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HLS 26RS-667 ORIGINAL
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 412
BY REPRESENTATIVE DEWITT
TAX/AD VALOREM TAX: (Constitutional Amendment) Provides relative to assessment
and reappraisal of property for ad valorem tax purposes and establishes a property
tax exemption
1 A JOINT RESOLUTION
2 Proposing to amend Article VII, Section 18(A) and (F)(1) of the Constitution of Louisiana,
3 to add Article VII, Section 18(H) and 21(P) of the Constitution of Louisiana, and to
4 repeal Article VII, Section 18(F)(2) of the Constitution of Louisiana, relative to ad
5 valorem taxes; to provide for reappraisal of property subject to ad valorem taxation;
6 to limit the frequency of reappraisal and valuation of property subject to taxation; to
7 provide for computation of the assessed value of certain property; to limit increases
8 in the assessed valuation of homesteads in certain cases; to exempt certain property
9 from ad valorem taxation; to provide for applicability; to provide for an effective
10 date; to provide for submission of the proposed amendment to the electors; and to
11 provide for related matters.
12 Section 1. Be it resolved by the Legislature of Louisiana, two-thirds of the members
13 elected to each house concurring, that there shall be submitted to the electors of the state of
14 Louisiana, for their approval or rejection in the manner provided by law, a proposal to
15 amend Article VII, Section 18(A) and (F)(1) of the Constitution of Louisiana and to add
16 Article VII, Section 18(H) and 21(P) of the Constitution of Louisiana, to read as follows:
17 §18. Ad Valorem Taxes
18 Section 18.(A) Assessments. Property subject to ad valorem taxation shall
19 be listed on the assessment rolls at its assessed valuation, which, except as provided
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HLS 26RS-667 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 412
1 in Paragraphs (C), (F), and (G), and (H) of this Section, shall be a percentage of its
2 fair market value. The percentage of fair market value shall be uniform throughout
3 the state upon the same class of property.
4 * * *
5 (F) Reappraisal. (1) All property subject to taxation shall be reappraised and
6 valued in accordance with this Section, at intervals of not more than four five years.
7 * * *
8 (H) Increases in Assessed Valuation of Homesteads Limited.
9 Notwithstanding any provision of this constitution to the contrary, the assessed
10 valuation of residential property subject to the homestead exemption as provided in
11 Section 20 of this Article shall not be increased by more than the average annual
12 increase in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers for the previous
13 calendar year, as published by the United States Department of Labor. However, the
14 provisions of this Paragraph shall not apply to the extent that an increase in valuation
15 of a property was attributable to construction on or improvements to the property.
16 * * *
17 §21. Other Property Exemptions
18 Section 21. In addition to the homestead exemption provided for in Section
19 20 of this Article, the following property and no other shall be exempt from ad
20 valorem taxation:
21 * * *
22 (P) Residential property for which an owner has held a homestead
23 exemption, as provided in Section 20 of this Article, for thirty or more years and on
24 which the owner has paid all ad valorem taxes due for thirty or more years.
25 Section 2. Be it resolved by the Legislature of Louisiana, two-thirds of the members
26 elected to each house concurring, that there shall be submitted to the electors of the state of
27 Louisiana, for their approval or rejection in the manner provided by law, a proposal to repeal
28 Article VII, Section 18(F)(2) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
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HLS 26RS-667 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 412
1 Section 3. Be it further resolved that the provisions of the amendment contained in
2 this Joint Resolution shall become effective on January 1, 2027, and apply to tax years
3 beginning on or after January 1, 2027.
4 Section 4. Be it further resolved that this proposed amendment shall be submitted
5 to the electors of the state of Louisiana at the statewide election to be held on November 3,
6 2026.
7 Section 5. Be it further resolved that on the official ballot to be used at the election,
8 there shall be printed a proposition, upon which the electors of the state shall be permitted
9 to vote YES or NO, to amend the Constitution of Louisiana, which proposition shall read as
10 follows:
11 Do you support an amendment to require, for property tax purposes, that
12 property be reappraised every five years instead of every four years; to limit
13 the amount by which the assessed value of a homestead can be increased in
14 any year; and to exempt from future property taxes any homestead on which
15 an owner has paid taxes for thirty or more years? (Effective January 1, 2027)
16 (Amends Article VII, Section 18(A) and (F)(1); Adds Article VII, Section
17 18(H) and 21(P); Repeals Article VII, Section 18(F)(2))
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 412 Original 2026 Regular Session Dewitt
Abstract: For purposes of ad valorem taxation (property tax), decreases the frequency of
property reappraisals, limits the amount by which the assessed value of a homestead
can be increased in any year, and establishes a property tax exemption for certain
homesteads.
Present constitution provides for the classification, assessment, and reappraisal of property
subject to property tax. Also provides an exclusive list of types of property that are exempt
from property tax.
Present constitution requires that all property subject to taxation be reappraised and valued
at intervals of not more than four years. Proposed constitutional amendment changes these
intervals from not more than four years to not more than five years.
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HLS 26RS-667 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 412
Present constitution establishes a homestead exemption that exempts the first $7,500 of
assessed valuation ($75,000 of fair market value) of a qualifying owner-occupied homestead
from property tax. Proposed constitutional amendment retains present constitution.
Proposed constitutional amendment prohibits the assessed valuation of a residential property
receiving the homestead exemption from being increased in any year by more than the
average annual increase in the Consumer Price Index for the previous calendar year
(commonly referred to as the inflation rate). Stipulates, however, that these provisions shall
not apply to the extent that an increase in property valuation was attributable to construction
on or improvements to the property.
Proposed constitutional amendment repeals present constitution providing for a phase-in of
additional property tax liability resulting from any increase of over 50% in the assessed
valuation of a residential property receiving the homestead exemption.
Proposed constitutional amendment establishes a property tax exemption for residential
property for which an owner has received the homestead exemption and paid all property
taxes due for 30 or more years.
Provides for submission of the proposed amendment to the voters at the statewide election
to be held November 3, 2026.
Effective January 1, 2027, and applicable to all tax years beginning on or after January 1,
2027.
(Amends Const. Art. VII, §18(A) and (F)(1); Adds Const. Art. VII, §18(H) and 21(P);
Repeals Const. Art. VII, §18(F)(2))
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