HB 550 Louisiana House · 2026 Regular Session

ELECTIONS/COMMISSIONERS: Increases compensation for parish board commissioners (EN INCREASE GF EX See Note)

HB 550 increases pay for Louisiana parish board commissioners who serve during elections. It sets specific daily compensation rates: $150 for elections with high early voting (approved by the secretary of state), $50 for regular elections, and $100 during emergency election periods (with special approval). The bill directly affects commissioners working election day, ballot counting, or recounts. It requires parish election supervisors to apply for secretary of state approval to use the higher rates, ensuring pay aligns with election complexity.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House Passage

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Feb 26, 2026 Signed May 15, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB550 Original → HB550 Act · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates the compensation rates for parish board commissioners who work on election days or during recounts. It removes a previous requirement for the Secretary of State to approve higher pay based on an expectation of large voter turnout, making the new rates automatic. The standard daily pay for most elections increased from $50 to $100, while the rate for high-turnout elections increased from $100 to $150.

Scope change

The bill applies to all parish board commissioners serving on election days or during recounts, removing the previous limitation that required a specific application and approval process for higher pay.

FISCAL

Increased the standard daily compensation for parish board commissioners from $50 to $100.

Increased the daily compensation for elections with high voter turnout from $100 to $150.

REQUIREMENT

Eliminated the requirement for the Secretary of State to approve higher compensation based on an expectation of large voter turnout.

Removed the requirement for parish boards to apply for higher compensation rates for high-turnout elections.

Floor votes · Senate May 12, 2026 · House Apr 8, 2026

How they voted

34–0

Passed · 6 other

Total votes 40

May 12, 2026

D Democratic12

9 Yea 3

75% Yea

R Republican28

25 Yea 3

89% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

Rules suspended. Read by title, passed by a vote of 33 yeas and 0 nays, and ordered returned to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

upper

Apr 29, 2026

Committee

Read by title and referred to the Legislative Bureau.

upper

Apr 28, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported favorably.

upper

Apr 8, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 92, nays 2. Finally passed, title adopted, ordered to the Senate.

lower

Mar 31, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported with amendments (12-0).

lower

Mar 9, 2026

Committee

Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on House and Governmental Affairs.

lower

Feb 26, 2026

Committee

Under the rules, provisionally referred to the Committee on House and Governmental Affairs.

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors