Texas voters will get final say on 17 Texas constitutional amendments on Tuesday, Nov. 4, including billions of dollars in property tax cuts for home and business owners.
Two-thirds of the Legislature passed joint resolutions calling for constitutional amendment elections, as well as the states budget for the next two years which includes $51 billion for property tax cuts.
Supporters of the tax cuts, like Gov. Greg Abbott, say they will help Texas stay a competitive and business-friendly state and help boost economic growth. Opponents say they’re concerned that passing more tax cuts, like ones on school district taxes the state helps pay for, could be unsustainable in the long run. With so many tax cuts and tax bans, especially through the upcoming elections, state and local governments might have a hard time paying for public services like education, health care and infrastructure in the future.
Here are a few topics that are being proposed as constitutional amendments:
•Lowering taxes for homeowners, businesses, elderly and disabled homeowners, spouses of veterans, home owners whose homes were destroyed in a fire, property owners with border security infrastructure and those who sell animal feed.
•Prevent the state from imposing extra taxes on personal or business capital gains, inheritances, securities transactions and those working in securities.
•Fund water infrastructure, Texas State Technical College and research dementia treatment and prevention.
•Amend the constitution to limit when a person can be released on bail, enshrine parental rights, clarify citizenship requirements for Texas voters and overhaul the State Commission on Judicial Conduct.
If the amendments are approved, Texas lawmakers and voters will need to pass new constitutional amendments to undo old measures.
Constitutional amendments are the only ballot propositions that Texans get to vote on at the state level and will appear at the top of all ballots.
