Guide to Louisiana Constitutional Amendments 2023 – The Current

Amendment #3 – Creates property tax exemptions for first responders

The bottom line: Local governments could offer first responders a property tax exemption of up to $25,000 of the assessed value of their home, under certain conditions.

The tax relief would apply to law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical services personnel, and full-time support staff of emergency agencies. Local tax bodies should agree to offer the tax exemption with the approval of the local government authority, usually a council or police jury. To qualify, first responders must own a home in the parish in which they work.

Vote yes: First responders are in dire need, and a tax incentive can help local agencies recruit quality personnel.

Vote no: Louisiana already offers generous tax breaks to homeowners, adding that another tax holiday reduces revenue that could go to other public services, including police and fire protection.

What the ballot says: Do you support an amendment to authorize a parish’s local government authority to grant an ad valorem tax exemption to qualified first responders?

Amendment #4 – Restricts Use of State Security Trust Fund

The bottom line: Louisiana maintains a special business tax savings account to keep revenue from these volatile revenues stable. This amendment would add new limits to how these funds are used.

Louisiana Revenue Stabilization Fund has accumulated $2.2 billion of business franchise, income taxes, and oil and gas production since its inception in 2016. Currently, lawmakers can drain this fund with a two-thirds vote of each chamber. This amendment adds more legislative hurdles to using this money and adds a withdrawal limit of $250 million in most cases. There would be no change to the trigger allowing lawmakers to use 10% of the fund for construction projects once the fund reaches $5 billion.

Vote yes: The fund is growing quickly and lawmakers can use it too easily. Adding restrictions protects the intended purpose of the fund.

Vote no: State government needs more flexibility, not less, in how it can spend taxpayer dollars. The safeguards in place are adequate.

What the ballot says: Do you support an amendment authorizing the Legislature, upon obtaining a two-thirds vote of each house, to use up to two hundred and fifty million dollars from the Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund to reduce a budget deficit, subject to conditions set by law and authorizing the legislator to modify these conditions of access to the funds of the fund, subject to a two-thirds vote?