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Senate suspends rules to read, refer prefiled election bills after members raise public‑notice concerns
Summary
The Louisiana Senate voted twice to suspend its rules to advance prefiled election bills and to allow the Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee to meet today; a point of order warned the session could be vulnerable to legal challenge over public‑notice procedures.
The Louisiana State Senate voted to suspend its rules twice on Thursday to accelerate the handling of prefiled election legislation and to permit the Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee to meet this afternoon, after a senator raised a point of order about whether the public had received adequate notice of committee meetings.
Senator Kleinpeter moved to suspend the rules so prefiled bills could be read for first and second time and referred to committee; the motion passed 27‑10. Later, Senator Kleinpeter moved to suspend the rules to allow the Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee to meet at 3 p.m. today on its posted agenda; that motion also passed 27‑10. Senator Talbot moved to adjourn and reconvene Friday, Oct. 24, at 10 a.m., and the Senate agreed without objection.
The actions advance two bills introduced on the Senate floor Thursday. Senate Bill 1, filed by Senator Kleinpeter, would set a special statewide election on May 16, 2026, to submit constitutional amendments to voters and would amend and repeal several session acts to change the date and conduct of that election. Senate Bill 2, also by Senator Kleinpeter, would amend provisions of Title 18 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes related to the conduct and dates of spring elections in 2026, nominating petitions, campaign finance filing deadlines and give certain authorities to the secretary of state. Both bills were referred to the Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs.
The point of order came from Senator Luno, who cited Louisiana Revised Statute 42:19 and a Senate rule titled “notice of committee meetings during sessions,” Rule 13.73. Luno argued that although subsection (a) of LRS 42:19 does not apply to the legislature, subsection (b) imposes requirements for reasonable public notice of day‑to‑day sessions and committee meetings that the Senate must meet. "I'm concerned that ... we take a chance on a court of law throwing out everything that we do in this session because of a notice to the public," Luno said.
Senate leadership responded that notice had been posted before the session began and characterized that as adequate public notice under the Senate's rules; the president said the posting met the rules and the proceedings continued.
The Senate also announced a proclamation from the governor calling a special session that will end no later than 6 p.m. on Nov. 13, and the journal reported receipt of a resignation letter from Senator Joseph Buie Jr., effective Oct. 15.
Votes at a glance: - Motion to suspend rules to read prefiled bills for first and second reading and refer to committee — Mover: Senator Talbot; Outcome: passed; Vote tally: 27 yes, 10 no. - Motion to suspend rules to allow Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee to meet at 3 p.m. today — Mover: Senator Kleinpeter; Outcome: passed; Vote tally: 27 yes, 10 no. - Motion to adjourn and reconvene Friday, Oct. 24, at 10 a.m. — Mover: Senator Talbot; Outcome: approved without objection.
The Senate set the Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee to meet at 3 p.m. in Room F to consider the referred election bills. The bills' full texts and committee packets were not read into the record on the floor; the Senate referred both to committee for further consideration.
