In a powerful statement at the ballot box, Louisiana voters overwhelmingly rejected all four proposed constitutional amendments on March 29, 2025—delivering a resounding message that the public won’t be rushed into rewriting core aspects of the state’s tax code or justice system without thorough scrutiny and community input.
Amendment 1: A Check on Judicial Overreach
This amendment would have handed sweeping disciplinary power to the Louisiana Supreme Court over out-of-state lawyers and allowed the creation of specialized courts that could have operated outside existing local oversight structures. Voters saw through the vague language and rejected this power grab, ensuring that the state’s court system remains rooted in local accountability and not subject to unchecked judicial expansion.
Amendment 2: Protecting Public Revenue and Social Programs
At the heart of Amendment 2 was a dramatic overhaul of Louisiana’s tax structure—lowering income tax caps for the wealthiest while proposing cosmetic teacher pay increases that lacked sustainable funding. Voters recognized this for what it was: a Trojan horse that threatened to shrink government revenues under the guise of reform. By voting “no,” Louisiana residents protected essential funding for schools, healthcare, infrastructure, and public services from further erosion.
Amendment 3: Safeguarding Juvenile Justice
Amendment 3 would have stripped the Louisiana Constitution of its specific protections for youth, opening the door for the legislature to expand the list of crimes for which minors could be tried as adults. Progressive advocates and civil rights groups pushed back, and voters agreed—refusing to let children be subject to harsher prosecution without clear limits. The defeat of this amendment marks a win for those fighting for restorative justice and a more humane juvenile legal system.
Amendment 4: Preserving Democratic Access in Judicial Elections
This proposal would have loosened the timeline for calling special elections to fill judicial vacancies, allowing more flexibility for political maneuvering and appointments without voter input. By rejecting it, voters reaffirmed the importance of timely and transparent elections to ensure the judiciary reflects the will of the people—not the whims of those in power.
A Victory for the People
In an era when corporate interests and conservative lawmakers often attempt to sneak major policy shifts through obscure ballot measures, Louisiana voters proved they were paying attention. They stood up for fairness, transparency, and democratic control.
Saturday’s election results are more than a rejection of four amendments—they’re a declaration that the people of Louisiana demand justice reform that centers human dignity, tax policy that supports public good over private gain, and governance that puts the community first.
