From Tax Cuts To Power Grid Texans To Vote On These 14 Amendments This Fall

Texas voters will be asked to choose between 14 proposed amendments on the Nov. 7, 2023, ballot.

The order in which they will appear was chosen today by the Texas Secretary of State’s office. These propositions, also referred to as constitutional amendments because they amend the volumes-long Texas Constitution, pertain to a wide variety of subjects. From the second-largest tax cut in Texas history to the strengthening the power grid, these 14 Senate or House joint resolutions (SJRs or HJRs) approved in the legislative session in the spring (and in one case a special legislative session this summer) will appear on all ballots in the Lone Star State, even if some only pertain to a certain subject or limited geographic areas.

According to a press release from the Texas Secretary of State’s office the order is as follows. The Hayride will have analysis and recommendations on each in the weeks ahead.

Proposition 1 – HJR 126 “… protecting the right to engage in farming, ranching, timber production, horticulture, and wildlife management.”

Proposition 2 – SJR 64 “… authorizing a local option exemption from ad valorem taxation by a county or municipality of all or part of the appraised value of real property used to operate a child-care facility.”

Proposition 3 – HJR 132 “… prohibiting the imposition of an individual wealth or net worth tax, including a tax on the difference between the assets and liabilities of an individual or family.”

Proposition 4 – HJR 2 from the second special session “… to authorize the legislature to establish a temporary limit on the maximum appraised value of real property other than a residence homestead for ad valorem tax purposes; to increase the amount of the exemption from ad valorem taxation by a school district applicable to residence homesteads from $40,000 to $100,000; to adjust the amount of the limitation on school district ad valorem taxes imposed on the residence homesteads of the elderly or disabled to reflect increases in certain exemption amounts; to except certain appropriations to pay for ad valorem tax relief from the constitutional limitation on the rate of growth of appropriations; and to authorize the legislature to provide for a four-year term of office for a member of the board of directors of certain appraisal districts.”

Proposition 5 – HJR 3 “… relating to the Texas University Fund, which provides funding to certain institutions of higher education to achieve national prominence as major research universities and drive the state economy.”

Proposition 6 – SJR 75 “… creating the Texas water fund to assist in financing water projects in this state.”

Proposition 7 – SJR 93 “… providing for the creation of the Texas energy fund to support the construction, maintenance, modernization, and operation of electric generating facilities.”

Proposition 8 – HJR 125 “… creating the broadband infrastructure fund to expand high-speed broadband access and assist in the financing of connectivity projects.”

Proposition 9 – HJR 2, regular session “… authorizing the 88th Legislature to provide a cost-of-living adjustment to certain annuitants of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.”

Proposition 10 – SJR 87 “… to authorize the legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation equipment or inventory held by a manufacturer of medical or biomedical products to protect the Texas healthcare network and strengthen our medical supply chain.”

Proposition 11 – SJR 32 “… 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 12 – HJR 134 “… providing for the abolition of the office of county treasurer in Galveston County.”

Proposition 13 – HJR 107 “… to increase the mandatory age of retirement for state justices and judges.”

Proposition 14 – SJR 74  creating “the centennial parks conservation fund to be used for the creation and improvement of state parks.”