Did Louisiana's AG approve the summaries of four constitutional amendments for the October 2023 ballot?

Plain-English summary

The Secretary of State submitted summaries of four proposed constitutional amendments for AG review before the October 14, 2023 election. The official opinion identifies the measures by Acts 200, 30, 107 and 48 of the 2023 Regular Session. The AG says the summaries "have been approved for printing and distribution."

The opinion cites La. R.S. 18:431 and 18:552 as requiring AG approval of these summaries. It does not reproduce the summary language or describe the amendments' substance, so the approval should not be read as an analysis of the amendments themselves.

What this means for you

Election officials. The opinion records approval of the four submitted amendment summaries for printing and distribution before the specified election.

Voters. The opinion identifies which act numbers' summaries were reviewed. It does not provide the text of the measures or the resulting vote.

Common questions

Which proposed amendment summaries did the AG approve?
Summaries tied to Acts 200, 30, 107 and 48 of the 2023 Regular Session.

Did the opinion say whether voters adopted those amendments?
No. It concerns approval of the summaries before the October 14, 2023 election.

Background and statutory framework

The Secretary of State requested review under La. R.S. 18:431 and 18:552. The AG reviewed and approved the submitted summaries for printing and distribution, without further discussion of their content.

Citations and references

Law cited: La. R.S. 18:431 and 18:552, as stated in the opinion.

Source

• Landing page: https://www.ag.state.la.us/Opinions
• Original PDF: https://www.ag.state.la.us/Opinion/Download/23-0082

Original opinion text

State of Louisiana
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
CIVIL DIVISION
RO. BOX 94005
BATON ROUGE
70804-9005
Jeff Landry
Attorney General
August 17, 2023
Opinion 23-0082

ELECTIONS
Hon. Kyle Ardoin
Secretary of State
La. R.S. 18:431
La. R.S. 18.552
State of Louisiana
P.O. Box 941 25
The summaries of Acts 200, 30, 107, and 48 of the 2023
LuiSianaLe5ItWeReguIar Session are approved for Baton Rouge, LA 70804-91 25

Dear Secretary Ardoin:

We received your request for review and approval of summaries of the constitutional amendments to be submitted to Louisiana voters in the October 14, 2023 election as a result of the following legislative acts:

1. Act 200 of the 2023 Louisiana Legislative Regular Session;
2. Act 30 of the 2023 Louisiana Legislative Regular Session;
3. Act 107 ofthe 2023 Louisiana Legislative Regular Session; and
4. Act 48 of the 2023 Louisiana Legislative Regular Session.

The Attorney General’s approval of these summaries is required pursuant to La. R.S.
18:431 and 18:552. We have reviewed the summaries, and they have been approved for printing and distribution.

We hope that this opinion has adequately addressed the legal issues you have raised. If our office can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.

With best regards,

JEFF LAN DRY
ATTORNEY GENERAL

BY:___
Wrey M. Wale
1ssistant Attorney General

JL: JMW