municipal committee’s work when voting on conference reports.
When Representative Miller called for adoption, the machines closed and the clerk announced 24 yeas and 66 nays; the motion failed and the conference report was not adopted. Under House procedure the bill remains in conference unless a new motion is made to discharge or to submit a revised conference report.
