What’s On the Ballot? Texas Nov. 8 Constitutional Amendment Election Voters Guide

Today is the last day for Texans to register to vote for the Nov. 8 Constitutional Amendment Election.  Don’t forget that early voting starts in less than 2 weeks on October 24th. Here is a summary and the ballot language for the 10 proposed amendments that will be on the ballot. For a full rundown of the pros and cons of all 10 amendments, be sure to download a copy of our Constitutional Amendment Election Voters Guide.

Prop 1 (SJR 14)

Summary: Allows surviving spouse of disabled veteran to receive property tax exemption on residential homestead.

Ballot Language: “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.”

Prop 2 (SJR 4)

Summary: Gives permanent bonding authority to Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) to issue additional general obligation bonds.

Ballot Language: “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.”

Prop 3 (SJR 50)

Summary: Gives permanent bonding authority to Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to issue general obligation bonds to finance low-interest students loans.

Ballot Language: “The constitutional amendment providing for the issuance of general obligation bonds of the State of Texas to finance educational loans to students.”

Prop 4 (HJR 63)

Summary: Gives authority to counties to participate in certain tax increment financing or reinvestment zones.

Ballot Language: “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.”

Prop 5 (SJR 26)

Summary: Allows interlocal contracts by cities and counties without a tax or a sinking fund.

Ballot Language: “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.”

Prop 6 (HJR 109)

Summary: Gives greater authority to the School Land Board (SLB) to distribute funds from Permanent School Fund (PSF) to Available School Fund (ASF).

Ballot Language: “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.”

Prop 7 (SJR 28)

Summary: Authorizes El Paso County districts to issue bonds supported by property taxes for parks and recreational facilities.

Ballot Language: “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.”

Prop 8 (SJR 16)

Summary: Provides for taxation of open-space land devoted to water stewardship based on its productive capacity.

Ballot Language: “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.”

Prop 9 (SJR 9)

Summary: Allows a pardon by the governor after successful deferred adjudication community supervision.

Ballot Language: “The constitutional amendment authorizing the governor to grant a pardon to a person who successfully completes a term of deferred adjudication community supervision.”

Prop 10 (SJR 37)

Summary: Lengthens period before county or district officials must resign to run for other office from one year to one year and 30 days.

Ballot Language: “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.

See a sample ballot.