On November 8, voting Texans across the state will have the opportunity to support or oppose the constitutional amendments passed by the 82nd Texas Legislature. Constitutional amendments are changes to the Texas Constitution which may be proposed by the legislature in the form of a joint resolution. The joint resolution must pass both the Texas House and the Texas Senate by two-thirds. Once the joint resolution passes the legislature, it must be approved by a majority of voters to become a part of our state constitution.
This year’s November constitutional ballot includes ten new propositions. Below is a breakdown of four of those propositions as provided by the Texas Secretary of State:
• Proposition 1 – Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 14 would amend the constitution to provide a surviving spouse of a 100 percent or totally disabled veteran with an exemption from ad valorem taxation of all or part of the market value of the surviving spouse’s homestead residence. In order to receive the exemption, the surviving spouse must remain unmarried, in the residence when the qualifying veteran passed away and the property must remain the homestead residence. The language on the ballot will read as follows, “The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation on all or part of the market value of the residence homestead of the surviving spouse of a 100 percent or totally disabled veteran.”
• Proposition 2 – SJR 4 seeks to amend the constitution to authorize the Texas Water Development Board to issue additional general obligation bonds on a continuing basis. The Water Development Board would be restricted to the total bonds outstanding not exceeding $6 billion dollars. The proposition will appear as follows, “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 anytime outstanding.”
• Proposition 3 – SJR 50 would amend the constitution to authorize the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board or its successors to issue and sell general obligation bonds on a continuing basis. The bonds would be used for the purpose of financing educational loans for students; however these bonds would be subject to certain constitutional restrictions and would include restrictions on the maximum amount of bonds outstanding at any one time. The language will appear as follows, “The constitutional amendment providing for the issuance of general obligation bonds of the State of Texas to finance educational loans to students.”
• Proposition 4 – House Joint Resolution 63 amends the constitution to authorize the legislature to permit a county to issue bonds or notes to finance development or redevelopment of an unproductive, underdeveloped, or blighted area within the county. In addition, the county would have to pledge an increase in ad valorem tax revenues imposed on property in the area for the repayment of such bonds or notes. The proposition will read as follows, “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.”
Next week I will outline some more of the proposed constitutional amendments on this November’s ballot. 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).
