Louisiana St. George Community School System Authority Amendment (April 2026)

Louisiana St. George Community School System Authority Amendment
Election date April 18, 2026
Topic Local government organization and Public education governance
Status On the ballot
Type Legislatively referred constitutional amendment	Origin State legislature

The Louisiana Parish Authority for St. George Community School System Amendment is on the ballot in Louisiana as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on April 18, 2026.

A "yes" vote supports amending the Louisiana Constitution to add the St. George Community School System, located in East Baton Rouge Parish, to the list of school systems that are regarded and treated as parishes for purposes of operating a school system.

A "no" vote opposes amending the Louisiana Constitution to add the St. George Community School System, located in East Baton Rouge Parish, to the list of school systems that are regarded and treated as parishes for purposes of operating a school system.

Overview

What would this amendment do?

See also: Text of measure

The measure would add the St. George Community School System the list of school systems that are regarded and treated as parishes for the purposes of operating a school system, granting the St. George Community School System the same authority as a parish. The school system would become the fourth school system in East Baton Rouge to receive that authority—the other school systems include the Central Community School system, the Baker City School System, the Zachary Community School System. These districts operate independently from the East Baton Rouge Parish School System, and would have the authority granted to parishes in order to operate a school system. There are also two other districts in the constitution treated as parishes located within other parishes—the Monroe City School System in Ouachita Parish, and Bogalusa City Schools in Washington Parish.

While the amendment would not create the St. George School System, it would provide for the school system to be granted the same funding and constitutional treatment as the other school districts treated as parishes. This means they would receive the same authority as parishes when it comes to the minimum foundation program (MFP), funding for books and instruction materials, and the raising of certain local revenues for the support of the schools.

How are independent school districts treated under the Louisiana Constitution?

See also: Article VIII, Section 13 of the Louisiana Constitution

There are 64 parishes in Louisiana, which are equivalent to counties in other U.S. states. There are 64 parish school systems in the state, one for each parish.

In addition, there are five independent municipal school districts in the state—Central Community School system, the Baker City School System, the Zachary Community School System in the East Baton Rouge Parish; the Monroe City School System in Ouachita Parish, and Bogalusa City Schools in Washington Parish—that also have these same constitutional rights as other 64 parish school systems. All 64 parish school systems and all five independent school systems are eligible for state education funding through the Minimum Foundation Program (MFP), can levy local taxes for school purposes with voter approval, and exercise the same powers and responsibilities as parish school boards.

The difference between the parish school systems and the independent school systems are that parish school systems serve an entire parish, while independent school systems operate within other municipal boundaries, yet have the same status and authority as parish school systems. Independent school districts would also have their own governing board separate from the parish.

How did this measure get on the ballot?

In Louisiana, for the state legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot, a two-thirds (66.67%) vote is needed from each chamber during one legislative session. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.

On March 28, the amendment, Senate Bill 25 (SB 25) was introduced to the Louisiana State Legislature. The Senate passed the amendment in a vote of 26-5 on May 8, 2025. The House passed the amendment on June 9 by 70-24, and on June 11, the Senate concurred in a final vote of 28-9 to place the amendment on the ballot.

Text of measure

Ballot question

The ballot question for the amendment is as follows:

“

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))

”

Constitutional changes

See also: Louisiana Constitution

The ballot measure would amend Article VIII, Section 13 of the Louisiana Constitution. The following underlined text would be added and struck-through text would be deleted:

Note: Hover over the text and scroll to see the full text.

(A) Free School Books. The legislature shall appropriate funds to supply free school books and other materials of instruction prescribed by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to the children of this state at the elementary and secondary levels.

(B) Minimum Foundation Program. The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, or its successor, shall annually develop and adopt a formula which shall be used to determine the cost of a minimum foundation program of education in all public elementary and secondary schools as well as to equitably allocate the funds to parish and city school systems. Such formula shall provide for a contribution by every city and parish school system. Prior to approval of the formula by the legislature, the legislature may return the formula adopted by the board to the board and may recommend to the board an amended formula for consideration by the board and submission to the legislature for approval. The legislature shall annually appropriate funds sufficient to fully fund the current cost to the state of such a program as determined by applying the approved formula in order to insure a minimum foundation of education in all public elementary and secondary schools. Neither the governor nor the legislature may reduce such appropriation, except that the governor may reduce such appropriation using means provided in the act containing the appropriation provided that any such reduction is consented to in writing by two-thirds of the elected members of each house of the legislature. The funds appropriated shall be equitably allocated to parish and city school systems according to the formula as adopted by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, or its successor, and approved by the legislature prior to making the appropriation. Whenever the legislature fails to approve the formula most recently adopted by the board, or its successor, the last formula adopted by the board, or its successor, and approved by the legislature shall be used for the determination of the cost of the minimum foundation program and for the allocation of funds appropriated.

(C) Local Funds. Local funds for the support of elementary and secondary schools shall be derived from the following sources:

First: Each parish school board, Orleans Parish excepted, and each municipality or city school board actually operating, maintaining, or supporting a separate system of public schools, shall levy annually an ad valorem maintenance tax not to exceed five mills on the dollar of assessed valuation on property subject to such taxation within the parish or city, respectively.

Second: The Orleans Parish School Board shall levy annually a tax not to exceed thirteen mills on the dollar of the assessed valuation of property within the city of New Orleans assessed for city taxation, and shall certify the amount of the tax to the governing authority of the city. The governing authority shall have the tax entered on city tax rolls. The tax shall be collected in the manner, under the conditions, and with the interest and penalties prescribed by law for city taxes. The money thus collected shall be paid daily to the Orleans Parish School Board.

Third: For giving additional support to public elementary and secondary schools, any parish, school district, or subschool district, or any municipality or city school board which supports a separate city system of public schools may levy an ad valorem tax for a specific purpose, when authorized by a majority of the electors voting in the parish, municipality, district, or subdistrict in an election held for that purpose. The amount, duration, and purpose of the tax shall be in accord with any limitation imposed by the legislature.

(D)(1) Municipal and Other School Systems. For the effects and purposes of this Section, the Central community school system, the St. George community school system, and the Zachary community school system in East Baton Rouge Parish, and the municipalities of Baker in East Baton Rouge Parish, Monroe in Ouachita Parish, and Bogalusa in Washington Parish, and no others, shall be regarded and treated as parishes and shall have the authority granted parishes. Consistent with Article VIII of this constitution, relevant to equal educational opportunities, no state dollars shall be used to discriminate or to have the effect of discriminating in providing equal educational opportunity for all students.

(2) Notwithstanding Article III, Sections 12 and 13 and any other provision of this Constitution, in any session of the legislature in which a school system is proposed to be removed from the provisions of this Paragraph including any such proposal effective at the same time as this Subparagraph, the legislature may by law, the effectiveness of which depends on the passage and adoption by the people of such proposition, eliminate any or all relevant statutory provisions without regard to the requirements of such Sections.

Support

Supporters

Officials

• State Sen. Rick Edmonds (R)
• State Rep. Emily Chenevert (R)
• State Rep. Paula Davis (R)

Arguments

Ballotpedia has not located arguments in support of the ballot measure. You can share arguments, along with source links for this information, with us at editor@ballotpedia.org.

Opposition

Opponents

Officials

• State Rep. Denise Marcelle (D)

Arguments

Ballotpedia has not located arguments in opposition to the ballot measure. You can share arguments, along with source links for this information, with us at editor@ballotpedia.org.

Campaign finance

See also: Campaign finance requirements for Louisiana ballot measures

Ballotpedia did not identify ballot measure committees registered to support or oppose the ballot measure.

	Cash Contributions	In-Kind Contributions	Total Contributions	Cash Expenditures	Total Expenditures
Support	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
Oppose	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
Total	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00

Background

Town of St. George, Louisiana

St. George is a city located within the East Baton Rouge Parish of Louisiana. It was voted on to become an incorporated city, by the residents within the city's proposed limits, on October 12, 2019. Voters approved the boundaries by 54% (17,150 votes) approving the incorporation to 46% (14,818 votes) voting against it. After the vote, Baton Rouge lawmakers filed a legal challenge against the incorporation, saying that the petition for the incorporation was deficient and the proposed city would be unable to provide public services. District Court Judge Martin Coady ruled to deny the incorporation, ruling that St. George would be unable to operate with a balanced budget, and that the creation of the city would cost Baton Rouge taxpayers $48 million a year. He wrote, "From the testimony, it appears this may still be accomplished by other means despite the misinformation they earlier received, which gave them the impression that a municipality was required to initiate the formation of a new school district." On April 26, 2024, the Louisiana Supreme Court reversed the district court ruling and approved the incorporation, ruling that the district court had miscalculated the operating costs and potential revenues, and that the lower courts did not consider the costs savings from Baton Rouge no longer having to provide services to St. George.

Independent school districts in Louisiana

There are 64 parishes in Louisiana, with a school system operating in each parish. In addition, there are five independent municipal school districts in the state—Central Community School System, the Baker City School System, the Zachary Community School System in the East Baton Rouge Parish; the Monroe City School System in Ouachita Parish, and Bogalusa City Schools in Washington Parish. The 64 parish school districts, as well as the five independent school districts, have the same treatment under the constitution. However, the independent districts, rather than operating for the whole parish, independent school districts operate within their own jurisdictions within a parish.

The Baker City School System, Zachary Community School System, and Central Community School System were established by ballot measure, whereas the Monroe City School System and Bogalusa City Schools were established within the 1974 Louisiana Constitution.

Statewide ballot measures regarding independent school districts in Louisiana

District	Measure	Election Date	Yes Votes	No Votes	Status
Baker City School System	Amendment 5	October 21, 1995	659,512 (63%)	379,331 (37%)	a
Zachary School System	Amendment 3	November 20, 1999	341,697 (56%)	269,312 (44%)	a
Central Community School System	Amendment 8	November 7, 2006	456,279 (55%)	376,313 (45%)	a

Path to the ballot

Amending the Louisiana Constitution

See also: Amending the Louisiana Constitution

A two-thirds (66.67%) vote is required during one session of the Louisiana State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 70 votes in the Louisiana House of Representatives and 26 votes in the Louisiana State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot. Amendments can be referred to the ballot in odd-numbered years and even-numbered years in Louisiana.

Senate Bill 25 (2025)

The following is the timeline of the constitutional amendment in the state legislature:

• March 28, 2025: The amendment was introduced in the Senate Committee on Education.
• May 8, 2025: The Senate passed the amendment in a vote of 26-5 with eight members absent.
• June 9, 2025: The House passed the amendment in a vote of 70-24 with 11 members absent.
• June 11, 2025: The Senate concurred with the amendment by a vote of 28-9.

Partisan Direction Index = +100% (Republican)

Democratic Support

0%

Republican Support

100%

Louisiana House of Representatives

Voted on June 9, 2025

Votes Required to Pass: 70
	Yes	No	NV
Total	70	24	11
Total %	66.6%	22.8%	10.4%
Democratic (D)	0	24	8
Republican (R)	70	0	3

Louisiana State Senate

Voted on June 11, 2025

Votes Required to Pass: 23
	Yes	No	NV
Total	28	9	1
Total %	71.7%	23%	2.5%
Democratic (D)	0	9	2
Republican (R)	28	0	0

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in Louisiana

See below to learn more about current voter registration rules, identification requirements, and poll times in Louisiana.

How to vote in Louisiana

Poll times

In Louisiana, polls are open from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Central time for Tuesday elections. For Saturday elections, polls open at 7:00 a.m. If the polls close while a voter is in line, he or she will still be permitted to vote.

Registration

Check your voter registration status here.

To vote in Louisiana, one must provide documentary proof of United States citizenship and be a resident of the state and parish in which they register. A voter must be at least 18 years old by Election Day.

Registration completed via mail or in person must occur at least 30 days before Election Day. Registration completed online must occur at least 20 days before Election Day. Registrants must present a valid form of identification to register. Pre-registration is available beginning at age 16.

Voters may register in person at any Registrar of Voters office or any of the following places:

• Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles
• Louisiana Department of Social Services
• WIC offices
• Food stamp offices
• Medicaid offices
• Offices and agencies serving people with disabilities
• Military recruitment offices

Automatic registration

Louisiana does not practice automatic voter registration.

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

Louisiana has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

Same-day registration

Louisiana does not allow same-day voter registration.

Residency requirements

Louisiana law requires 20 days of residency in the state before a person may vote.

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

Louisiana state law requires a voter registration applicant to provide proof of citizenship to register to vote. As of June 2025, the state had not implemented the requirement.

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment. Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The site Geaux Vote, run by the Louisiana Secretary of State office, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.

Voter ID requirements

Louisiana requires voters to present photo identification while voting.

Voters can present the following forms of identification. This list was current as of August 14, 2024. Click here to ensure you have the most current information.

• Louisiana driver's license
• Louisiana special identification card
• LA Wallet digital driver's license
• Military ID or other generally recognized picture identification card that contains the name and signature of the voter

Voters who do not have accepted ID may vote by completing a voter identification affidavit. By law, voters who sign an affidavit may be challenged.

Registered voters can bring their voter information card to the Office of Motor Vehicles to receive a free Louisiana special identification card.

See also

2026 measures

• 2026 ballot measures
• Public education governance on the ballot
• Local government organization on the ballot

Louisiana

• Louisiana ballot measures
• Louisiana ballot measure laws

News and analysis

• Ballot measure lawsuits
• Ballot measure readability
• Ballot measure polls

External links

• Louisiana Senate Bill 25

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