HB 420 Louisiana House · 2025 Regular Session

POLITICAL PARTIES: Provides for the qualifications, maintenance, and recognition of political parties

HB 420 clarifies the process for political parties to dissolve after being officially recognized. It requires parties seeking dissolution to submit a notarized statement following their bylaws and include an explanation for the change in the notice sent to the secretary of state. The bill affects recognized political parties in the state by standardizing dissolution procedures and adding transparency requirements for the secretary of state's records. This is a procedural update to party registration rules, not a substantive policy change.

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 · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB420 Original → HB420 Act 84 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill significantly tightens regulations for political parties in Louisiana by raising the voter and fee thresholds for recognition from 1,000 to 5,000 and replacing the ability to rescind recognition with a formal dissolution process. It also eliminates the 'Independent Party' as a recognized political designation, automatically reclassifying any registrants affiliated with it as 'No Party' by August 1, 2025.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of requirements for political party recognition and removes the legal standing of the 'Independent Party' designation.

REQUIREMENT

Increased the minimum number of registered voters required to recognize a political party from 1,000 to 5,000.

Replaced the existing 'rescission' process with a new 'dissolution' process for political parties.

FISCAL

Increased the registration fee for political parties from $1,000 to $5,000.

ELIGIBILITY

Removed the ability for a political party to be named solely as 'Independent' or 'Independent Party'.

ENFORCEMENT

Added a requirement for the Department of State to include an explanation for any change in party affiliation on the notice sent to voters.

Floor votes · Senate May 28, 2025 · House Apr 28, 2025

How they voted

36–0

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 37

May 28, 2025

D Democratic11

11 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican26

25 Yea 1

96% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

Read by title, passed by a vote of 38 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 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 90, nays 2. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

lower

Apr 16, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported with amendments (12-0).

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