A bill that could offer meaningful property tax relief for Louisiana homeowners is one step closer to becoming law. On Thursday, State Representative Matthew Willard (D–New Orleans) announced that House Bill 271, which would allow parishes to raise their homestead exemption to $125,000, has advanced out of the House Ways and Means Committee and is headed to the full House for debate.
“As amended, this bill gives local governments the authority to decide whether increasing the Homestead Exemption—which hasn’t changed since 1980—is in the best interest of the people they serve,” Willard said in a statement posted to social media.
Under current law, Louisiana’s homestead exemption shields the first $75,000 of a homeowner’s primary residence from property taxes. HB 271 proposes allowing parish governing authorities to increase that exemption to $125,000, a shift that could ease the financial burden for homeowners, particularly in high-cost areas like New Orleans.
Willard pointed out that other states—such as Texas, Nebraska, Georgia, and Massachusetts—have already doubled their homestead exemptions in recent years. “It’s time for Louisiana to do the same,” he wrote. “To take this modest but meaningful step to help the people who live here, stay here.”
The proposed legislation does not mandate a statewide change but instead gives individual parishes the option to increase the exemption based on local needs. Supporters say that approach respects local governance while acknowledging the rising cost of living and property valuations across the state.
Critics of increasing the homestead exemption in the past have raised concerns about potential impacts on local revenue for schools and essential services. However, Willard argues that empowering local governments to make that decision ensures any changes are made with direct input from the communities most affected.
The bill now faces a full vote on the House floor, where it will need majority approval before moving on to the Senate.
If passed, the measure would represent the most significant change to Louisiana’s homestead exemption in over four decades—a move advocates say is long overdue.
