Thirteen of 14 amendments pass Nov. 7

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Thirteen of 14 amendments pass Nov. 7

Thu, 11/16/2023 - 15:35
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TEXAS–Voters had 14 amendments to the Texas Constitution on the ballot in the Nov. 7 election. These propositions had to receive a vote of two thirds of the legislature to make it to the ballot. 
The two that received the highest majority in favor were Proposition #4 which passed with 83% in favor to grant a higher homestead exemption for homeowners and Propositon 9 at nearly 84% approval which gave certain annuitants of the Teacher Retirement System a cost of living adjustment. HHR2 was the result of a Second Special Session and read “The constitutional amendment 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.” Propositon 9 read “The constitutional amendment authorizing the 88th Legislature to provide a cost-of-living adjustment to certain annuitants of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.”
Texans voted in favor of protecting the rights of farmers and ranchers as Proposition 1 (HJR126) passed with 79% approval. Voters also overwhelmingly agreed to create the centennial parks conservation fund to be used for the creation and improvement of state parks and to create the Texas Water Fund to assist in financing water projects in the state.
Voters also approved the amendment creating the broadband infrastructure fund (HJR125) to expand high-speed broadband access and assist in the financing of connectivity projects.” This received 70% approval. 
Propostion 5 (HJR3) received 65% approval to redesignate the national research university fund as the Texas University Fund (TUF), and to appropriate funds from the economic stabilization fund to the TUF.
Voters voted to prohibit the legislature from imposing a tax based on the wealth or net worth of families as Propostion 3 (HJR132) passed with 67% approval. The proposition read “The constitutional amendment 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 2 which granted the governing body of a county or municipality to exempt from property taxation all or part of the appraised value of real property used to operate a child-care facility passed with 65% approval. 
Voters also approved (65% approval) the “The constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the Texas energy fund to support the construction, maintenance, modernization, and operation of electric generating facilities.” The Texas energy fund would be a special fund in the state treasury outside the general revenue fund, administered by the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) or its successor. Money in the Texas energy fund could be used, without further appropriation, only by PUC or its successor to provide loans and grants to finance or incentivize the construction, maintenance, modernization, and operation of electric generating facilities necessary to ensure the reliability or adequacy of an electric power grid in the state.
Voters were more evenly divided on Proposition 10 which authorized the legislature to exempt from property taxation tangible personal property held by a medical or biomedical manufacturer as a finished good or used in the manufacturing or processing of medical or biomedical products. Voters approved the measure 55% in favor, 45% opposed.
Two of the propositons, 11 and 12 concerned individual counties that are out of the Cedar Creek Lake area. Proposition 11 read : “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.” And passed with 65% approval. The other, Propostion 12 abolished the office of county treasurer in Galveston County and passed more narrowly with 52% in favor.
The only proposition to fail was Propostion 13 (HJR107) which would have increased the mandatory retirement age for state justices and judges. That propostion failed with 63% not in favor.