RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
ACT 369 (HB 525) 2020 Regular Session Hilferty
Existing constitution provides that the assessment of a residential property receiving the
homestead exemption which is owned and occupied by certain enumerated persons shall not
be increased above the total assessment of that property for the first year that the owner
qualifies for and receives the special assessment level, provided that such person or persons
remain qualified for and receive the special assessment level.
Existing constitution provides that the special assessment level applies to:
(1)People who are 65 or older.
(2)People who have a service-connected disability rating of 50% or more by the U.S.
Dept. of Veterans Affairs.
(3)Members of the armed forces of the U.S. or the La. National Guard who owned and
last occupied the property who are killed in action, who are missing in action, or who
are a prisoner of war for a period exceeding 90 days.
(4)Any person or persons permanently totally disabled as determined by a final
non-appealable judgment of a court or as certified by a state or federal administrative
agency charged with the responsibility for making determinations regarding
disability.
Existing constitution prohibits a person from receiving the special assessment if the person's
adjusted gross income, as reported in the federal tax return for the year prior to the
application, exceeds a certain amount. Provides that gross income is combined for applicants
whose filing status is married filing separately.
Present constitution provides that the income limit for qualifying for the special assessment
level is $50,000 (this amount applied for tax year 2001 and is adjusted each tax year based
on the Consumer Price Index).
Proposed constitutional amendment increases the income limit for qualifying for the special
assessment level from $50,000 adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index to
$100,000 with this amount being adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index
beginning in tax year 2026.
Provides for submission of the proposed amendment to the voters at the statewide election
to be held Nov. 3, 2020.
(Amends Const. Art. VII, §18(G)(1)(a)(ii))