Early voting starts today for the Nov. 3 Election. This election, there are seven proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution on the ballot for voter approval.
Below is a list of the seven proposed constitutional amendments and a short description. For more detailed information and resources regarding the amendments, please visit the Texas Legislative Council’s website http://www.tlc.state.tx.us/const_amends.htm.
Proposition No. 1 (S.J.R. 1):
(Passed House 138-0, Passed Senate 25-6)
The constitutional amendment increasing the amount of the residence homestead exemption from ad valorem taxation for public school purposes from $15,000 to $25,000. Approval of the ballot measure will also provide for the reimbursement by the state to school districts for their revenue loss resulting from the $10,000 increase. This ensures that school districts are not affected by the increase in the exemption.
Proposition No. 2 (H.J.R. 75):
(Passed House 138-0, Passed Senate 27-2)
The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for a residence homestead property tax exemption for the surviving spouse of a 100 percent or totally disabled veteran who died before the law authorizing the current disabled veteran’s residence homestead exemption took effect. Current law has been interpreted to apply the exemption only to a surviving spouse of a disabled veteran who died after the 2009 law took effect. Prop 2 would extend the homestead exemption to the surviving spouse of a disabled veteran who would have qualified for the exemption under the 2009 law but died before the law took effect.
Proposition No. 3 (S.J.R. 52):
(Passed House 102-43, Passed Senate 29-1)
The constitutional amendment repealing the requirement that state officers elected by voters statewide reside in the state capital. This applies to the offices of comptroller, land commissioner, attorney general, and any statutory state officer who is elected statewide. It was adopted as part of the 1876 Texas Constitution. Prop 3 will remove that residency requirement.
Proposition No. 4 (H.J.R. 73):
(Passed House 137-9, Passed Senate 27-4)
The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to permit professional sports team charitable foundations to conduct charitable raffles. All raffle proceeds, other than cash prize payments and operating expenses, will be required to be used for the foundation’s charitable purposes.
Proposition No. 5 (S.J.R. 17):
(Passed House 139-0, Passed Senate 31-0)
The constitutional amendment to authorize counties with a population of 7,500 or less to perform private road construction and maintenance. The proposed amendment will give counties and private landowners more flexibility to update roads that have been poorly maintained because many small counties rarely have private contractors available to do the work.
Proposition No. 6 (S.J.R. 22):
(Passed House 111-1, Passed Senate 27-3)
The constitutional amendment recognizing the right of the people to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife subject to laws that promote wildlife conservation.
Amendment No. 7 (S.J.R. 5):
(Passed House 142-1, Passed Senate 31-0)
The constitutional amendment dedicating certain sales and use tax revenue and motor vehicle sales, use, and rental tax revenue to the state highway fund to provide funding for non-tolled roads and the reduction of certain transportation-related debt. Proposition 7 will direct up to $2.5 billion of any sales tax proceeds in excess of $28 billion to the state highway fund in each fiscal year starting with fiscal 2018 and ending with fiscal 2032. It will also direct 35 percent of any motor vehicle sales, use and rental tax proceeds in excess of $5 billion to the state highway fund in each fiscal year starting with fiscal 2020 and ending with fiscal 2029. These funds could be used only to construct, maintain, or acquire rights-of-way for roads other than toll roads or to repay bonds issued by the Texas Transportation Commission.
Find out all of the voting information you need at http://VoteTexas.gov