SB8 proposes a constitutional amendment to allow the Louisiana Legislature—rather than only the State Civil Service Commission—to add certain state civil-service positions from the unclassified service, and give it sole authority to remove such positions. Currently, only commissions can make such changes through rules. If approved by voters, this amendment would give lawmakers direct authority over which state officers, employees, or positions are exempt from civil-service protections. The proposal will appear on the April 18, 2026, statewide ballot (or November 3, 2026, if HB 625 from the same session does not take effect).
The Louisiana State Senate passed SB8 on June 11, 2025 by a vote of 28 to 9. We have assigned pluses to the ayes because the amendment reins in the improper delegation of legislative authority to unelected bureaucrats and unconstitutional civil-service commissions. SB8 would restore to the Legislature the power to determine which positions are included in or exempt from the classified service—a power that belongs with elected representatives, not autonomous administrative bodies. By reclaiming this authority, the bill strengthens accountability, curbs bureaucratic overreach, and helps restore a republican form of government guaranteed by Article IV, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution.
