A JOINT RESOLUTION Proposing to amend Article VIII, Section 13(D)(1) of the Constitution of Louisiana, relative to certain effects and purposes for the proposed St. George community school system in East Baton Rouge Parish which shall be regarded and treated as a parish and shall have the authority granted parishes with respect to operating a school system, including the purposes of certain funding and the raising of certain local revenues for the support of elementary and secondary schools; to provide for submission of the proposed amendment to the electors; to specify an election date for submission of the proposition to electors and to provide for a ballot proposition.

Section 1. Be it resolved by the Legislature of Louisiana, two-thirds of the members elected to each house concurring, that there shall be submitted to the electors of the state, for their approval or rejection in the manner provided by law, a proposal to amend Article VIII, Section 13(D)(1) of the Constitution of Louisiana, to read as follows:
§13. Funding; Apportionment
Section 13.
(D)(1) Municipal and Other School Systems. For the effects and purposes of this Section, the Central community school system, the St. George community school system, and the Zachary community school system in East Baton Rouge Parish, and the municipalities of Baker in East Baton Rouge Parish, Monroe in Ouachita Parish, and Bogalusa in Washington Parish, and no others, shall be regarded and treated as parishes and shall have the authority granted parishes. Consistent with Article VIII of this constitution, relevant to equal educational opportunities, no state dollars shall be used to discriminate or to have the effect of discriminating in providing equal educational opportunity for all students.

Section 2. Be it further resolved that this proposed amendment shall be submitted to the electors of the state of Louisiana at a statewide election to be held on April 18, 2026, if House Bill No. 625 of the 2025 Regular Session of the Legislature of Louisiana becomes effective. If House Bill No. 625 of the 2025 Regular Session of the Legislature of Louisiana does not become effective, this proposed amendment shall be submitted to the electors of the state of Louisiana at a statewide election to be held on November 3, 2026.

Section 3. Be it further resolved that on the official ballot to be used at said election there shall be printed a proposition, upon which the electors of the state shall be permitted to vote YES or NO, to amend the Constitution of Louisiana, which proposition shall read as follows:
Do you support an amendment to grant the St. George community school system in East Baton Rouge Parish the same authority granted parishes for purposes of Article VIII, Section 13 of the Constitution of Louisiana, including purposes related to the minimum foundation program, funding for certain school books and instructional materials, and the raising of certain local revenues for the support of elementary and secondary schools? (Amends Article VIII, Section 13(D)(1))