Louisiana’s constitution just got longer. Five of the eight amendments approved by voters earlier this month are now in effect. The five changes will require lawmakers and other state officials to wait until the next term in office before cashing in on a pay raise approved by the Legislature; require legislators to approve by a two-thirds vote any financial impact on public pension programs; speed up the process of putting expropriated property back into use; treat the appellate process for workers’ compensation claims the same as the appellate hearing process for other civil cases; and require criminal defendants who wish to waive their right to a jury trial to do so at least 45 days before the trial starts. The other amendments approved by voters will take effect Jan. 1 and April 1.
Five constitutional amendments take effect today
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