HB 214 is a proposed constitutional amendment (not yet enacted) that would allow Louisiana property owners to qualify for an optional property tax exemption on blighted or derelict properties after rehabilitation. It requires the legislature to define terms like "blighted property" and establish rules for the exemption, including its duration and administration. The exemption would apply to tax years starting January 1, 2027, if approved by voters in November 2026. This change directly affects property owners who rehabilitate eligible properties and local governments that would administer the program.
SB 11 modifies the funding rules for the Louisiana State Police Retirement System to ensure stable benefits for retirees, beneficiaries, and survivors. It requires automatic increases in employer contributions (capped at 2.35%) if projected contributions decrease, effective July 1, 2024. The bill mandates these adjustments to cover benefit increases without needing new legislative action each year. Funding will come from additional employer contributions as specified in the state constitution.
SB 6 creates a "Classic Black" specialty license plate for Louisiana motor vehicles, available to owners of passenger cars, pickup trucks, RVs, motorcycles, and vans who apply. It requires at least 1,000 applicants before issuance and sets an annual $25 fee (plus $3.50 handling fee) to fund emergency vehicle training at the Donald J. Thibodeaux Training Complex. The plate features a black background with white border, Louisiana state seal, magnolia flower, and "THE PELICAN STATE" text. Fees collected are distributed directly to the training complex, separate from standard vehicle registration taxes. This is a procedural bill focused on license plate design and funding, not policy changes affecting broader legislation.
HB 20 modifies Louisiana's Teachers' Retirement System rules for retirees returning to work after July 1, 2020. It sets a 250% earnings cap on reemployment income (2.5x their final average salary), requiring retirees to choose between two payment options: staying in the system with reduced benefits if earnings exceed the cap, or opting out for a refund of past contributions. Retirees returning to work within three months of retirement must suspend benefits until their reemployment ends or the three-month period expires, whichever comes first. The bill requires additional employer contributions to cover costs, as specified in Louisiana's Constitution.
HB 43 amends Louisiana's state employee retirement rules to set different eligibility requirements based on when employees were hired. It affects state workers hired on or after July 1, 2006, with three main paths: 35 years of service at any age, 5 years at age 60 or 62 (depending on hire date), or 20 years of service with a reduced benefit. Employees choosing the 20-year option get a benefit calculated as if they had waited until the standard retirement age, resulting in a lower payout. Additionally, those using the 20-year path cannot join other retirement plans like the Deferred Retirement Option.
This Louisiana constitutional amendment bill proposes changing the state constitution to allow parishes to increase the homestead property tax exemption cap from $7,500 to $12,500 for qualifying homeowners. The exemption applies to primary residences, including mobile homes, covering up to $12,500 of a property's assessed value, with parishes setting the exact amount within that limit. If approved by voters in the November 2026 election, the change would take effect January 1, 2027.
HB 59 requires East Baton Rouge Parish and its cities to fund specific expenses for the 19th Judicial District Court's public defender office, which serves people who cannot afford legal representation. The bill mandates that local governments cover salaries for staff (including public defenders, clerks, and investigators) and operational costs like supplies, travel, and equipment. Funding responsibility is shared proportionally between the parish and individual cities, as determined by their governing authorities. This complements existing state funding and directly affects the office's ability to provide indigent defense services in East Baton Rouge Parish.
SB 17 establishes a funding deposit account to cover cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for retirees, beneficiaries, and survivors in the Registrars of Voters Employees' Retirement System. It sets specific conditions for COLAs: up to 3% of a retiree's current benefit if the system is at least 70% funded and no COLA was granted in the previous three years, with an additional up to 2% for those aged 65 or older. These adjustments are funded from the system's investment earnings and surplus funds held in the new account, which must be used to cover COLAs when available.
HB 47 updates Louisiana's Assessors' Retirement Fund by changing how cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) are calculated and approved for retirees. It allows the board of trustees to grant COLAs up to 3% of a retiree's original benefit (capped at $300 annually) or a minimum $20 monthly payment for those 65+, based on the fund's financial health (requiring a 100% funded ratio or specific lower thresholds). The bill also modifies employer contributions, requiring assessors and the retirement fund board to pay 3.5% of eligible salaries toward the fund. These changes directly affect retired assessors, their beneficiaries, and current assessors who fund the retirement system.
SB 19 changes the name and design of a specialty license plate for Louisiana state retirees. The bill creates a new "State Employee Retired RSEA" plate, requiring at least 1,000 applicants before issuance. It adds a $25 fee for the plate, with all revenue annually sent directly to the Louisiana State Employees Retirement System to reduce the state's unfunded liability. This affects state retirees who choose to purchase the plate, with no changes to retirement benefits or eligibility.
