HLS 19RS-673 ORIGINAL
2019 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 151
BY REPRESENTATIVE ZERINGUE
TAX/INCOME TAX: (Constitutional Amendment) Provides for the rates and brackets for
purposes of calculating individual income taxes and repeals the deduction for federal
income taxes paid for purposes of computing individual and corporate income taxes
1 A JOINT RESOLUTION
2Proposing to amend Article VII, Section 4(A) of the Constitution of Louisiana, relative to
3 income tax; to provide with respect to the rates and brackets for purposes of
4 calculating individual income taxes; to provide with respect to the deductibility of
5 federal income taxes paid for purposes of calculating state income taxes; to provide
6 for applicability; to provide for an effective date; to provide for submission of the
7 proposed amendment to the electors; and to provide for related matters.
8 Section 1. Be it resolved by the Legislature of Louisiana, two-thirds of the members
9elected to each house concurring, that there shall be submitted to the electors of the state of
10Louisiana, for their approval or rejection in the manner provided by law, a proposal to
11amend Article VII, Section 4(A) of the Constitution of Louisiana, to read as follows:
12 §4. Income Tax; Severance Tax; Political Subdivisions
13 Section 4.(A) Income Tax. Equal and uniform taxes may be levied on net
14 incomes, and these taxes may be graduated according to the amount of net income.
15 However, the The state individual and joint income tax schedule of rates and
16 brackets shall never exceed the rates and brackets set forth in Title 47 of the
17 Louisiana Revised Statutes on January 1, 2003. Federal income taxes paid shall be
18 allowed as a deductible item in computing state income taxes for the same period be
19 provided for in law.
20 * * *
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 19RS-673 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 151
1 Section 2. Be it further resolved that the provision of the amendment contained in
2this Joint Resolution shall become effective January 1, 2020, and shall be applicable to all
3tax years beginning on and after January 1, 2020.
4 Section 3. Be it further resolved that this proposed amendment shall be submitted
5to the electors of the state of Louisiana at the statewide election to be held on October 12,
62019.
7 Section 4. Be it further resolved that on the official ballot to be used at the election,
8there shall be printed a proposition, upon which the electors of the state shall be permitted
9to vote YES or NO, to amend the Constitution of Louisiana, which proposition shall read as
10follows:
11 Do you support an amendment to establish individual income tax rates and
12 brackets in law and to eliminate the deduction for federal income taxes paid
13 in computing state income taxes? (January 1, 2020) (Amends Article VII,
14 Section 4(A))
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 151 Original 2019 Regular Session Zeringue
Abstract: Provides that the rates and brackets for the individual income tax shall be
provided for in law and eliminates the deductibility of federal income taxes paid
when computing state income taxes.
Present constitution authorizes equal and uniform taxes to be levied on net individual and
corporate income. Further authorizes the rates for these taxes to be graduated according to
the amount of the taxpayer's net income; however, the state individual and joint income tax
schedule of rates and brackets are prohibited from exceeding the rates and brackets as they
existed on Jan. 1, 2003.
Present constitution authorizes federal income taxes paid to be allowed as a deductible item
in computing state income taxes for the same period.
Proposed constitutional amendment changes present constitution by eliminating references
to the maximum amount of the individual income tax rates and brackets from the
constitution in favor of providing for the rates and brackets in law and eliminating the
deductibility of federal income taxes paid when computing state income tax liability.
Effective Jan. 1, 2020, and applicable to all tax years beginning on and after Jan. 1, 2020.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 19RS-673 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 151
Provides for submission of the proposed amendment to the voters at the statewide election
to be held October 12, 2019.
(Amends Const. Art. VII, §4(A))
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.