Texas Voters Decide Nov. 7 on 14 Proposed Amendments

SAN ANGELO – Texas voters head to the polls Nov. 7, 2023 to decide the fate of 14 proposed amendments to the state Constitution.  The Texas Legislature is giving Texans the choice to approve or deny the 14 amendments below.  

There is a public meeting Thursday night to provide more in depth information on the proposed amendments.  That meeting is from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Sugg meeting room on the third floor of the Stephens Central Library downtown. The meeting is free and open to the public.  State Representative Drew Darby will lead the discussion and answer questions about the proposed amendments.  

Here are the amendments as proposed by the Legislature: 

Proposition 1 The constitutional amendment protecting the right to engage in farming, ranching, timber production, horticulture, and wildlife management.

Proposition 2 The constitutional amendment 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 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 4 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.

Proposition 5  The constitutional amendment 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 The constitutional amendment creating the Texas water fund to assist in financing water projects in this state.

Proposition 7  The constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the Texas energy fund to support the construction, maintenance, modernization, and operation of electric generating facilities.

Proposition 8  The constitutional amendment creating the broadband infrastructure fund to expand high-speed broadband access and assist in the financing of connectivity projects.

Proposition 9  The constitutional amendment authorizing the 88th Legislature to provide a cost-of-living adjustment to certain annuitants of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.

Proposition 10  The constitutional amendment 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 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.

Proposition 12  The constitutional amendment providing for the abolition of the office of county treasurer in Galveston County.

Proposition 13  The constitutional amendment to increase the mandatory age of retirement for state justices and judges.

Proposition 14  The constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the centennial parks conservation fund to be used for the creation and improvement of state parks.