Senate suspends rules, advances two election bills; 26-8 suspension vote

The Louisiana State Senate on Oct. 24, 2025, voted 26-8 to suspend its rules so two election-related measures reported by committee could be advanced to further consideration and final passage, the chamber’s clerk said.

Both measures reported by the Senate Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs and carried by Senator Caleb Seth Kleinpeter were advanced after a motion to suspend the rules. Senator Boudreau objected to the suspension; a roll-call tally announced by the clerk showed 26 ayes and 8 nays, after individual ayes were recorded for senators including Bass, Womack and Migos.

Why it matters: The measures make procedural changes to how elections and statewide constitutional amendment votes will be conducted in 2026. Earlier committee action and the suspension vote moved the bills forward for final consideration by the full Senate.

Details on the measures

Senate Bill 1, carried by Senator Kleinpeter and reported favorably by committee, is an act described in the clerk’s reading as amending Title 18 with provisions affecting the conduct of elections in 2026. The bill’s text as read to the chamber addresses dates for spring elections in 2026, qualifying for spring elections, nominating petitions for 2026, campaign finance disclosure filing deadlines for 2026 and authorizations to the secretary of state. The clerk announced SB 1 was "ordered in gross and passed at third reading." The transcript did not record a formal roll-call vote count for SB 1 beyond that announcement.

Senate Bill 2, also reported favorably, was read with references to multiple session acts and sections listed by the clerk. The clerk said SB 2 would change the date for submitting proposed constitutional amendments to the electors and provide for a special statewide election on May 16, 2026, among other procedural changes; the clerk further said SB 2 was "ordered engrossed and passed to third reading and final passage." The transcript provides the committee report language but does not record a separate roll-call vote for SB 2 in the text provided here.

Other business

Chamber officers announced that a resolution dealing with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) issues — described on the floor as having been worked on for several days — would be handled as an urgent request on the House side and was scheduled for a vote there on Wednesday; the clerk said members would receive the first draft by email for review.

Senator Meisel led a prayer and the pledge at the start of the session. Senator Bass marked a colleague’s birthday during announcements. Senator Talbot moved that the Senate adjourn and reconvene Saturday, Oct. 25, at 9 a.m.; the president ordered members to be present at 9 a.m. the following day.

Next steps: According to the clerk’s announcements on the floor, SB 1 and SB 2 were moved forward under the suspension and committee reports as described above and will proceed according to the chamber’s further reading and final-passage procedures.