Louisiana Voters Approve Amendment 1 to Support Surviving Spouses of Disabled Veterans

By Daniele Palen, Director of Communications, LDVA

BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana voters overwhelmingly approved Amendment 1 on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, allowing the surviving spouse of a veteran with a service-connected disability to transfer the additional homestead property tax exemption one time to a new home.

“I know the importance of military spouses and what they give up to support our nation’s defense. When a spouse spends years caring for a veteran with a service-connected disability, they often sacrifice their own careers. After that veteran passes, many spouses need to downsize or move closer to family for support, and they should not lose this relief for doing so. Those who carried our veterans through their hardest days should never be left to carry the weight alone. To take care of our veterans is to take care of the spouses who stood beside them, and that is why this measure meant so much to me. I am grateful to every Louisianan who voted yes,” said Secretary Charlton Meginley of the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs (LDVA).

LDVA extends its sincere thanks to Senator Franklin Foil, a Navy veteran, who authored Senate Bill 180 and carried the measure through the legislative process; to the members of the Louisiana Legislature, who sent the amendment to voters; and to Governor Jeff Landry for his continued support of Louisiana’s veterans and military families. LDVA remained engaged with the measure from the start of the 2026 Regular Session through Election Day, and the Department will always advocate for the surviving spouses and families it serves.

Under current law, the additional exemption is tied to the home the veteran and spouse owned, and it can be lost when the surviving spouse moves. Amendment 1, which takes effect January 1, 2027, allows the spouse to carry the exemption, in the amount previously claimed, to one new qualifying primary residence. The Legislative Fiscal Office reports that 229 surviving spouses claimed the exemption in 2025. Unofficial results show about 74 percent support, with 1,071,202 votes in favor and 371,217 against.

Louisiana is home to approximately 250,000 veterans. The Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs serves veterans and their families through a statewide network of benefits counselors, state veterans homes, state veterans cemeteries, and educational-support programs.

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