Louisiana voters decided 10 constitutional amendments on the Nov. 3 ballot.
Below are the election results:
FULL RESULTS | U.S. SENATE | PSC DISTRICT 1 | AMENDMENTS | CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 1 | CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 2 | CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 3 | CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 5 | CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 6 | ST. TAMMANY SHERIFF | PLAQUEMINES PARISH PRESIDENT | BOGLAUSA MAYOR | ORLEANS PARISH | JEFFERSON PARISH | ST. TAMMANY PARISH | WASHINGTON PARISH | TANGIPAHOA PARISH | ST. JOHN PARISH | ST. JAMES PARISH | ST. BERNARD PARISH | PLAQUEMINES PARISH | ST. CHARLES PARISH | TERREBONNE PARISH | LAFOURCHE PARISH |
What the amendment changes mean for you:
The following descriptions of each amendment come from the Louisiana Secretary of State’s website and PAR Louisiana’s constitutional amendment guide:
Amendment 1:
Property tax exemption transfer for disabled veteran’s spouse
Louisiana voters overwhelmingly supported this amendment.
This amendment will now 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.
Amendment 2:
Local authority over property taxes
Louisiana residents rejected this amendment, which originally aimed to give 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.
Voters decided instead to give local taxing authorities only until the next property reappraisal cycle to decide whether to charge the maximum property tax rate available to them or a lower rate.
Amendment 3:
Post-conviction bail for certain offenders
Louisiana residents also voted to change the law when it comes to post-conviction bail.
This amendment prohibits a defendant from being released on any post-conviction bail if the defendant is convicted of an aggravated offense against a minor child.
Voters decided to prohibit bail for people convicted of certain aggravated offenses against children under state law.
Amendment 4:
Term limits for governors
Louisiana voters also decided on new term limits for future governors.
Voters approved this amendment, which prohibits a person who has served more than one and one-half terms as governor from being elected as governor for any future term.
This change will now limit anyone elected as the Louisiana governor to two four-year terms in a lifetime, rather than two consecutive terms.
Amendment 5:
Retirement Debt Payments
Louisiana residents rejected a change to how the state pays debts tied to the retirement system.
The amendment aimed 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.
Voters opted to 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
Louisiana residents approved a property tax amendment aimed at supporting the elderly.
The amendment authorizes 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 65 years of age and who qualifies for the special assessment level.
Voters chose to allow parishes and municipalities to increase the property tax exemption available to certain elderly homeowners in Louisiana as they age from 65 to 81.
Amendment 7:
Public spending on drinking water
Louisiana voters also supported an amendment that would allow public funds to help remove or replace lead pipes.
The amendment allows 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.
Voters supported this amendment, which will now allow public funds to be spent on identification and replacement of lead-based drinking water lines that run from public property to a person’s home.
Amendment 8:
Expropriation of property by foreign adversaries
Louisiana voters also supported an amendment that would stop a foreign adversary from forcibly taking someone’s property.
This amendment acts as a preventative measure since the state has no evidence that a company connected to a foreign adversary has expropriated property in Louisiana.
Voters decided to support it, which would prevent private companies connected to countries deemed a “foreign adversary” from expropriating private property.
Amendment 9:
Expansion of property tax freeze
Louisiana voters approved an amendment that would help senior citizens stay in their homes.
Amendment 9 increases the maximum amount of income a person may receive and still qualify for the special assessment level for residential property receiving the homestead exemption.
This now allows homeowners with incomes up to $150,000 to qualify for a property tax assessment freeze.
Amendment 10:
Tax exemptions for rehabilitated property
Voters opted not to approve an amendment that would allow local governments to offer an optional property tax exemption for blighted or derelict property that has been rehabilitated.
The amendment aimed to create an optional program that allows parishes to provide property tax exemptions for rehabilitated property that had once been blighted or derelict.
Voters instead chose to maintain current property tax exemptions, which don’t include authorization for parishes to create a new tax break for rehabilitated properties.
READ MORE:How the results of the Louisiana constitutional amendments impact you
