Changes in local property tax exemptions go to House floor for debate
by Ed Anderson - Times-Picayune (excerpt)

The Louisiana House Ways and Means Committee gave its stamp of approval Tuesday to Gov. Bobby Jindal's proposals to expand the local property tax exemption program to non-manufacturing industries. Without objection, the committee approved House Bill 674, sponsored by Rep. Joel Robideaux, R-Lafayette, which proposes a change in the state Constitution that authorizes local property tax exemptions for specific businesses that locate to an area with the approval of parish government. The committee also approved House Bill 694, which lays out how the new program will operate. The two bills now go to the House floor for debate. The proposed change in the state Constitution will need a two-thirds vote of the Legislature, then must be submitted to voters at the Nov. 6 election. If approved in the election, it would take effect Jan. 1. For years, the state has had a five-year property tax exemption -- with a five-year renewal -- in place for industry, such as oil and chemical refineries and manufacturing plants which locate to the state or expand existing facilities in the area. The Jindal package would expand the benefits to non-manufacturing interests, such as businesses that locate corporate headquarters in the state or facilities such as data centers, research and development operations, warehousing facilities, digital media and software and others.