What the Texas constitutional amendments on Nov. 4 election ballot actually mean
Some of the constitutional amendments on the Nov. 4 ballot are head scratchers — and not just because voters need to think about how they want to cast their ballots.
From jargon-laced proposals about property taxes to vague amendments about bail law, the 17 constitutional amendments can be a lot to unpack and understand. So, we broke them down for you, as early voting starts on Oct. 20.
Here’s what the ballot says and what it means.
Proposition 1
The ballot language: “The constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the permanent technical institution infrastructure fund and the available workforce education fund to support the capital needs of educational programs offered by the Texas State Technical College System.”
The plain language: This constitutional amendment would create state funds to help pay for capital projects and equipment purchases for educational programs offered by the Texas State Technical College System.
The context: The Texas State Technical College System has campuses across the state and offers technical and vocational education programs related to everything from the aircraft industry and electrical-related fields, to plumbing, vocational nursing and web design. Its 11 campuses include a North Texas location in Red Oak.
This amendment would set up a dedicated funding source for the system for expenses like acquiring land, building construction and improvements, and purchasing equipment and books, using an initial $850 million allocated by the Legislature. Up to $52 million can be moved into the available workforce education fund this fiscal year for spending.
While opponents worry about an increase in government spending, supporters say the funds are needed to invest in and bolster Texas’ skilled technically workforce, according to the Texas Legislative Council, a nonpartisan legislative agency that researches and provides information on legislation, including analyses on constitutional amendments.
Proposition 2
The ballot language: “The constitutional amendment prohibiting the imposition of a tax on the realized or unrealized capital gains of an individual, family, estate, or trust.”
The plain language: State lawmakers may not pass a law taxing the capital gains of an individual, family, estate or trust.
The context: Capital gains refer to value increases in assets like property or stocks. The gains are realized when sold or unrealized when not sold. Texas doesn’t tax capital gains, but the state constitution also doesn’t explicitly ban the idea. That’s where this constitutional amendment comes in.
According to the Texas Legislative Council, supporters of the proposition say it’s needed because a future legislature could one day impose a tax on capital gains, which would discourage investments and be bad for the economy. Opponents say it’s unnecessary and that the current legislature shouldn’t make decisions for future legislatures.
Most states tax capital gains, according to The Entrust Group.
Proposition 3
The ballot language: “The constitutional amendment requiring the denial of bail under certain circumstances to persons accused of certain offenses punishable as a felony.”
The plain language: The Texas constitution would prohibit certain people accused of some felonies, such as murder or aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury, from being released from jail on bail.
The context: When a person is arrested and put in jail on an accused crime, they are generally able to post bail and be released until their trial. (Obviously, there are many caveats to a defendant’s release and existing reasons why a person may not be allowed to be released on bail.)
This constitutional amendment would expand the list of offenses that could lead to a person being denied bail. A judge would first need to decide that bail isn’t enough to protect public safety and the safety of any victim or to keep a defendant from not showing up to court.
The offenses include:
- Murder
- Capital Murder
- Aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury
- Aggravated assault using a firearm, club, knife or explosive weapon
- Aggravated kidnapping
- Aggravated robbery
- Aggravated sexual assault
- Indecency with a child
- Human trafficking
Supporters believe the measure will stop criminals from committing new crimes while out on bail, according Texas Legislative Council. Opponents argue that judges already have tools to effectively deny bail and say that people who are presumed to be innocent would be in jail longer, creating financial and personal burdens.
Proposition 4
The ballot language: “The constitutional amendment to dedicate a portion of the revenue derived from state sales and use taxes to the Texas water fund and to provide for the allocation and use of that revenue.”
The plain language: This constitutional amendment would direct part of Texas’ sales and use tax revenue to a Texas water fund to pay for water projects in the state.
The context: The Texas Water fund was approved by voters through a 2023 constitutional amendment. This year’s proposition builds on that measure by creating a recurring payment of $1 billion dollars to the fund starting in September 2027.
The allotment is funded using revenue from the state’s sales and use tax, and would be made after Texas collects more than $46.5 billion in sales and use tax. If approved, the dedicated funding starts in September 2027 would expire at the end of August 2047.
The funding proposition comes as Texas’ population is expected to increase by 53% between 2030 and 2080. At least half of the money deposited into the fund must be used for projects related to supplying water.
Supporters say the funding will help meet Texas’ growing water demand and ensure water security in the future, according to the Texas Legislative Council.
The proposal generally didn’t receive opposition, though some said more money should be invested in the fund, given the state’s future water needs, per Texas Legislative Council. It could also be argued that new water projects could create environmental risks without proper safeguards, according to the League of Women Voters of Texas voter guide.
Proposition 5
The ballot language: “The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation tangible personal property consisting of animal feed held by the owner of the property for sale at retail.”
The plain language: This constitutional amendment allows the Texas Legislature to exempt animal feed that’s being sold from property taxes.
The context: Business owners must pay property taxes on most items used to produce an income, and exemptions must be permitted under the Texas constitution, according to the Texas Legislative Council. For instance, voters have previously approved a property tax exemption for agricultural equipment. If this exemption is approved by voters, starting in January 2026, people wouldn’t have to pay property taxes on their inventory of animal feed that they’re going to sell.
Supporters say the amendment would make feed more affordable because feed sellers are paying high taxes on feed, leading to higher costs for farmers and ranchers, according to the Texas Legislative Council. But opponents say the exemption is an unfair tax benefit for feed sellers.
Proposition 6
The ballot language: “The constitutional amendment prohibiting the legislature from enacting a law imposing an occupation tax on certain entities that enter into transactions conveying securities or imposing a tax on certain securities transactions.”
The plain language: The Texas Legislature may not impose an occupation tax on securities market operators, like stock exchanges and stockbrokers, and could not tax their securities transactions.
The context: An occupation tax is a tax placed on a person working in a certain trade. As Texas establishes its new Texas Stock Exchange, which recently cleared a key hurdle, this amendment essentially says the Legislature couldn’t charge organizations and brokers registered with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or the United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission an occupation tax.
They also couldn’t tax their securities transactions, which the amendment defines as “the purchase or sale of a security, a contract or agreement to purchase or sell a security, or a service to facilitate, match parties to, process, report, clear, or settle the purchase or sale of a security on behalf of a customer.”
Texas doesn’t tax securities market operators or their transactions. Implementing such taxes could hurt Texas’ economy, supporters say, according to The Texas Legislative Council. But opponents worry about creating tax policy that future legislators would be held to and warn the taxes could be beneficial in a future economic downturn, were that to occur.
Proposition 7
The ballot language: “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 veteran who died as a result of a condition or disease that is presumed under federal law to have been service-connected.”
The plain language: The constitutional amendment would allow lawmakers to give spouses of a veteran who died due to a service-related condition or disease an exemption on all or part of their home’s property taxes.
The context: Texans can deduct a certain amount of their home value from the property taxes they pay on their primary home in the form of a homestead exemption, a tool sometimes used by state lawmakers to provide tax relief.
This constitutional amendment, in conjunction with an enabling bill, would give spouses of veterans who died due to a qualifying condition or disease that’s service-connected a homestead exemption equal to their home’s full value, as long as they haven’t remarried. The exemption would carry over if recipients move to a new home in the state, at the same dollar amount as their initial home.
The exemption applies to the surviving spouses of veterans who died as a result of conditions presumed to be service related in the PACT Act, a federal law expanding Veterans Affairs health care eligibility and presumptive conditions related to exposure to burn pits, Agent Orange and other toxins.
Supporters say eliminating the tax for the widows of veterans is a way to honor their service and sacrifice, according to the Texas Legislative Council. Opponents worry the exemption could burden other taxpayers, especially in military communities.
Proposition 8
The ballot language: “The constitutional amendment to prohibit the legislature from imposing death taxes applicable to a decedent’s property or the transfer of an estate, inheritance, legacy, succession, or gift.”
The plain language: Texas lawmakers may not place a “death tax” on a deceased person’s property or the transfer of an estate, inheritance, legacy, succession or gift.
The context: A “death tax” generally refers to an estate or inheritance tax. Texas does not have these types of taxes, though there is a federal estate tax and there used to be a state inheritance tax that was eliminated in 2015.
If the amendment passes, future lawmakers couldn’t impose:
- A state tax on someone’s estate because the person died.
- A state tax on the transfer of an estate, inheritance, legacy, succession or gift to someone else, if the tax wasn’t already in effect as of January 2025. If a tax is already in effect, it couldn’t be increased or expanded.
Supporters say codifying a “death tax” ban in the state constitution helps ensure people continue to receive assets left to them after a loved one dies, according to the Texas Legislative Council. Proponents also argue assets are already taxed while someone is living and shouldn’t be taxed again. But opponents say the measure isn’t necessary because Texas doesn’t have a “death tax,” and that future lawmakers shouldn’t be limited.
Proposition 9
The ballot language: “The constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation a portion of the market value of tangible personal property a person owns that is held or used for the production of income.”
The plain language: This constitutional amendment allows the legislature to give business owners a partial property tax exemption.
The context: This proposal is part of a package property tax relief measures passed during the legislative session. Working with an enacting bill that has already been signed into law, people could exempt $125,000 from the value of personal property that’s used to make money for their business.
Supporters say the measure will offer property tax relief for businesses, as well as help attract new businesses and keep existing ones in the state, according to the Texas Legislative Council. But, opponents say the measure will cut into the revenue of cities, counties and schools.
Proposition 10
The ballot language: “The constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to provide for a temporary exemption from ad valorem taxation of the appraised value of an improvement to a residence homestead that is completely destroyed by a fire.”
The plain language: This constitutional amendment allows the legislature to offer a temporary property tax exemption to homeowners who are rebuilding after their home was completely destroyed in a fire.
The context: The amendment offers tax relief to people whose home was destroyed in a fire. The amount of the exemption is calculated by multiplying the appraised value of the improvements by the number of days left in the tax year after the fire divided by 365.
So what does that mean, exactly? Let’s take a hypothetical scenario in which someone’s home is valued at $400,000, but burns down exactly halfway through the year. If rebuilding costs were $300,000 and the tax rate was 1%, the homeowner would owe $2,500 in property taxes compared to the $4,000 that’s owed without the proposed tax relief.
Keep in mind, this tabulation doesn’t take into account other possible exemptions on homeowners’ tax bills, such as a homestead exemption.
The property owner must apply for the exemption with their appraisal district’s chief appraiser within 180 days of the fire.
Supporters say the move would help to those whose homes were destroyed and would otherwise be responsible for taxes on the full value of their home, even though it can’t be lived in. The proposal didn’t receive opposition during the legislative process, according to the Texas Legislative Council.
Proposition 11
The ballot language: “The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to increase the amount of the exemption from ad valorem taxation by a school district of the market value of the residence homestead of a person who is elderly or disabled.”
The plain language: This constitutional amendment lets the legislature increase the homestead exemption on school property taxes for homeowners who are elderly or disabled.
The context: Currently, homeowners who are disabled or over the age of 64 can receive an additional homestead exemption of up to $10,000 on their school property tax bill. If approved, the exemption would increase to up to $60,000 (see Proposition 13).
So what does that mean in terms of tax bill savings? Let’s use the Fort Worth school district as an example, where the current tax rate is 1.029%. In that scenario, an owner of a $350,000 home who is elderly or disabled would see roughly $515 in savings.
Supporters say the proposal would provide meaningful tax relief for Texans who are disabled or 65 or older, but opponents point out that lawmakers have already cut property taxes in recent years and worry about negative impacts to school funding. Districts that lose revenue because of the homestead exemption increase are eligible for additional state aid.
Proposition 12
The ballot language: “The constitutional amendment regarding the membership of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, the membership of the tribunal to review the commission’s recommendations, and the authority of the commission, the tribunal, and the Texas Supreme Court to more effectively sanction judges and justices for judicial misconduct.”
The plain language: The constitutional amendment would change the composition of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct’s members, as well as the membership of the tribunal that reviews the commissions recommendations. It also changes the sanctioning processes of judges and justices for misconduct.
The context: The State Commission on Judicial Conduct is tasked with handling the review and reprimand of judges accused of misconduct. This could include sanctioning, censuring or suspending a judge, or recommending a judge be removed from office.
The 13-member commission is made up of six judges appointed by the Supreme Court of Texas, two attorneys appointed by the State Bar of Texas and five citizen members appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott. If passed, the board would be made up of six judges appointed by the Supreme Court and seven citizens appointed by Abbott. The appointments would be made “with the advice and consent of the Senate,” according to the amendment.
Additionally, the Texas Supreme Court’s chief justice will appoint the seven court of appeals justices that form a tribunal tasked with reviewing commission decision's related to a judge’s removal or retirement.
The amendment also makes several changes to the commission’s process for disciplining judges.
Supporters say the proposal would promote transparency and accountability among judges, but opponents fear more government appointments could lead to politicization of the courts, according to The Texas Legislative Council.
Proposition 13
The ballot language: “The constitutional amendment to increase the amount of the exemption of residence homesteads from ad valorem taxation by a school district from $100,000 to $140,000.”
The plain language: This constitutional amendment increases the homestead exemption on school property taxes from $100,000 to $140,000.
The context: The proposed increased homestead exemption follows the passage of a 2023 constitutional amendment that raised the exemption by $60,000. If approved, a person who owns a $350,000 home would have their tax bill calculated off of a $210,000 home value, compared to a $250,000 home value currently.
So again, doing the pocketbook math using the Fort Worth school district’s current 1.029% tax rate, a homeowner could expect to see about $412 in savings. Someone claiming the standard exemption plus the exemption for those who are elderly or disabled would save about $926.
Like with Proposition 11, districts that lose revenue because of the homestead exemption increase are eligible for additional state aid.
Supporters cheer the potential for more property tax relief, while opponents worry about the long-term funding of schools and note the exemption excludes renters and commercial property owners, according to the Texas Legislative Council.
Proposition 14
The ballot language: “The constitutional amendment providing for the establishment of the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, establishing the Dementia Prevention and Research Fund to provide money for research on and prevention and treatment of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and related disorders in this state, and transferring to that fund $3 billion from state general revenue.”
The plain language: If approved, the state would create the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and a fund for the study and treatment of dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other related disorders. The state would put $3 billion into the fund.
The context: The Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas would offer grants to research causes, cures and the prevention of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and similar diseases. The institute is funded by legislative appropriations, like the initial $3 billion, and gifts and grants.
Supporters say need for research into dementia and Alzheimer’s is needed as life expectancies increase, and the fund would help foster that research in Texas, according to the Texas Legislative Council. Opponents say private entities, nonprofits and universities can handle the research without government funding.
Proposition 15
The ballot language: “The constitutional amendment affirming that parents are the primary decision makers for their children.”
The plain language: Language saying parents are the primary decision makers for their kids would be added to the Texas constitution.
The context: This amendment doesn’t establish any new policies or laws. Rather, it codifies the idea of parental rights in the Texas constitution, a theme of recent policy debates around issues like education and health care.
This passage would be added to the state constitution: “To enshrine truths that are deeply rooted in this nation’s history and traditions, the people of Texas hereby affirm that a parent has the responsibility to nurture and protect the parent’s child and the corresponding fundamental right to exercise care, custody, and control of the parent’s child, including the right to make decisions concerning the child’s upbringing.”
Supporters note that courts recognize parents’ constitutional right when it comes to the care, custody and control of their children, but say the amendment is needed in case future court rulings erode that right, according to the Texas Legislative Council. Still, some opponents have said the amendment doesn’t do enough to protect parental rights.
The expansion of “parental rights” has been used to advocate for policies like private school vouchers, the erosion of DEI and LGBTQ initiatives in school and library book censorship — policies that have been the subject of partisan debates locally, in Austin and nationally.
Proposition 16
The ballot language: “The constitutional amendment clarifying that a voter must be a United States citizen.”
The plain language: Language would be added to the constitution that says only U.S. citizens can vote in Texas.
The context: U.S. citizenship is already a requirement to vote under federal law, and the Texas Constitution states that (except in the case of a handful of disqualifiers) “a citizen of the United States and who is a resident of this state shall be deemed a qualified voter.” But some want explicit language disqualifying people who aren’t U.S. residents from voting, like the state constitution does for convicted felons, people under the age of 18 and those who have been found mentally incompetent by a court.
Supporters say the language, codifying the existing voter requirement would protect the citizen voting requirement, as well as boost voter confidence and eliminate confusion, according to the Texas Legislative Council. Opponents say its unnecessary, and may cause people to think it’s common for people who aren’t U.S. citizens to vote in elections illegally, when such occurrences are actually rare.
Proposition 17
The ballot language: “The constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of the amount of the market value of real property in a county that borders the United Mexican States that arises from the installation or construction on the property of border security infrastructure and related improvements.”
The plain language: This constitutional amendment allows the legislature to exempt border security infrastructure — like a border wall — from property taxes, when the property is in a county along the Texas-Mexico border.
The context: The constitutional amendment’s enacting bill defines border security infrastructure as a “wall, barrier, fence, road, trench, apparatus, or other improvement designed or adapted to surveil or impede the movement of persons or objects crossing the Texas-Mexico border.”
These types of structures in counties along the Texas-Mexico border would be exempt from property taxes starting in 2026, if they were part of a border-security related agreement with Texas or the United States.
Opponents don’t approve of using tax exemptions to spur border security measures like border walls. Supporters say the border security initiatives are needed, but property owners shouldn’t have increased taxes because of the projects, according to the Texas Legislative Council. The tax break could also encourage more people to volunteer their land for border security projects, supporters say.
This story was originally published October 16, 2025 at 10:41 AM.
