NOVEMBER BALLOT INCLUDES CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS (RECAP)
Next week on November 8, Texans across our State will have the opportunity to support or oppose the ten constitutional amendments passed by the 82nd Texas Legislature. Each of these Constitutional amendments are changes to the Texas Constitution. Constitutional amendments are first proposed by the legislature in the form of a joint resolution. The joint resolution then must pass both the Texas House and the Texas Senate by a two-thirds vote. Once the joint resolution passes the legislature, it must be approved by a majority of voters across the state to become a part of our state constitution.
Below is the language and order of the ten propositions as provided by the Texas Secretary of State:
• Proposition Number 1 (SJR 14) – The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of all or part of the market value of the residence homestead of the surviving spouse of a 100 percent or totally disabled veteran.
• Proposition Number 2 (SJR 4) – The constitutional amendment providing for the issuance of additional general obligation bonds by the Texas Water Development Board in an amount not to exceed $6 billion at any time outstanding.
• Proposition Number 3 (SJR 50) – The constitutional amendment providing for the issuance of general obligation bonds of the State of Texas to finance educational loans to students.
• Proposition Number 4 (HJR 63) – The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to permit a county to issue bonds or notes to finance the development or redevelopment of an unproductive, underdeveloped, or blighted area and to pledge for repayment of the bonds or notes increases in ad valorem taxes imposed by the county on property in the area. The amendment does not provide authority for increasing ad valorem tax rates.
• Proposition Number 5 (SJR 26) – The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to allow cities or counties to enter into interlocal contracts with other cities or counties without the imposition of a tax or the provision of a sinking fund.
• Proposition Number 6 (HJR 109) – The constitutional amendment clarifying references to the permanent school fund, allowing the General Land Office to distribute revenue from permanent school fund land or other properties to the available school fund to provide additional funding for public education, and providing for an increase in the market value of the permanent school fund for the purpose of allowing increased distributions from the available school fund.
• Proposition Number 7 (SJR 28) – The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to permit conservation and reclamation districts in El Paso County to issue bonds supported by ad valorem taxes to fund the development and maintenance of parks and recreational facilities.
• Proposition Number 8 (SJR 16) – The constitutional amendment providing for the appraisal for ad valorem tax purposes of open-space land devoted to water-stewardship purposes on the basis of its productive capacity.
• Proposition Number 9 (SJR 9) – The constitutional amendment authorizing the governor to grant a pardon to a person who successfully completes a term of deferred adjudication community supervision.
• Proposition Number 10 (SJR 37) – The constitutional amendment to change the length of the unexpired term that causes the automatic resignation of certain elected county or district officeholders if they become candidates for another office.
For those wishing to vote early this year, early voting officially started on Monday, October the 24th and will run through Friday, November the 2nd. If you are unable to make it to a polling location to vote, then mail in ballots are available. It is important to remember that your request for a mail in ballot must have been received by November 1st. Additional information on the November 8th election can be found on www.votexas.org which is administered by the Secretary of State. If you would like to have the opportunity to read the amendments as passed by the legislature you can go to www.legis.state.tx.us.
If you have questions regarding any of the proposed constitutional amendments mentioned in this article, please do not hesitate to call my Capitol or District Office. As always, my offices are available at any time to assist with questions, concerns or comments (Capitol Office, 512-463-0672; District Office, 361-949-4603).
