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LABI-Opposed Homestead Exemption Bills Stall in Committee
Legislation that would have allowed parishes to increase the homestead exemption and shift more of the property tax burden onto other taxpayers—failed to move forward Tuesday in the House Ways & Means Committee.
HB 440 by Rep. Candace Newell (D-New Orleans) proposed a Constitutional Amendment to let voters decide whether parishes could raise the exemption by up to $5,000, increasing it to as much as $125,000. While framed as tax relief for homeowners, the reality was clear: any increase would have shifted the property tax burden onto others—especially small businesses and job creators who already shoulder a significant share of local property taxes. The bill failed on a 5–9 vote.
HB 543 also by Rep. Newell, the statutory companion bill establishing the process for parishes to implement the increase, was voluntarily deferred following the constitutional amendment’s defeat.
As outlined in our Program of Work, LABI opposes measures such as the two mentioned above. Preserving balance in Louisiana’s property tax system is critical. Increasing the homestead exemption would not eliminate costs—it would simply move them onto other taxpayers, further straining employers and threatening long-term economic competitiveness.