Louisiana Passes New Property Tax Relief Amendments for Seniors

On Tuesday, Louisiana voters passed four ballot measures on property tax exemptions, aimed at providing tax relief for seniors, surviving spouses of disabled veterans, and entrepreneurs who rehab dilapidated homes.Voters passed Amendment 1 with 76% support. Amendment 1 allows the surviving spouse of a disabled veteran transfer the homestead property tax exemption to a new home.Currently, disabled veterans receive a homestead property tax exemption that is commensurate with the degree of disability they experience. Spouses are able to maintain the exemption in the event of their veteran spouse passing away. However, this amendment allows a one-time opportunity to the surviving spouse to transfer the exemption to a new property as well.The Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs as well as Leaders for a Better Louisiana and Louisiana Realtors® all expressed support for the measure.Meanwhile, the Power Coalition for Equity and Justice opposed the measure, saying: "We support veterans and their families, but we do not need another special tax exception written into the state constitution."Property tax relief for seniorsAmendment 6 passed with 65% support. It proposes a property tax ex...