Present Constitution prevents residential property taxes from increasing for certain owners who claim a homestead exemption on residential property. An owner qualifies for and receives the special assessment level if the owner has an adjusted gross annual income that does not exceed the income threshold and (1) is sixty-five years of age or older; (2) has a 50% or more service-connected disability rating by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs; (3) the person who owned and last occupied the property is a member of the United States armed forces or the Louisiana National Guard and is either killed in action, missing in action, or a prisoner of war for more than ninety days; or (4) is permanently totally disabled as determined by a judgment of court or as certified by a state or federal agency.

Present Constitution requires an owner who is below the age of sixty-five and who has applied for and received the special assessment level on property subject to ad valorem taxation to annually certify to the parish assessor that his or her adjusted gross income in the prior tax year satisfied the income requirement of this section of the constitution.

Present Constitution excludes an owner from the annual income certification requirement who has qualified for and received the special assessment level and who is sixty-five years of age or older or such owner’s surviving spouse who is fifty-five years of age or older or who has minor children and remains the owner of the property.

Proposed Constitutional Amendment requires an owner who is not permanently totally disabled and who has applied for and received the special assessment level on property subject to ad valorem taxation to annually certify to the parish assessor that his or her adjusted gross income in the prior tax year satisfied the income requirement of this section of the constitution.

Proposed Constitutional Amendment also excludes an owner from the annual income certification requirement who has qualified for and received the special assessment level and who is permanently totally disabled.