Louisiana voters will face 10 proposed amendments to the state constitution when they head to the polls for the November 3 election, addressing issues ranging from property taxes and gubernatorial term limits to bail, public retirement debt, and drinking water lines.
Because constitutional amendment language can be difficult to interpret at the polls, the following provides a plain-language explanation of what a “yes” or “no” vote would mean for each proposal.
The amendments will appear statewide and require approval from a majority of voters to become part of the Louisiana Constitution.
Amendment 1 — Disabled veteran property tax exemption
The first amendment concerns an additional property tax exemption available to certain disabled veterans and their surviving spouses.
Under the proposal, a surviving spouse of a deceased veteran with a service-connected disability who receives the additional property tax exemption could make a one-time transfer of that exemption to another qualifying property.
A vote of YES means: The surviving spouse would be allowed to transfer the additional property tax exemption one time when moving to another qualifying property.
A vote of NO means: The current rules would remain in place, and the surviving spouse would not receive the new constitutional authority to make the one-time transfer.
If approved, the amendment would take effect January 1, 2027.
Amendment 2 — Local property tax millage rates
Amendment 2 deals with the authority of local taxing bodies to adjust property tax millage rates following reassessment.
Currently, when a taxing authority lowers its millage following reassessment and does not restore it to the maximum authorized rate before the next reassessment, it can lose the ability to return to that previous maximum rate. The amendment would allow a taxing authority to continue levying a lower rate without permanently giving up its authority to later increase the millage to the authorized maximum. An increase would still require a two-thirds vote of the taxing authority and a public hearing with advance notice.
A vote of YES means: Local taxing authorities could keep a millage below the maximum authorized rate without losing the ability to later raise it as high as the authorized maximum under the procedures established by law.
A vote of NO means: The current constitutional rules would remain. A taxing authority that does not restore its millage to the maximum authorized rate before the next reassessment could lose its ability to return to that previous maximum in the future.
If approved, the amendment would take effect January 1, 2027.
Amendment 3 — Post-conviction bail in offenses against minors
The third amendment concerns bail after conviction for certain crimes involving children.
The proposal would prohibit a defendant convicted of an aggravated offense against a minor from being released on post-conviction bail.
A vote of YES means: A person convicted of an aggravated offense against a minor child would be prohibited from receiving post-conviction bail.
A vote of NO means: The Louisiana Constitution would not add this specific prohibition on post-conviction bail for those offenses.
Amendment 4 — Governor term limits
Louisiana currently prohibits a governor from serving more than two consecutive terms but allows a former governor to seek the office again after sitting out a term.
Amendment 4 would instead create a lifetime limit. A person who has served more than one-and-a-half terms as governor could not later be elected governor again.
A vote of YES means: Louisiana governors would effectively be limited to two terms during their lifetime rather than two consecutive terms.
A vote of NO means: The existing system would remain, allowing someone who has served two consecutive terms to potentially run for governor again after sitting out a term.
Amendment 5 — State retirement system debt
Amendment 5 concerns how state retirement systems use certain nonrecurring state money to reduce unfunded accrued liabilities.
The Constitution currently requires such money to be applied to the retirement system’s oldest outstanding unfunded accrued liability first. The amendment would remove that requirement and allow the retirement system to apply the money to any of its unfunded accrued liabilities.
A vote of YES means: A state retirement system receiving qualifying nonrecurring state funds could decide which of its unfunded accrued liabilities to apply the money toward instead of being constitutionally required to address the oldest liability first.
A vote of NO means: The existing requirement would remain, with those funds continuing to be applied to the oldest unfunded accrued liability first.
Amendment 6 — Additional property tax exemption for seniors
Amendment 6 would authorize parishes and municipalities to provide an additional property tax exemption for homeowners age 65 and older who receive the homestead exemption and qualify for the state’s special assessment level.
The proposed exemption would increase with age. The additional exemption would cover $6,000 of assessed value for qualifying homeowners ages 65-68; $12,000 for ages 69-72; $18,000 for ages 73-76; $24,000 for ages 77-80; and $30,000 for those 81 and older.
The exemption would not automatically begin in every parish or municipality. It would have to be approved by voters in the parish or municipality before taking effect there.
A vote of YES means: The state Constitution would allow parishes and municipalities to establish the additional age-based property tax exemption for qualifying homeowners, subject to local voter approval.
A vote of NO means: Parishes and municipalities would not receive this new constitutional authority to establish the additional exemption.
If approved, the amendment would take effect January 1, 2028.
Amendment 7 — Public funds for drinking water service lines
Amendment 7 addresses drinking water service lines located on privately owned property.
The proposal would allow political subdivisions to use public money to identify, inventory, remove, or replace drinking water utility service lines made of or affected by materials covered by federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements.
A vote of YES means: Political subdivisions could use public funds for qualifying work on drinking water service lines located on customers’ private property.
A vote of NO means: The Constitution would not be amended to provide this specific authority for the use of public funds on those privately located service lines.
Amendment 8 — Property expropriation by foreign adversaries
Amendment 8 concerns expropriation, commonly known as eminent domain.
The proposal would amend the Constitution to prohibit the expropriation of property by a foreign adversary or an agent of a foreign adversary, as defined by law.
A vote of YES means: The Louisiana Constitution would specifically prohibit a foreign adversary or its agent from expropriating property.
A vote of NO means: The Constitution would not add the proposed prohibition.
Amendment 9 — Income limit for special property tax assessment
Amendment 9 concerns the income requirement for Louisiana’s special assessment level, sometimes referred to as an assessment freeze, for qualifying homeowners.
The special assessment level prevents the assessed value of an eligible homestead from increasing because of rising property values as long as the homeowner continues to qualify.
The amendment would increase the income limit from $100,000 to $150,000. The $150,000 threshold would subsequently be adjusted for inflation.
A vote of YES means: The income limit for qualifying for the special assessment level would increase from $100,000 to $150,000, allowing additional otherwise-eligible homeowners to qualify.
A vote of NO means: The proposed increase to $150,000 would not take effect, leaving the existing constitutional income provision in place.
If approved, the amendment would take effect January 1, 2027.
Amendment 10 — Tax exemption for rehabilitated blighted property
The final amendment would authorize an optional property tax exemption for blighted or derelict properties that have been rehabilitated.
The Legislature would be required to define qualifying blighted and derelict properties and establish the length, conditions, requirements, and procedures for local governments to administer the exemption.
A vote of YES means: The Constitution would authorize an optional property tax exemption for qualifying blighted or derelict property after it has been rehabilitated, with the Legislature establishing the rules for the program.
A vote of NO means: The Constitution would not authorize this new property tax exemption for rehabilitated blighted or derelict property.
If approved, the amendment would take effect January 1, 2027.
Voters can review ballot before election
The Louisiana Secretary of State lists all 10 proposed amendments, along with the official ballot language and links to the legislative acts containing the complete text.
Early voting for the November 3 election will be held October 20-27, excluding Sunday, October 25, from 8:30 AM to 6 PM.
Webster Parish voters may vote early at the Registrar of Voters Office in the Webster Parish Courthouse, 410 Main St., first floor, Room 101, in Minden, or at the Springhill Civic Center, 101 Machen Drive.
Voters can also use the Geaux Vote app or Louisiana Voter Portal to review their individual sample ballot before voting.