On Tuesday, November 8, voters from across the state of Texas approved seven of 10 proposed amendments to the state constitution.
Of the three amendments HAR supported, Propositions 1, 2 and 8, Propositions 1 and 2 were passed by Texas voters. Proposition 1, which would provide a property tax exemption for the surviving spouses of totally disabled veterans, passed with 83% support. Proposition 2, which allows the Texas Water Development Board to issue bonds that would fund much needed water projects, passed with 52% support.
The three amendments that failed were Propositions 4, 7 and 8 — new bonding authority for counties, a conservation district in El Paso, and tax breaks for landowners who practice good water stewardship, respectively.
Full results for the 10 Constitutional Amendments are as follows:
Proposition 1
“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.”
IN FAVOR 82.88%
AGAINST 17.11%
Proposition 2
“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.”
IN FAVOR 51.52%
AGAINST 48.47%
Proposition 3
“The constitutional amendment providing for the issuance of general obligation bonds of the State of Texas to finance educational loans to students.”
IN FAVOR 54.52%
AGAINST 45.47%
Proposition 4
“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.”
IN FAVOR 40.28%
AGAINST 59.71%
Proposition 5
“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.”
IN FAVOR 57.77%
AGAINST 42.22%
Proposition 6
“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.”
IN FAVOR 51.57%
AGAINST 48.42%
Proposition 7
“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.”
IN FAVOR 48.30%
AGAINST 51.69%
Proposition 8
“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.”
IN FAVOR 47.00%
AGAINST 52.99%
Proposition 9
“The constitutional amendment authorizing the governor to grant a pardon to a person who successfully completes a term of deferred adjudication community supervision.”
IN FAVOR 57.31%
AGAINST 42.68%
Proposition 10
“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.”
IN FAVOR 55.94%
AGAINST 44.05%