HB 842 Louisiana House · 2026 Regular Session

ELECTION CODE: Makes revisions to the Louisiana Election Code

HB 842 amends Louisiana's Election Code to clarify administrative procedures for election officials. It specifies that state and parish governments share payment responsibilities for registrars, chief deputy registrars, and confidential assistants (state portion paid by the secretary of state, parish portion by local authorities). The bill also strengthens restrictions on political activities for unclassified election staff and establishes procedures for handling allegations against registrars, requiring hearings within 30 days of allegations. These changes primarily affect parish election officials and the processes governing their operations.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
May 2026
House Passage
Apr 2026
Senate Passage
May 2026
Signed into Law
May 2026
Introduced Feb 27, 2026 Signed May 14, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB842 Original HB842 Act · 5 edits
MODERATE
The bill was finalized as an Act, changing the document type from a draft to an enrolled law. The scope of the legislation was expanded to include new statutes regarding the confidentiality of law enforcement registration data, the duration of nursing home early voting programs, and legal remedies for procurement issues. Additionally, the bill explicitly voids votes cast in the May and June 2026 party primary elections, ensuring those specific elections are not counted.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded to include new provisions for law enforcement voter confidentiality, nursing home early voting duration, procurement legal remedies, and the explicit invalidation of the 2026 spring primary elections.
ENFORCEMENT

Added new statutes to protect the confidentiality of registration information for law enforcement officers.

Added legal remedies related to the procurement of voting machines and equipment.

REQUIREMENT

Added provisions defining the duration of the nursing home early voting program.

TIMELINE

Explicitly voided and invalidated votes cast in the May 16, 2026, and June 27, 2026, party primary elections.

TECHNICAL

Changed the document status from 'Original' draft to 'Enrolled' Act No. 7, finalizing the text for implementation.

Floor votes · Senate May 6, 2026 · House Apr 7, 2026

How they voted

2810
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 40
May 6, 2026
D Democratic12
2 Yea 9 Nay 1
75% Nay
R Republican28
26 Yea 1 Nay 1
92% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
43
Key actions
12
Committee
13
May 13, 2026
Lower · Passed
Notice of Senate adoption of Conference Committee Report.
lower
May 13, 2026
Upper · Passed
Conference Committee Report read; adopted by a vote of 29 yeas and 7 nays.
upper
May 13, 2026
Upper · Passed
Notice House adopted the Conference Committee Report.
upper
May 13, 2026
Upper · Passed
Conference committee report received.
upper
May 13, 2026
Lower · Passed
Conference Committee Report read, roll called, yeas 66, nays 29. The Conference Committee Report was adopted.
lower
May 13, 2026
Lower · Passed
Conference Committee report received. Lies over under the rules.
lower
May 12, 2026
Upper · Passed
Senate conference committee members appointed: Miller, Kleinpeter, and Womack.
upper
May 11, 2026
Upper · Passed
Notice House Conference Committee members appointed.
upper
May 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
The amended bill was read by title, passed by a vote of 28 yeas and 9 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
upper
Apr 27, 2026
Committee
Committee amendments read and adopted. Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
upper
Apr 22, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported with amendments.
upper
Apr 7, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 74, nays 25. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
lower
Mar 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported with amendments (8-5).
lower
Mar 9, 2026
Committee
Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on House and Governmental Affairs.
lower
Feb 27, 2026
Committee
Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on House and Governmental Affairs.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Beau Beaullieu
Beau Beaullieu
RRepublican
LA
48