House approves pay raises and removal process changes for registrars of voters; funding contingent on Secretary of State budget

BATON ROUGE — The Louisiana House adopted a bill that would raise pay steps for registrars of voters, add grounds and procedures for removal, and allow the Secretary of State to pursue allegations when local governing authorities do not. The measure passed the House but contains language making raises dependent on the availability of funds and subject to budget approval.

Representative Ray Butler, the bill sponsor, told colleagues HB502 “pertains to the duties evaluations of the registered voters and their chief deputies and confidential assistants” and would provide a phased 5% raise tied to step increases for qualifying registrars. Butler said registrars had not received pay increases since 2007 and that the bill also incorporated accountability standards — including causes for termination such as incompetence, persistent underperformance, substance violations and unresolved absenteeism.

The bill creates a process for allegations to be raised to the Secretary of State when local governing bodies do not act. Butler said the measure would allow the Secretary’s office to designate investigators and to schedule hearings, and it would prohibit the Commissioner from sitting on the disciplinary panel in such cases.

Members pressed for details about who would fund the pay increases. Representative Taylor asked whether the bill imposed an unfunded mandate on local governments; Butler and others said the raises would be paid from the Secretary of State’s budget if funds were appropriated. During floor questioning a member cited a projected cost figure — $7,100,000 over five years — and Butler acknowledged the number during debate. Butler also said the bill, as passed by the House, would be referred to Senate committees with the need for funding to be reviewed there.

The vote on final passage was 88 yeas and 5 nays. Proponents said the bill addressed a growing workload for registrars — including responsibilities added since the pandemic — and rectified years without systematic raises. Opponents worried about fiscal strain and argued the state should share costs with local governments. Representative Romero, for instance, asked whether the bill could require local contributions; Butler said the state would fund the raises but that actual support in the Senate finance committee was not guaranteed.

Why it matters: Registrars are essential to election administration and local recordkeeping. The bill combines pay adjustments with a new accountability mechanism, but implementation depends on whether the Secretary of State receives the necessary appropriation.