LOUISIANA, USA — Four amendments will appear on ballots across the state during the 2023 Louisiana General Election.
These are a different set of amendments than the ones on the ballot during October's primary election.
Amendment 1 concerns the state legislature and its ability to vote on issues that have been vetoed by the governor.
Currently, the legislature must convene a special veto session to vote to override a governor's veto.
A 'yes' vote would allow the state legislature to consider vetoed bills during any regular session and would not require a special veto session to deliberate on those bills.
A 'no' vote would allow the state legislature to consider veto bills only during a special veto session.
Amendment 2 addresses the state budget, moving inactive state funds to a general fund.
A 'yes' vote would repeal part of the state constitution that allows for inactive state funds. The leftover money from the following funds will be transferred to the state general fund:
- Atchafalaya Basin Conservation Fund
- Higher Education Louisiana Partnership Fund
- Millennium Leverage Fund
- Agricultural and Seafood Products Support Fund
- First Use Tax Trust Fund
- Louisiana Investment Fund for Enhancement
A 'no' vote would keep state funds inside those inactive state funds.
Amendment 3 has to do with property and taxes, allotting special exemptions to emergency workers and law enforcement.
A 'yes' vote would have all local governments give a property tax exemption of up to $2,500 for law enforcement and other first responders. These include firefighters, EMS, emergency response dispatchers, peace officers and sheriffs.
A 'no' vote would oppose that tax exemption for law enforcement and other first responders.
Amendment 4 also addresses the state budget. This time, voters will have the opportunity to decide on how to tackle the deficit.
A 'yes' vote would allow the state legislature to use $250 million in funds from a statewide trust fund to diminish the state deficit.
A 'no' vote would keep the money inside the trust fund, to be used for other purposes.
The trust fund is called the Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund, and it was set up in 2016 to take in money from corporate tax and mineral tax revenue. Corporate taxes go to the fund in years where the state collects more than $600 million in corporate funds.
Similarly, when mineral tax revenue gets above $660 million, that money is deposited into the fund.
In 2021, a $205 million deposit was deposited into the fund.
