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House advances statutory and constitutional changes allowing parishes to opt out of inventory tax or adjust fair‑market valuation
Summary
Representative Desitel presented a statutory companion and a constitutional amendment enabling parishes to opt out of inventory taxation or to lower fair‑market valuation percentages. The bills offer one‑time payments as compensation options and passed the House on final votes recorded in session.
Representative Desitel brought a statutory package and a constitutional‑amendment companion to permit parishes to opt out of inventory tax or reduce the percentage used to assess inventory fair‑market value.
On the floor Desitel said the measure is the statutory portion of a failed constitutional amendment and that the bill would allow a parish to opt out of inventory tax as a voluntary local choice. If a parish opts out and accepts a single‑year settlement, the parish could receive a one‑time payment equivalent to three times the 2025 year’s collection; other payment‑spread options were described during debate.
The statute also lets parishes that do not opt out adjust the assessment percentage for inventory value (the bill would permit lowering what had been a 15% assessment). Representative Waller asked whether the change would decentralize power to local governments; Desitel answered that it would allow local choice and financial options.
After closing, the House voted for final passage on the statutory measure; the clerk recorded 93 yays and 0 nays and the bill finally passed. Desitel also offered the constitutional amendment language on the floor; an amendment cleaned up ballot language and removed statutory payment‑distribution detail from the ballot question so that the statutory text retains those formulas.
Members emphasized the voluntary nature of the opt‑out, the one‑time payment options, and the desire to let parishes make local fiscal decisions. The transcript does not record statewide fiscal estimates of the statutory payments or the mechanics of distributing the one‑time funds beyond the language presented on the floor.
Representative Desitel requested favorable passage; the House adopted technical amendments and passed the statutory component on final passage.
