Learning the state ballot
Early voting season for the next election began Monday, Oct. 23 and runs through Nov. 3.
Texas voters will see 14 propositions to amend the state constitution on their ballot for the Nov. 7 election. Here’s what to know about some the items:
Proposition 1
This proposition seeks to protect landowners’ right to farm, ranch, produce timber and manage wildlife on their property.
If passed, the amendment does not affect the legislature’s authority to use state agencies to protect public health and safety, to prevent a danger to animal health or crop production and to preserve natural resources.
Proposition 2
This second proposition Texans will vote on would allow the state to exempt child-care facilities from property taxes.
This item would grant the legislature the ability to define what parameters have to be met to be considered a child-care facility.
This proposition would prohibit the state from instituting a wealth tax.
If passed, the state constitution would be amended to not let an individual or family be taxed based on their net worth. This also includes taxing based on the difference between assets and liabilities.
Proposition 4
This proposition involves the significant property tax cuts passed in the second special session.
If passed, the proposition allows the $18 billion tax cut to be put into action. It additionally raises the homestead exemption, which essentially lowers what a homeowner’s property is valued as for tax purposes, from $40,000 to $100,000.
Proposition 5
This fifth proposition on the ballot would set up the Texas University Fund.
The fund would provide a total of $3.9 billion to Texas Tech University, Texas State University, the University of Houston and the University of North Texas. The amount is meant to increase the colleges’ research capabilities and does not require additional taxes.
Proposition 6
This proposition would create the Texas Water Fund, which would bring about $1 billion for improvements to water infrastructure.
Texas Water Fund money can only be spent by being transferred to other funds or accounts dictated by the Texas Water Development Board.
Proposition 7
This would establish the Texas Energy Fund, which would be used to support the construction, maintenance and upgrades to electric generation facilities. The funds would be run by the Public Utility Commission of Texas.
Proposition 8
This proposition would set up the Broadband Infrastructure Fund, which would be used to improve telecommunication service
capabilities. Use of the fund would be controlled by the state comptroller.
Proposition 9
This proposition would allow the Texas Legislature to move money, about $3.35 billion has been budgeted, from the general fund to the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.
The funds would give a “cost-of-living” percentage increase to retired teachers based on year of retirement.
Proposition 10
This would exempt medical or biomedical manufacturers from being taxed on their equipment.
This exemption would lower the amount school districts took in for their property taxes.
Proposition 13
If passed, this would increase the mandatory retirement age for state judges from 75 to 79.
Additionally, this boosts the minimum retirement age for Texas judges from 70 to 75.
Proposition 14
This proposition would set up about a $1 billion fund for the creation and improvement of skate parks in
the state. The fund would be called the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund and would be administered by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
Proposition 11 and Proposition 12 specifically relate to El Paso County and Galveston County.
