Four (4) constitutional amendments will be on the November 18 ballot. Early voting is ongoing at this time. The amendments are listed here, along with a vote explanation, thanks to Public Affairs Research Council Louisiana.
Proposed Amendment No. 1 – Deadlines to Veto Bills and Rules for Veto Sessions
Act 278 (HB 166, 2022 Regular Session by Representative Miller) – Constitutional amendment to amend Article III, Section 18, relative to gubernatorial action on bills and matters related thereto; to provide relative to veto sessions; to provide for submission of the proposed amendment to the electors; and to provide for related matters.
“Do you support an amendment to clarify that the timing of gubernatorial action on a bill and his return of a vetoed bill to the legislature is based upon the legislative session in which the bill passed and to authorize the legislature, if it is in session, to reconsider vetoed bills without convening a separate veto session? (Effective January 8, 2024) (Amends Article III, Section 18)”
A VOTE FOR:
Allow lawmakers to try to override a governor’s bill rejections without calling a separate veto session if they are already in a legislative session and add further details about the deadlines for a governor to veto bills.
A VOTE AGAINST:
Require lawmakers trying to override a governor’s bill rejections to hold a separate veto session if the vetoes came in a legislative session that has ended and keep the current rules for a governor to issue bill vetoes.
Proposed Amendment No. 2 – Repeal of Inactive Special Funds in the Constitution
Act 199 (HB 254, 2023 Regular Session by Representative Thomas) – Constitutional amendment to repeal Article VII, Sections 4(D)(4)(b), 10.4, 10.10, and 10.12(B) and (C) and Article IX, Sections 9 and 10, relative to special funds in the state treasury; to provide for the repeal of certain special funds; to provide for the transfer of remaining balances of such special funds; to provide for submission of the proposed amendments to the electors; and to provide for related matters.
“Do you support an amendment to remove provisions of the Constitution of Louisiana which created the following inactive special funds within the state treasury: Atchafalaya Basin Conservation Fund, Higher Education Louisiana Partnership Fund, Millennium Leverage Fund, Agricultural and Seafood Products Support Fund, First Use Tax Trust Fund, Louisiana Investment Fund for Enhancement and to provide for the transfer of any remaining monies in such funds to the state general fund? (Repeals
Article VII, Sections 4(D)(4)(b), 10.4, 10.10, and 10.12(B) and (C) and Article IX, Sections 9 and 10)”
A VOTE FOR:
Remove six inactive funds with zero or near-zero balances from the Louisiana Constitution.
A VOTE AGAINST:
Keep the six inactive funds with zero or near-zero balances in the Louisiana Constitution.
Proposed Amendment No. 3 – Property Tax Exemptions for First Responders
Act 179 (SB 127, 2023 Regular Session by Senator Duplessis) – Constitutional amendment to add Article VII, Section 21(O), relative to ad valorem tax exemptions; to provide for an ad valorem tax exemption for certain first responders; to require the parish governing authority to approve the ad valorem tax exemption; to provide for exemption amounts; to require the tax assessor to establish a procedure to apply for the exemption; to provide for eligibility; to require taxing authorities to absorb the loss of revenue as a result of the exemptions; to provide relative to reappraisals; to provide an effective date; to provide for applicability; and to specify an election for submission of the proposition to electors and provide a ballot proposition.
“Do you support an amendment to authorize the local governing authority of a parish to provide an ad valorem tax exemption for qualified first responders? (Adds Article VII, Section 21(O))”
A VOTE FOR:
Allow a parish governing authority to give an extra property tax exemption to police, firefighters and certain other first responders who own homes and live in the parish.
A VOTE AGAINST:
Maintain the current property tax system, which doesn’t let parish governing authorities offer the extra tax break to first responders.
Proposed Amendment No. 4 – Rule Changes for the Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund
Act 198 (HB 244, 2023 Regular Session by Representative Bishop) – Constitutional amendment to amend Article VII, Section 10.15(E)(1) and (F) and to add Article VII, Section 10.15(G), relative to the use of monies in the Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund; to provide for submission of the proposed amendment to the electors; and to provide for related matters.
“Do you support an amendment authorizing the legislature, after securing a two-thirds vote of each house, to use up to two hundred fifty million dollars from the Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund to alleviate a budget deficit subject to conditions set forth by law and allowing the legislature to modify such conditions for accessing the monies in the fund, subject to two-thirds vote? (Amends Article VII, Section 10.15(E)(1) and (F); Adds Article VII, Section 10.15(G))”
A VOTE FOR:
Tighten the rules on allowed use of a seven-year-old state trust fund that
collects dollars from corporate tax collections and oil and gas production in Louisiana.
A VOTE AGAINST:
Maintain broad rules for emergency use of a seven-year-old state trust fund that collects dollars from corporate tax collections and gas production in Louisiana.
Early voting is from 8:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. now through November 11 (excluding Sunday, Nov. 5 and Friday Nov. 10 for Veterans Day).
Deadline to request an absentee ballot is Nov. 14 by 4:30 p.m (other than military and overseas voters). Request an absentee ballot online through Secretary of State’s Voter Portal or in writing through your Registrar of Voters Office.
Deadline for Webster Parish Registrar of Voters to receive a voted absentee ballot is 4:30 p.m. November 17 (other than military and overseas voters).
On election day, polls are open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. For more on the ballots, see Webster Parish Journal’s Tuesday, November 7 publication at http://www.websterparishjournal.com.
