Louisiana ballot measures 2026, explained
10 statewide measures on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Each one in plain words: what it does, what a yes and a no vote mean, and the best case on both sides. No recommendations.
Your Louisiana ballot, in order. Tap a measure for the full explainer.
Amendment 1Constitutional amendment
Transfer veteran spouse tax break
Some surviving spouses of disabled veterans get an extra home-tax break. This would let them move that break once to a new home, like taking one coupon to a new store.
- Yes vote
- An eligible surviving spouse could transfer the additional homestead exemption once to a new qualifying home.
- No vote
- The exemption would remain tied to the original qualifying home.
Amendment 2Constitutional amendment
Keep future property-tax rate option
After property values change, local governments may lower their tax rate. This would let them keep the option to raise it later, up to an already approved limit, instead of losing that option forever.
- Yes vote
- A local taxing authority could retain the ability to raise a lower millage rate up to a previously authorized maximum.
- No vote
- The current use-it-or-lose-it rule would remain when an authority does not restore its rate before the next reassessment.
Amendment 3Constitutional amendment
Ban post-conviction bail for child offenses
After someone is found guilty of certain very serious crimes against a child, a judge can sometimes allow bail while the case continues. This would require the person to stay in custody instead.
- Yes vote
- A person convicted of an aggravated offense against a minor could not receive post-conviction bail.
- No vote
- Judges would retain case-by-case discretion over post-conviction bail for those offenses.
Amendment 4Constitutional amendment
Lifetime two-term governor limit
A governor can now serve two terms in a row, wait a term, and run again. This would make two terms the lifetime limit, like getting only two turns in a game ever.
- Yes vote
- A person who has served more than one and one-half terms as governor could not be elected governor again.
- No vote
- The current limit of two consecutive terms would remain, allowing a former governor to run again after sitting out a term.
Amendment 5Constitutional amendment
Change retirement debt payment order
The state sometimes gets extra one-time money to pay retirement debt. Instead of always paying the oldest debt first, this would let a retirement system choose which debt to pay first, like choosing which bill to pay first.
- Yes vote
- A state retirement system could apply qualifying nonrecurring state funds to any unfunded accrued liability instead of the oldest one first.
- No vote
- The oldest outstanding unfunded accrued liability would still have to be paid first.
Amendment 6Constitutional amendment
Senior property-tax break
Some older homeowners already get a tax freeze. This could let their parish or city offer an extra discount, like a senior coupon, if local voters approve it.
- Yes vote
- Local governments may offer qualifying homeowners age 65 and older an additional exemption of up to $30,000 of assessed value, increasing with age, if voters later approve it locally.
- No vote
- The new optional age-based exemption will not be authorized, while current property-tax benefits remain unchanged.
Amendment 7Constitutional amendment
Public funds for water lines
Some drinking-water pipes on private property may contain harmful materials such as lead. This would let public money help find and replace those pipes, like fixing the whole hose instead of only the part under the street.
- Yes vote
- Public entities may use public funds to identify, inventory, remove, or replace drinking-water service lines affected by hazardous materials on customers' property.
- No vote
- Existing constitutional limits on using public money for this work on private property remain in place.
Amendment 8Constitutional amendment
Ban foreign-adversary takings
Expropriation can let certain entities force an owner to sell property for a public project. This would stop foreign adversaries and their agents, as defined by law, from using that power in Louisiana.
- Yes vote
- Foreign adversaries and their agents may not expropriate private property in Louisiana.
- No vote
- No new constitutional ban on those entities is added to the existing expropriation rules.
Amendment 9Constitutional amendment
Raise assessment-freeze limit
Some seniors and certain disabled homeowners can freeze the value used to calculate their property taxes. This raises the income limit from $100,000 to $150,000, so more people could qualify.
- Yes vote
- The income limit for the special property-tax assessment level rises from $100,000 to $150,000, with later inflation adjustments.
- No vote
- The current income limit remains $100,000 under the existing rules.
Amendment 10Constitutional amendment
Tax break for restored blight
This would let local governments offer a temporary tax break after a run-down property is repaired. It is like a reward for fixing an abandoned building, but later laws would set the rules.
- Yes vote
- The constitution may authorize property-tax exemptions for derelict or blighted property that has been rehabilitated, under rules set by the Legislature.
- No vote
- This new constitutional authority for exemptions on rehabilitated blighted property will not be created.
How sure is this guide?
Where the four AIs disagreed
ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Grok each researched Louisiana's ballot on their own, with web search. The score is how closely their answers matched. Where they split, check the official voter guide before you trust either side.
78/ 100Partial agreement
Amendment 1 cost estimate
- GPT-5.6 Terra: Revenue could decrease; no statewide estimate was provided.
- Claude Sonnet 5.5: Not estimated in the sources found.
- Gemini 3.8 Flash: Overall cost is not estimated.
- Grok 4.5: A few hundred claimants and limited revenue impact.
Amendment 2 rate approval
- GPT-5.6 Terra: Preserves a prior authorized maximum without new voter approval.
- Claude Sonnet 5.5: Maximum was approved by voters long ago.
- Gemini 3.8 Flash: Allows restoration to voter-approved maximums without another election.
- Grok 4.5: Restoration still requires a two-thirds board vote.
Named supporters and opponents
- GPT-5.6 Terra: Names Power Coalition and Pelican Institute as Amendment 1 opponents.
- Grok 4.5: Names supporters and opponents across Amendments 1 to 3.
Amendment 6 approval process
- GPT-5.6 Terra: Requires approval by local voters.
- Claude Sonnet 5.5: Parishes or cities choose whether to offer it.
- Gemini 3.8 Flash: Parish governments choose whether to offer it.
- Grok 4.5: Requires a local election and approval.
Amendment 6 estimated cost
- GPT-5.6 Terra: Statewide cost is not estimated.
- Claude Sonnet 5.5: Cost is not estimated and varies locally.
- Gemini 3.8 Flash: Statewide revenue loss is not estimated.
- Grok 4.5: Cites a rough $19 million annual example.
Amendment 7 funding detail
- GPT-5.6 Terra: No statewide cost estimate; no specific funding amount.
- Claude Sonnet 5.5: Cites about $150 million in federal funding.
- Gemini 3.8 Flash: No specific funding amount cited.
- Grok 4.5: Cites a roughly $150 million New Orleans loan.
Before you vote
This guide was written by AI models with web search and does not tell you how to vote. Details can be wrong: your sample ballot and Louisiana's official voter guide are the final word.
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