BATON ROUGE, La. – Louisiana voters will consider 10 constitutional amendments on the Nov. 3 ballot, including proposals affecting property taxes, redevelopment incentives and public spending on drinking water infrastructure.
The Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana has released its fall 2026 constitutional amendment guide to help voters evaluate the proposals. The nonpartisan review explains the changes and presents arguments from supporters and opponents without recommending how to vote.
Among the measures with implications for businesses and property owners is Amendment 2, which would allow local taxing authorities to maintain lower property tax rates without losing their ability to return to a previously authorized maximum before that authorization expires.
PAR’s analysis outlines competing arguments: Supporters say the change would reduce pressure on taxing bodies to raise rates simply to preserve their authority, while opponents say it would prolong uncertainty about future property tax bills.
Amendment 10 would authorize an optional parish program offering property tax exemptions for rehabilitated properties that were previously blighted or derelict. Supporters argue the incentive could return properties to productive use and expand housing options. Opponents raise concerns about reduced local tax revenue and the scope and duration of the exemptions.
Other proposals address homeowner tax relief. Amendment 1 would permit a one-time transfer of an eligible surviving spouse’s additional disabled-veteran property tax exemption to another qualifying home. Amendment 6 would allow additional exemptions for qualifying older homeowners, while Amendment 9 would raise the income threshold for qualifying for a residential property assessment freeze.
Amendment 5 concerns the order in which state surplus dollars are applied to retirement debt. Amendment 7 addresses public funding for identifying and replacing lead-based drinking water service lines on private property. Amendment 8 would prohibit property expropriation by foreign adversaries or their agents.
The remaining proposals address post-conviction bail for certain offenses against children and lifetime term limits for governors.
Along with the full report, PAR offers a condensed voter checklist summarizing what votes for and against each amendment would mean.
PAR also plans a webinar Friday, Oct. 16, at 10 a.m., featuring Daniel Erspamer of the Pelican Institute for Public Policy, Barry Erwin of Leaders for a Better Louisiana and Jan Moller of Invest in Louisiana. The discussion will cover arguments on both sides of the proposals.
Readers can access the full report, voter checklist and webinar registration through PAR’s Guide to the Constitutional Amendments.