(The Center Square) – Louisiana voters rejected all five proposed constitutional amendments in Saturday’s election, turning down measures that would have addressed teacher pay raises, property tax policy, judicial retirement rules and government authority over civil service jobs.
The sweeping outcome halts a range of policy changes backed by lawmakers and sends several high-profile proposals back to the drawing board.
One of the most closely watched measures would have restructured education funding by dissolving three trust funds – the Education Excellence Fund, the Education Quality Trust Fund and the Support Fund – to finance permanent annual raises of $2,250 for teachers and $1,125 for support staff. The proposal had been closely tied to ongoing budget discussions, with lawmakers warning the raises may now be difficult to sustain without the dedicated funding source.
Voters also rejected Amendment 2, which would have created a separate school district for the city of St. George outside the East Baton Rouge Parish system, and Amendment 4, which would have allowed local governments to reduce or eliminate property taxes on business inventory. Supporters of the inventory tax change said it would make Louisiana more competitive economically, while opponents warned it could reduce local government revenue.
Other defeated proposals included Amendment 5, which would have raised the mandatory retirement age for Louisiana judges from 70 to 75. Advocates said the change would allow more experienced judges to remain on the bench longer, while opponents said it could weaken accountability and effectively extend judicial tenure beyond current expectations.
Amendment 1 also failed, which would have shifted authority over certain state civil service protections from an independent commission to the Legislature. Supporters said the move would increase flexibility and improve government efficiency, while critics raised concerns about potential political influence over state employment decisions. With all five amendments rejected, lawmakers are expected to revisit several of the proposals through future legislation or revised ballot measures.
