Louisiana voters approved seven of the 10 proposed amendments to the state constitution on Tuesday and rejected three, according to unofficial results.
The proposals covered property tax exemptions, bail for certain offenders, term limits for governors, retirement system funding, water line replacement and more.
Here is how each amendment fared statewide:
Amendment 1: Surviving spouse property tax exemption — Passed Amendment 1 allows 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 that exemption to a subsequent qualifying property. It passed with 74% of the vote. The change takes effect Jan. 1, 2027.
Amendment 2: Lower millage rate — Failed Amendment 2 would have allowed a local taxing authority to continue levying a lower millage rate without losing its ability to adjust to the maximum authorized millage rate from a prior year’s reassessment. It failed with 58% of voters opposed.
Amendment 3: Post-conviction bail — Passed Amendment 3 prohibits a defendant from being released on any post-conviction bail if convicted of an aggravated offense against a minor child. It passed with 68% of the vote.
Amendment 4: Governor term limit — Passed Amendment 4 prohibits a person who has served more than one and one-half terms as governor from being elected governor for any future term. It passed with 58% of the vote.
Amendment 5: Retirement system funds — Failed Amendment 5 would have authorized a state retirement system to apply any nonrecurring state money it receives to any of its unfunded accrued liability, rather than requiring that it go to the oldest. It failed with 62% of voters opposed.
Amendment 6: Property tax exemption for owners 65 and older — Passed Amendment 6 authorizes parishes and municipalities to extend an additional property tax exemption for homestead property owned and occupied by a person at least 65 years old who qualifies for the special assessment level. It passed with 64% of the vote. The change takes effect Jan. 1, 2028.
Amendment 7: Water service lines — Passed Amendment 7 allows political subdivisions to use public funds to identify, inventory, remove or replace drinking water service lines made of or affected by certain materials, as specified in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, on property owned by utility customers. It passed with 65% of the vote.
Amendment 8: Foreign adversary expropriation — Passed Amendment 8 prohibits the expropriation of property by a foreign adversary or an agent of a foreign adversary. It passed with 62% of the vote.
Amendment 9: Homestead special assessment income limit — Passed Amendment 9 increases the maximum income a person may receive and still qualify for the special assessment level for residential property receiving the homestead exemption. It passed with 58% of the vote. The change takes effect Jan. 1, 2027.
Amendment 10: Rehabilitated blighted property — Failed Amendment 10 would have allowed property tax exemptions for blighted or derelict properties that have been rehabilitated, and would have required the Legislature to enact laws providing for administration of the exemptions. It failed with 53% of voters opposed.
Results are unofficial until certified by the Louisiana Secretary of State.
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