Excerpts from The Texas Tribune’s The Brief on Texas Politics and Policy
Taxes, state parks, infrastructure: What you need to know about the Nov. 7 constitutional amendments election
STORY BY MARÍA MÉNDEZ, YURIKO SCHUMACHER AND TEXAS TRIBUNE STAFF
This election season, Texans will decide the fate of 14 constitutional amendments approved by the Texas Legislature earlier this year. The proposed amendments focus on a range of things from funding for water infrastructure, broadband infrastructure and maintenance of state parks to approval of property tax cuts.
Here are some of the propositions on the ballot:
Proposition 1: All 50 states have enacted some version of right-to-farm laws, seeking to protect farmers and ranchers from nuisance lawsuits for carrying out their regular operations. If this amendment passes, the circumstances in which a city may impose requirements on operations within city limits would be limited.
Proposition 2: This resolution would allow cities and counties to exempt child care providers from property taxes for any facilities used to run a child care business. Supporters of the resolution argue it will help to keep child care businesses open, while critics say the property tax exemption could result in higher tax burdens for homeowners and other businesses.
Proposition 3: This amendment would force lawmakers to ask voters for authorization before they could make any new state taxes on residents that would be based on their net worth or wealth.
Proposition 4: Earlier this year, Texas lawmakers approved a $12.7 billion package of property tax cuts that needs voter approval in order to take effect. This amendment would send $7.1 billion to school districts to lower their property tax rates. It will also raise the state’s school district homestead exemption from $40,000 to $100,000.
Proposition 5: If passed, this amendment would rename the National Research University Fund to the Texas University Fund. The fund would gain annual interest income, dividends and investment earnings from Texas’ rainy day fund to support research at state universities. Texas A&M and University of Texas systems will not receive money from the fund since they receive research funds from a separate Permanent University Fund.
Proposition 6: This resolution would create a specific fund in the state treasury outside of the general revenue fund, endowed with a $1 billion downpayment. The fund would be administered by the Texas Water Development Board to support a wide range of water infrastructure projects.
Proposition 7: This resolution would create a state fund allowing officials to distribute loans and grants to companies, motivating the creation of new natural gas-fueled power plants.
Proposition 8: If approved, this amendment would create the Texas broadband infrastructure fund. $1.5 billion would be allocated to expand internet availability in Texas, where about 7 million people currently lack access.
📝 Here are key dates to remember:
Oct. 10 is the last day to register to vote and submit an address change for the constitutional amendment election.
Early voting starts Oct. 23 and goes through Nov. 3
Oct. 27 is the last day to request a mail-in ballot.
Election Day is on Nov. 7
https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/15/texas-constitutional-amendment-voter-guide/
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