Yes, businesses are allowed to make campaign contributions in Louisiana. The limits vary depending upon the office being sought by the candidate to whom the business wishes to contribute. The limits (as of the date of this article) are set forth below. Individuals are subject to the same contribution limits.

The Limits:

$5,000 to a major office candidate or candidate committee per election

$2,500 to a district office candidate committee per election

$1,000 to any other office candidate or candidate committee per election

Note: The primary and general elections are considered as two separate elections and are, thus, subject to separate limits.

So, what is a Major Office, District Office and Any Other Office?

A Major Office:

1.         offices elected statewide;

2.         Public Service Commissioner, Supreme Court Justice, Court of Appeal Judges, BESE, and district court judges elected parishwide in Orleans; and

3.         any office with an election district containing a population in excess of 250,000, including offices elected parishwide in Caddo, East Baton Rouge, Jefferson and Orleans.

A District Office:

1.         office of a member of the Louisiana Legislature;

2.         offices elected parish wide (except in Caddo, East Baton Rouge, Jefferson and Orleans);

3.         offices elected in more than one parish (unless the population exceeds 250,000);

4.         offices elected in a district with a population in excess of 35,000, but less than 250,000, including offices elected citywide in the cities of Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Bossier City, Kenner, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Marrero, Metairie, Monroe and Shreveport; and

5.         district court judgeships, family court, juvenile, and city court judgeships (unless the district has a population exceeding 250,000).

Any Other Office:

Offices not considered major or district.

NOTE: The term “business” is used generically, and includes any proprietorship, partnership, corporation, or other legal entity, whether owned wholly or partially by candidates (except Internal Revenue Code Subchapter S corporations wholly owned by the candidate).  Parent corporations and their subsidiaries are subject to a single limit.  A corporation is a parent if it owns over 50% of another corporation.

For more information, visit the Louisiana Board of Ethics at http://www.ethics.state.la.us/laws/campfin.pdf