BATON ROUGE — When voters head to the polls on May 16, they won’t just be choosing candidates. They’ll also decide whether to change Louisiana’s constitution.
Unlike regular laws, constitutional amendments are permanent unless voters change them again. In Louisiana, lawmakers place these amendments on the ballot, and voters get the final say.
Louisiana voters will decide five constitutional amendments on May 16. Here’s a breakdown of the proposed amendments, what they do, and what a “yes” or “no” vote means.
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Proposed Amendment No. 1
How it will appear on the ballot: “Do you support an amendment to allow the legislature to remove or add officers, positions, and employees to the unclassified state civil service?” (Amends Article X, Section 2(B))“
This amendment allows lawmakers to add or remove positions from the unclassified state civil service. Unclassified employees are typically high-level or political appointments that are not protected by the traditional civil service system.
- What a YES vote means: Lawmakers gain more control over which jobs are classified vs. unclassified. More positions could be moved out of traditional civil service protections.
- What a NO vote means: The current civil service structure stays in place, keeping limits on how positions can be reclassified.
Proposed Amendment No. 2
How it will appear on the ballot: “Do you support an amendment to grant the St. George community school system in East Baton Rouge Parish the same authority granted parishes for purposes of Article VIII, Section 13 of the Constitution of Louisiana, including purposes related to the minimum foundation program, funding for certain school books and instructional materials, and the raising of certain local revenues for the support of elementary and secondary schools? (Amends Article VIII, Section 13(D)(1))“
This amendment would allow the St. George community school system in East Baton Rouge Parish to operate with the same authority as a parish school system, including funding and taxing authority. If approved, a 7-member interim board will be appointed with operations planned to begin in July 2027.
- What a YES vote means: Establishes the St. George Community School System as an independent district, similar to Central or Zachary, separate from East Baton Rouge Parish Schools.They could receive state education funding and be allowed to raise local revenue to support schools.
- What a NO vote means: St. George schools would remain within the East Baton Rouge Parish Schools system and not gain full parish-level school authority.
Proposed Amendment No. 3
How it will appear on the ballot: “Do you support an amendment to fund a $2,250 teacher pay raise and $1,125 support staff pay raise by utilizing the remaining savings from paying down the debt of the Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana with monies from certain constitutional funds? (Effective January 1, 2027) (Amends Article VII, Section 10.8(A)(1), (2), and (4), (B), and (C)(1); Adds Article VII, Section 10.17; Repeals Article VII, Sections 10(F)(4)(d), 10.1, 10.8(A)(3) and (C)(3), and 10.16(A)(9))“
This amendment restructures several education-related trust funds. It would allow the state to use that money to help pay down teacher retirement debt. Freeing that debt, state leaders say, would help fund a permanent $2,250 raise for teachers and $1,125 for support staff. The amendment would also eliminate several existing education funds and redirect that money.
A similar amendment was previously rejected by voters in 2025.
- What a YES vote means: Teacher and support staff raises are funded through these changes. Existing education trust funds are eliminated or repurposed and retirement debt is reduced using those funds.
- What a NO vote means: Existing education funds remain in place and there would be no restructuring of those funds to guarantee a permanent teacher pay raise.
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Proposed Amendment No. 4
How it will appear on the ballot: “Do you support an amendment to allow a parish to reduce or exempt property tax on property held as business inventory and to provide for the classification of Public Service Property? (Amends Article VII, Sections 10.15(F)(1) and 18(A) and (B); Adds Article VII, Sections 20.1, 20.2, and 21(P))“
This amendment allows local governments to reduce or eliminate property taxes on business inventory. It would also create new classifications for certain types of property. Currently, Louisiana exempts several categories or property from local ad valorem taxes. T
he amendment also provides parishes some authority to approve or deny property tax exemptions by allowing local taxing authorities to approve or reject industrial tax exemptions. Louisiana is one of the few states that taxes business inventory.
- What a YES vote means: Parishes can choose to lower or eliminate taxes on inventory, which could reduce costs for businesses. Business inventory includes retail store products, warehouse goods and raw materials waiting to be used.
- What a NO vote means: Businesses continue paying existing inventory taxes and current property tax rules stay the same
Proposed Amendment No. 5
How it will appear on the ballot: “Do you support an amendment to change the mandatory retirement age for judges from seventy to seventy-five, provided that a judge may continue to serve to complete a term of office? (Amends Article V, Section 23(B))“
This amendment would increase the mandatory judicial retirement age from 70 to 75, but would allow judges to continue to serve out their terms if they turn 75 before it expires.
Louisiana is currently one of 16 states that set the retirement age at 70. If approved, the state would join Florida, Texas and six other states with judges able to retire at 75. Vermont has the highest retirement age at 90.
- What a YES vote means: Judges can stay on the bench longer and could keep more experienced judges in office.
- What a NO vote means: The judge retirment age remains at 70
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