SB 86 Louisiana Senate · 2025 Regular Session

JUDGES: Constitutional amendment to remove the mandatory retirement age for judges. (2/3 - CA13s1(A)) (1/1/27)

SB 86 is a proposed constitutional amendment that aims to remove the mandatory retirement age for judges. If enacted, this measure would allow judges to continue serving without being subject to a specific age limit for retirement. The bill directly affects judges by eliminating this existing requirement from the state constitution.

Bill status failed 2 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Apr 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Failed

May 2025

Governor

Introduced Apr 3, 2025 Last action May 7, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB86 Original → SB86 Engrossed · 4 edits · Apr 30, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was modified to remove a provision that would have prohibited age-based discrimination for all public office holders and employees, limiting the amendment's scope strictly to judges. Additionally, the effective date for the retirement age changes was delayed from January 1, 2026, to January 1, 2027, and the election date was moved from November 2025 to November 2026.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed by removing the language that would have eliminated mandatory retirement ages for all public office holders and public employees, applying the change only to judges.

SCOPE

Removed the constitutional amendment language that would have prohibited denying public office or employment based solely on age for all public employees and office holders.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date of the amendment from January 1, 2026, to January 1, 2027.

Changed the election date for voter approval from November 15, 2025, to November 3, 2026.

TECHNICAL

Updated the ballot language to remove references to public employees and office holders, focusing solely on judges.

Floor votes · Senate May 6, 2025

How they voted

12–23

Failed · 2 other

Total votes 37

May 6, 2025

D Democratic11

9 Yea 2

81% Yea

R Republican26

3 Yea 23 Nay

88% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 6, 2025

Vote failed

Senate Vote: fail (12-23-2)

senate

Apr 29, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported with amendments.

upper

Apr 14, 2025

Committee

Introduced in the Senate; read by title. Rules suspended. Read second time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary A.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors