Though constitutional amendments haven’t fared well in recent elections, voters are being asked to consider another 10 amendments to the Louisiana Constitution on the Nov. 3 ballot. Early voting for the election is October 20 thru 27 (excluding Sunday, October 25) from 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
The issues involve property taxes, the right to bail, gubernatorial term limits, retirement debt, water utility lines and property expropriation rules.
The Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana (PAR), a nonpartisan educational and research organization, has provided detailed reports on the constitutional amendments set before voters across five decades.
This latest PAR Guide to the Fall 2026 Constitutional Amendments reviews each proposal for the November ballot in the order they appear before voters. The guide does not make recommendations about how to vote, but it offers analysis and provides the arguments of supporters and opponents of each proposal for voters to make their own decisions.
Amendment 1 Property tax exemption transfer for disabled veteran’s spouse A vote for would allow the spouse of a disabled veteran who was eligible for a special, higher property tax exemption tomove to a different home and keep the exemption after the veteran’s death, in a one-time transfer.
A vote against wouldkeep the requirement that a disabled spouse of a 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 tax rates A vote for would 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 against would 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 - Postconviction bail for certain offenders A vote for would prohibit bail for people convicted of certain aggravated offenses against children under state law.
A vote against would retain provisions allowing people convicted of certain aggravated offenses against children under state law to receive bail. Amendment 4 - Term limits for governors A vote for would limit anyone elected Louisiana governor to two four-year terms in a lifetime, rather than two consecutive terms.
A vote against would 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 A vote for would 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 against would 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 A vote for would 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 against would retain the current statewide property tax exemptions available to homeowners who are 65 and older.
PAR
Amendment 7 - Public spending on drinking water utilities A vote for would ensure that public funds can be spent on identification and replacement of leadbased drinking water lines that run from public property to a person’s home.
A vote against would retain existing provisions that limit the use of public funds on private property and maintainthe current exceptions already allowed.
Amendment 8 - Expropriation of property by foreign adversaries
A vote for would prohibit private companies connected to countries deemed a “foreign adversary” from expropriating private property.
A vote against would retain current rules governing expropriation of private property.
Amendment 9 - Expansion of property taxfreezes A vote for would allow homeowners with incomes up to $150,000 to qualify for a property tax assessment freeze.
A vote against would keep the current $100,000 income threshold for a property tax assessment freeze.
Amendment 10 - Tax exemptions for rehabilitated property A vote for would create an optional program that allows parishes to provide property tax exemptions for rehabilitated property that had once been blighted or derelict.
A vote against would maintain current property tax exemptions, which don’t include authorization for parishes to create a new tax break for rehabilitated properties.
Read the full guide to the Fall 2026 Constitutional Amendments at www.parlouisiana.org.
Support for this report was provided by The Alta and John Franks Foundation and The Collins C. Diboll Private Foundation.
