Louisiana State Senate
Louisiana State Senate | |
|---|---|
| Louisiana State Legislature | |
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
Term limits | 3 terms (12 years)[1] |
| History | |
New session started | January 8, 2024 |
| Leadership | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 39 |
  | |
Political groups | Majority
Minority Vacant
|
Length of term | 4 years |
| Authority | Article III, Section 3, Louisiana Constitution |
| Salary | $16,800/year plus per diem[2] |
| Elections | |
Last election | October 14 and November 18, 2023 (39 seats) |
Next election | October 16 and November 20, 2027 (39 seats) |
| Redistricting | Legislative Control |
| Meeting place | |
 | |
| State Senate Chamber Louisiana State Capitol Baton Rouge, Louisiana | |
| Website | |
| Louisiana State Senate | |
| Rules | |
| Senate Rules | |
|
|---|
|
|
|
|
The Louisiana State Senate (French: Sénat d'État de Louisiane; Spanish: Senado del Estado de Luisiana) is the upper house of the Louisiana State Legislature. The Senate has 39 seats, and the current Senate president is Cameron Henry. The current president pro tempore is Regina Barrow.[3][4]
The chamber currently has 39 seats; as of July 2026, District 14 is vacant following the death of Senator Larry Selders.[5][6]
Composition
[edit]The Louisiana State Senate has 39 members elected from single-member districts. Candidates must be registered voters, at least 18 years old, residents of their district for one year, and Louisiana residents for two years. Senate elections use a nonpartisan primary system with runoffs if needed. Elections to the Senate occur every four years, and senators are limited to three four-year terms (12 years). If a seat is vacated during a term, it is filled in a special election. The Senate meets yearly alongside the House of Representatives. General sessions last 60 days in even years, and appropriations sessions last 45 days in odd years.[7][8]
The Senate is the upper legislative chamber of the Louisiana State Legislature and, along with the Louisiana House of Representatives, constitutes the legislative power of the state of Louisiana. It tries officials impeached by the House of Representatives and confirms or rejects officials nominated by the governor of Louisiana.[9]
| Affiliation | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) |
Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Democratic | Vacant | ||
| Current composition (August 2026) | 27 | 10 | 38 | 1 |
Members
[edit]Committee assignments
[edit]The Louisiana State Senate currently has standing, select, and statutory committees. The official Senate committees page lists the current standing committees and explains that most standing committees have seven members; certain committees have nine or eleven members.[10]
President of the senate
[edit]The Senate president, elected by its members, serves as its highest-ranking officer. The current president is Cameron Henry. The office is fifth in the gubernatorial line of succession, after the lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, and state treasurer.[11]
The Louisiana Senate's official leadership history lists J. Cameron Henry, Jr. as president from 2024 to the present, and Regina Ashford Barrow as president pro tempore from 2024 to the present.[12]
Powers
[edit]The Senate president appoints the members of Senate and conference committees, unless otherwise provided by law, rule, or resolution, and appoints committee chairmen and vice chairmen as provided by Senate rules.[13]
If a Senate seat becomes vacant before the end of the term, the Senate president issues the proclamation calling a special election.[14]
Historical composition
[edit]External links
[edit]- Louisiana State Senate official government website
- State Senate of Louisiana at Project Vote Smart
- Louisiana State Senate at Ballotpedia
References
[edit]- ↑ "Louisiana Constitution of 1974". Louisiana State Legislature.
- ↑ "Provides with respect to the compensation of state legislators". Louisiana State Legislature.
- ↑ "Louisiana Senate". Louisiana State Senate. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
- ↑ "Senators". Louisiana State Senate. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
- ↑ "A 'gentle giant': State Sen. Larry Selders, who represented Baton Rouge, dies". Louisiana Illuminator. July 7, 2026. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
- ↑ "Congressman Cleo Fields Releases Statement Regarding Passing of State Senator Larry Selders". Office of Congressman Cleo Fields. July 8, 2026. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
- ↑ "Louisiana Constitution of 1974, Article III". Louisiana State Legislature.
- ↑ "Louisiana Constitution of 1974, Article III, Section 4". Louisiana State Legislature.
- ↑ "Louisiana Constitution of 1974, Article III". Louisiana State Legislature.
- ↑ "Senate Standing Committees". Louisiana State Senate. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
- ↑ "Governor succession digest, Article IV, Section 14". Louisiana State Legislature.
- ↑ "Louisiana Senate Presidents, Presidents Pro Tempore, etc., Since 1976" (PDF). Louisiana State Senate. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
- ↑ "Louisiana law on Senate powers". Louisiana State Legislature.
- ↑ "Louisiana law on Senate powers". Louisiana State Legislature.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
