November Constitutional Amendment Election: Amendants 1, 2, and 3
The November constitutional amendment election is just around the corner. This year, the first Tuesday of November falls on November 5, 2013 (Election Day). Before you can vote on Election Day, it is important to make sure you have everything in place and to know what you will have the opportunity to vote on. This week and over the next couple of weeks, I will be analyzing the proposed constitutional amendments.
This year you will have the opportunity to vote on nine constitutional amendments. As a recap, the Texas Legislature officially ended the 83rd Regular legislative session on May 27, 201. As of that date, nine constitutional amendments had managed to make their way through the 140 day legislative session and receive the necessary two-thirds vote of all members in both the House and the Senate. Once the constitutional amendment makes it through the legislative process, it then goes to the voters of Texas where it must receive a majority of the votes cast, in its favor.
Below is a brief analysis of the first three proposed constitutional amendments as they are placed on the ballot with the use of information provided by the Texas Legislative Council*:
1. Amendment No. 1 (H.J.R. 162) – As worded on the ballot “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 surviving spouse of a member of the armed services of the United States who is killed in action.” Amendment No. 1 proposes to add an exemption from property taxation for a residence homesteads and limitations on certain property taxes which may be imposed on those homesteads for the surviving spouse of a member of the United States armed services of whom was killed in action. This exemption/reduction would only be provided if the surviving spouse has not remarried since the service member’s death. If approved by the voters this proposed constitutional amendment would only apply to a tax year beginning on or after January 1, 2014.
2. Amendment No. 2(H.J.R. 79) – As worded on the ballot “The constitutional amendment eliminating an obsolete requirement for a State Medical Education Board and a State Medical Education Fund, neither of which is operational.”
Amendment No. 2 proposes to repeal the constitutional provisions which established the State Medical Education Board and the State Medical Education Fund in 1952. The board and fund proved ineffective for their intended purposes and as such have not been operational for over 20 years.
3. Amendment No. 3 (H.J.R. 133) – As worded on the ballot ” The constitutional amendment to authorize a political subdivision of the state to extend the number of days that aircraft parts that are exempt from ad valorem taxation due to their location in this state for a temporary period may be located in this state for purposes of qualifying for the tax exemption.” Amendment No. 3 proposes to authorize the governing body of a political subdivision to extend the date by which aircraft parts are exempted from ad valorem taxation before which they must be transported outside the State to a date not later than the 730th day the parts where acquired or imported in to the State. If approved by the voters this proposed constitutional amendment would only apply to a tax year beginning on or after January 1, 2014.
*The mission of the Texas Legislative Council is to provide professional, nonpartisan service and support to the Texas Legislature and legislative agencies.
For additional information visit Voting in Texas. To view the proposed constitutional amendments go to Texas Legislative Council.
If you have questions regarding any of the information 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).
– State Representative Todd Hunter, District 32
Rep. Hunter represents Nueces (Part). He can be contacted at todd.hunter@house.state.tx.us or at 512-463-0672.
