On Nov. 3, Louisiana voters will vote on 10 constitutional amendments.
The following descriptions of each amendment come from the Louisiana Secretary of State’s website and PAR Louisiana’s constitutional amendment guide:
Explaining the amendments:
Amendment 1:
Property tax exemption transfer for disabled veteran’s spouse
“Do you support an amendment to allow the surviving spouse of a deceased veteran with a service-connected disability, who receives the additional property tax exemption, to make a one-time transfer of the additional property tax exemption to a subsequent qualifying property?”
A vote yes:
Allow the spouse of a disabled veteran who was eligible for a special, higher property tax exemption to move to a different home and keep the exemption after the veteran’s death, in a one-time transfer.
A vote no:
Keep the requirement that the spouse of a disabled veteran who was eligible for a special property tax exemption must live in the same home after the veteran’s death to continue receiving the exemption.
Amendment 2:
Local authority over property taxes
“Do you support an amendment to allow a local taxing authority to continue to levy a lower millage rate without losing its ability to adjust to the maximum authorized millage rate from a prior year’s reassessment?”
A vote yes:
Give local taxing authorities more flexibility and time to decide if they want to charge the maximum property tax rate available to them or maintain a lower rate.
A vote no:
Give local taxing authorities more flexibility and time to decide if they want to charge the maximum property tax rate available to them or maintain a lower rate
Amendment 3:
Post-conviction bail for certain offenders
“Do you support an amendment to prohibit a defendant from being released on any post-conviction bail if the defendant is convicted of an aggravated offense against a minor child?”
A vote yes:
Prohibit bail for people convicted of certain aggravated offenses against children under state law.
A vote no:
Retain provisions allowing people convicted of certain aggravated offenses against children under state law to receive bail.
Amendment 4:
Term limits for governors
“Do you support an amendment to prohibit a person who has served more than one and one-half terms as governor from being elected as governor for any future term?”
A vote yes:
Limit anyone elected Louisiana governor to two four-year terms in a lifetime, rather than two consecutive terms.
A vote no:
Retain the current system that limits elected Louisiana governors to two consecutive terms, allowing them to run again after time away from the office.
Amendment 5:
Retirement Debt Payments
“Do you support an amendment to authorize a state retirement system to apply any nonrecurring state monies it receives to any of its unfunded accrued liabilities rather than requiring application to its oldest unfunded accrued liability?”
A vote yes:
Give the Louisiana Legislature and the state retirement systems the authority to determine the order in which surplus dollars will be applied to retirement debt.
A vote no:
Retain rules that require the Louisiana Legislature and the state retirement systems to use surplus dollars to pay the oldest retirement debt first.
Amendment 6:
Property tax exemptions for the elderly
“Do you support an amendment to authorize parishes and municipalities to extend an additional property tax exemption for property subject to the homestead exemption that is owned and occupied by a person who is at least sixty-five years of age and who qualifies for the special assessment level?”
A vote yes:
Allow parishes and municipalities to increase the property tax exemption available to certain elderly homeowners in Louisiana as they age from 65 to 81.
A vote no:
Retain the current statewide property tax exemptions available to homeowners who are 65 and older.
Amendment 7:
Public spending on drinking water
“Do you support an amendment to allow for the use of public funds by a political subdivision for the purpose of identifying, inventorying, removing or replacing drinking water utility service lines made of or affected by materials as specified or prescribed by the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, promulgated October 30, 2024, or subsequent promulgation, on property owned by utility customers?”
A vote yes:
Ensure that public funds can be spent on identification and replacement of lead-based drinking water lines that run from public property to a person’s home.
A vote no:
Retain existing provisions that limit the use of public funds on private property and maintain the current exceptions already allowed.
Amendment 8:
Expropriation of property by foreign adversaries
“Do you support an amendment to prohibit expropriation of property by a foreign adversary or an agent of a foreign adversary?”
A vote yes:
Prohibit private companies connected to countries deemed a “foreign adversary” from expropriating private property.
A vote no:
Retain current rules governing expropriation of private property.
Amendment 9:
Expansion of property tax freeze
“Do you support an amendment to increase the maximum amount of income a person may receive and still qualify for the special assessment level for residential property receiving the homestead exemption?”
A vote yes:
Allow homeowners with incomes up to $150,000 to qualify for a property tax assessment freeze.
A vote no:
Keep the current $100,000 income threshold for a property tax assessment freeze.
Amendment 10:
Tax exemptions for rehabilitated property
“Do you support an amendment to allow property tax exemptions for blighted or derelict properties that have been rehabilitated, and to require the legislature to enact laws providing for administration of these exemptions?”
A vote yes:
Create an optional program that allows parishes to provide property tax exemptions for rehabilitated property that had once been blighted or derelict.
A vote no:
Maintain current property tax exemptions, which don’t include authorization for parishes to create a new tax break for rehabilitated properties.
READ MORE:Louisiana constitutional amendments: What you need to know before you vote
