ELECTIONS/CANDIDATES: Provides for penalties for attesting to false information in a notice of candidacy (EN NO IMPACT See Note)
HB 351 adds penalties for candidates or their agents who submit false information in a notice of candidacy. It directly affects individuals filing to run for office in Louisiana elections. The bill creates a specific penalty for making false statements in required candidacy filings, though it does not specify the exact penalty amount or type. The legislation includes an effective date provision, stating it takes effect upon the governor's signature or after the veto period if not signed. (This is a policy change focused on enforcement of filing accuracy, not election procedures or outcomes.)
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
Jun 2025
Introduced Apr 3, 2025
Signed Jun 4, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons
What changed between versions
HB351 Original
→
HB351 Act 80
·
3 edits
MINOR
This bill was finalized into Act 80, adding an effective date provision that specifies when the law takes effect based on the governor's signature or veto. The substantive penalty for candidates who attest to false information in their candidacy notice remains unchanged, though the text was slightly reorganized for clarity.
Scope change
The bill's scope regarding penalties for false candidacy information remains the same, but the timeline for when the law becomes active is now explicitly defined.
TIMELINE
Added Section 2 to specify that the Act becomes effective upon the governor's signature, expiration of the signing period, or the day following legislative approval if vetoed.
TECHNICAL
Reorganized the penalty clause in R.S. 18:1401(G) to clearly state that court costs and attorney fees are assessed against the candidate before mentioning other sanctions.
Updated the title and digest to reflect the addition of the effective date provision.
Floor votes · Senate May 27, 2025 · House Apr 24, 2025
How they voted
33–0
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 37
May 27, 2025
D
Democratic11
90% Yea
R
Republican26
88% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
19
Key actions
4
Committee
5
May 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Rules suspended. Read by title, passed by a vote of 35 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.
upper
May 19, 2025
Committee
Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.
upper
May 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported favorably.
upper
Apr 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Read third time by title, amended, roll called on final passage, yeas 92, nays 0. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.
lower
Apr 16, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported with amendments (11-0).
lower
Apr 14, 2025
Committee
Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on House and Governmental Affairs.
lower
Apr 3, 2025
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
Mike Johnson
RRepublican
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