SB 1 Louisiana Senate · 2026 Regular Session

PUBLIC MEETINGS: Provides for electronic voting requirements under the Open Meetings Law. (8/1/26)

SB 1 requires all public bodies in Louisiana to conduct votes during open meetings using either a voice vote (viva voce) or electronic voting systems that display and record each member's individual vote. This directly affects city councils, school boards, and other local government bodies that hold public meetings under Louisiana's Open Meetings Law. The bill explicitly states that electronic voting machines meeting this recording standard satisfy the law's requirement for a public, recorded vote. The law applies retroactively to all previous meetings where votes were taken without such recording.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

May 2026

Introduced Jan 12, 2026 Signed May 15, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB1 Original → SB1 Act · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill amends the Louisiana Open Meetings Law to officially recognize electronic voting displays as a valid form of 'viva voce' (oral) voting. Previously, only traditional oral votes recorded in minutes were explicitly accepted; this change ensures that votes cast and displayed via electronic machines legally satisfy the law's voting requirements. The act also applies these new rules retroactively.

Scope change

The scope of acceptable voting methods was expanded from strictly oral votes to include electronic machine displays.

REQUIREMENT

Updated the legal definition of valid voting to include votes displayed and recorded by electronic machines, treating them as equivalent to oral votes.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date from August 1, 2026 to immediate retroactive application upon enactment.

TECHNICAL

Updated the bill header to reflect its status as an enrolled act with additional co-sponsors and removed the original digest and legislative services notes.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 31, 2026 · House May 7, 2026

How they voted

31–0

Passed · 9 other

Total votes 40

Mar 31, 2026

D Democratic12

8 Yea 4

66% Yea

R Republican28

23 Yea 5

82% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 7, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time by title, roll called on final passage, yeas 88, nays 4. Finally passed, ordered to the Senate.

lower

Apr 29, 2026

Introduced

Reported without Legislative Bureau amendments.

lower

Apr 28, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported favorably (12-0). Referred to the Legislative Bureau.

lower

Apr 1, 2026

Committee

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

lower

Mar 31, 2026

Upper · Passed

Read by title, passed by a vote of 30 yeas and 0 nays, and sent to the House. Motion to reconsider tabled.

upper

Mar 25, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported with amendments.

upper

Mar 9, 2026

Committee

Introduced in the Senate; read by title. Rules suspended. Read second time and referred to the Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs.

upper

1 primary · 10 co-sponsors