HLS 20RS-274 ORIGINAL
2020 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 531
BY REPRESENTATIVE IVEY
TAX/AD VALOREM-EXEMPTION: Provides for ad valorem tax exemptions for certain
property
1 AN ACT
2To enact Chapter 1-A of Subtitle III of Title 47 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950,
3 to be comprised of R.S. 47:1720 and 1721, relative to ad valorem tax; to provide for
4 exemptions from ad valorem property taxes of certain property for capital investment
5 projects; to establish requirements for eligibility and applications for exemptions; to
6 provide for a local, standard, and executive ad valorem tax exemption; to provide for
7 cooperative endeavor agreements; to provide for exemption applications; to provide
8 for the terms and values of exemptions; to provide for definitions; to provide for
9 political subdivision approval; to provide for gubernatorial approval; to provide for
10 the consideration, approval, and granting of the exemption; to provide for
11 effectiveness; and to provide for related matters.
12Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
13 Section 1. Chapter 1-A of Subtitle III of Title 47 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes
14of 1950, to be comprised of R.S. 47:1720 and 1721, is hereby enacted to read as follows:
15 CHAPTER 1-A. AD VALOREM TAX EXEMPTIONS FOR
16 CERTAIN CAPITAL INVESTMENT PROJECTS
17 §1720. Definitions
18 For the purpose of this Chapter the following words have the following
19 meanings:
20 (1) "Board" shall mean the Board of Commerce and Industry.
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1 (2) "Department" shall mean the Department of Economic Development.
2 (3) "Political subdivision" shall mean any parish governing authority, school
3 board, sheriff, municipality, city or special district authorized by the constitution or
4 by law to levy an ad valorem tax.
5 §1721. Capital Investment Project Exemption
6 A. Exemptions. In accordance with Article VII, Section 21(F) of the
7 Constitution of Louisiana, there are hereby established standard, local, and executive
8 ad valorem tax exemptions for capital investment projects.
9 B. Standard Exemption. (1) Procedure. The board shall establish an
10 application procedure for the standard exemption in accordance with the constitution.
11 The application for the standard exemption shall be on forms designed and
12 prescribed by the board.
13 (2) Review. The board shall review all standard exemption applications in
14 a timely manner and render a recommendation for each application.
15 (3) Cooperative Endeavor Agreement. Upon approval by the board, the
16 board and the applicant with the assistance of the department, shall enter into a
17 cooperative endeavor agreement evidencing the exemption. The cooperative
18 endeavor agreement shall provide for an ad valorem tax exemption of eighty percent
19 of the property taxes and for a term of eight calendar years.
20 (4) Final Approval. The board shall provide the appropriate political
21 subdivisions a copy of any resolution adopted by the board approving a standard
22 exemption, as well as a copy of the cooperative endeavor agreement evidencing the
23 standard exemption.
24 C. Local Exemption. (1) Eligibility. No applicant shall be eligible for the
25 local exemption until they have received final approval by the board for a standard
26 exemption. Each parish shall establish eligibility requirements for the local
27 exemption in accordance with the constitution. The application for the local
28 exemption shall be on forms designed and prescribed by the board
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HB NO. 531
1 (2) Application. The board shall forward an application for exemption to the
2 parish governing authority for the parish in which the project will be located within
3 fifteen days of approval.
4 (3) Review. The parish governing authority shall forward a copy of the
5 application within three days of receipt to each political subdivision that levies a
6 millage and in whose jurisdiction the project will be located. The department shall
7 provide the parish governing authority with an analysis of the project applying for
8 an exemption. When a project is located within the jurisdiction of multiple political
9 subdivisions, each political subdivision shall be provided a copy of the application
10 and analysis. Each political subdivision shall review the application in conjunction
11 with the department's analysis and issue a resolution or letter, in the case of a sheriff,
12 approving or rejecting the exemption within sixty days of receipt of the application
13 from the parish governing authority. In reviewing the application, political
14 subdivisions may hold a public meeting for the purpose of receiving public input.
15 (4) Cooperative Endeavor Agreement. Upon the political subdivisions'
16 approval of the exemption, the political subdivisions and the applicant, with the
17 assistance of the department, shall enter into a cooperative endeavor agreement
18 evidencing the exemption. The cooperative endeavor agreement shall provide for
19 an ad valorem tax exemption of up to one hundred percent of the property tax and
20 for a term of not more than fifteen years.
21 (5) Final Approval. The parish governing authority shall provide the board
22 with a copy of the final cooperative endeavor agreement and a copy of all resolutions
23 or letters approving the exemption.
24 D. Executive Exemption. (1) Eligibility and Application. The governor
25 shall be permitted to provide an executive exemption for capital investment projects
26 in accordance with the constitution.
27 (2) Invitation and Offer. The governor shall be permitted to offer any entity
28 an executive exemption from ad valorem property taxes. The exemption may be for
29 up to one hundred percent of the property taxes for a specific term decided at the
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1 governor's discretion. The board shall establish procedures that require local
2 approval pursuant to Subsection C of this Section, prior to the governor granting the
3 executive exemption. The executive exemption shall be evidenced by a
4 gubernatorial executive order providing the terms and conditions of the exemption.
5 Section 2. This Act shall take effect and become operative if and when the proposed
6amendment of Article VII, Section 21(F) of the Constitution of Louisiana contained in the
7Act which originated as House Bill No. _______ of this 2020 Regular Session of the
8Legislature is adopted at a statewide election and becomes effective.
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 531 Original 2020 Regular Session Ivey
Abstract: Establishes a program for the consideration and approval of standard, local, and
executive capital investment project ad valorem tax exemptions.
Present constitution provides for the exclusive list of ad valorem tax exemptions.
Proposed law defines the terms board, department, and political subdivision.
Proposed law creates a standard ad valorem tax exemption for capital investment projects.
Proposed law establishes an application for a standard ad valorem tax exemption and
requires the Board of Commerce and Industry hereinafter "board", to design and provide the
application forms. Proposed law further provides that the board shall review a standard ad
valorem tax exemption and upon approval by the board, the exemption applicant and the
board shall enter into a cooperative endeavor agreement evidencing the exemption.
Proposed law provides that the standard ad valorem tax exemption shall exempt up to 80%
of the project's property taxes for a term of 8 years.
Proposed law requires the board to provide the appropriate political subdivisions with a copy
of any resolution adopted by the board approving the exemption and a copy of the
cooperative endeavor agreement.
Proposed law creates a local ad valorem tax exemption for capital investment projects.
Proposed law establishes an application for a local ad valorem tax exemption and requires
the board, to design and provide the application forms. Proposed law further provides that
to be eligible for the local exemption an application must have received final approval by
the board for a standard exemption.
Proposed law requires the application for a local exemption to be forwarded to the parish
governing authority of the parish in which the project is to be located, within 15 days of
board approval. Within three days of receipt, the parish governing authority shall forward
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HB NO. 531
the application to each political subdivision that levies a millage and in whose district the
project will be located.
Proposed law the Department of Economic Development hereinafter "department" shall
provide the parish governing authority and all relevant political subdivisions an analysis of
every proposed project requesting an exemption in the parish.
Proposed law provides within 60 days of receipt each political subdivision shall review each
project application in conjunction with the department's analysis and issue a resolution or
a letter in the case of a sheriff, approving or rejecting the application. During this time
political subdivisions may hold public meetings to receive public input.
Proposed law provides that if the political subdivision approves the application, the political
subdivision and the applicant, with the assistance of the department, shall enter into a
cooperative endeavor agreement evidencing the exemption.
Proposed law further provides that the cooperative endeavor agreement shall be for up to
100% of the property taxes of the project and for a term of not more than 15 years.
Proposed law requires that parish governing authority shall provide the board with a copy
of the executive cooperative endeavor agreement and a copy of any resolution or letter
approving the exemption.
Proposed law creates an executive ad valorem tax exemption for capital investment projects.
Proposed law provides that the governor may offer any entity an executive exemption. The
exemption may be for up to 100% of the property taxes of the project and for a specific term
to be decided by the governor.
Proposed law provides that the board shall establish procedures requiring local approval
prior to the governor granting the exemption.
Proposed law requires the executive exemption be evidenced by a gubernatorial executive
order providing the terms and conditions of the exemption.
Effective if and when the proposed amendment of Article VII, Section 21(F) of the
Constitution of La. contained in the Act which originated as House Bill No. ____ of this
2020 R.S. of the Legislature is adopted at a statewide election and becomes effective.
(Adds R.S. 47:1720 and1721)
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