Texas Constitutional Amendment Election Results

Out of the 14 propositions to amend the Texas constitution, voters approved 13 and rejected one. The only proposition that failed was Prop 13, which would have allowed judges and justices to retire at a later age.

Proposition 1 - PASSED (79%/21%): HJR 126 "The constitutional amendment protecting the right to engage in farming, ranching, timber production, horticulture, and wildlife management."

Proposition 2 – PASSED (65%/35%): SJR 64 "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 – PASSED (68%/32%): HJR 132 "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 – PASSED (83%/17%): HJR 2 (from the second special session) "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."

Note: In the General Appropriations Act for the state fiscal biennium beginning September 1, 2023, the legislature appropriated a total of $17.6 billion for school district property tax relief, of which nearly $12.3 billion is contingent on voter approval of this constitutional amendment excepting these amounts from the spending limit.

Proposition 5 – PASSED (64%/36%): HJR 3 "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." Note: The proposed amendment provides for a dedicated source of revenue for the Texas University Fund from the interest income, dividends, and investment earnings attributable to the state’s economic stabilization fund (“rainy day fund”), not to exceed $100 million per state fiscal year, as adjusted for inflation up to two percent per state fiscal year after the 2024 state fiscal year.

Proposition 6 – PASSED (78%/22%): SJR 75 "The constitutional amendment creating the Texas water fund to assist in financing water projects in this state." Note: If the constitutional amendment is approved, $1 billion in appropriations from the state’s general revenue fund will be deposited to the Texas water fund.

Proposition 7 – PASSED (65%/35%): SJR 93 "The constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the Texas energy fund to support the construction, maintenance, modernization, and operation of electric generating facilities." Note: If this amendment is approved by the voters, the legislature has provided initial funding of $5 billion and enacted enabling legislation to begin providing loans and grants from the fund.

Proposition 8 – PASSED (69%/31%): HJR 125 "The constitutional amendment creating the broadband infrastructure fund to expand high-speed broadband access and assist in the financing of connectivity projects." Note: The legislature has appropriated $1.5 billion to the proposed fund contingent on voter approval of the proposed amendment.

Proposition 9 – PASSED (84%/16%): HJR 2, regular session "The constitutional amendment authorizing the 88th Legislature to provide a cost-of-living adjustment to certain annuitants of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas." Note: The legislature has appropriated $3.355 billion to fund the cost-of-living adjustment contingent on voter approval of the proposed amendment.

Proposition 10 – PASSED (55%/45%): SJR 87 "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 – PASSED (63%/37%): SJR 32 "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 – PASSED (53%/47%): HJR 134 "The constitutional amendment providing for the abolition of the office of county treasurer in Galveston County."

Proposition 13 – FAILED (37%/63%): HJR 107 "The constitutional amendment to increase the mandatory age of retirement for state justices and judges."

Proposition 14 – PASSED (77%/23%): SJR 74 "The constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the centennial parks conservation fund to be used for the creation and improvement of state parks." Note: The 2023 General Appropriations Act appropriates $1 billion to the Parks and Wildlife Department for the centennial parks conservation fund for the state fiscal year ending August 1, 2024 contingent on voter approval of this constitutional amendment.

Other Notable Texas Election News

• House District 2 (Special Election)

In the special election for House District 2 to fill the unexpired term of expelled former House member Bryan Slaton, in a field of six candidates, Republicans Brent Money (31.75%) and Jill Dutton (25.26%) made the runoff election set for December 9.

• Houston Mayor

In the election for Houston mayor, State Senator John Whitmire (42.5%) advanced to a runoff on December 9 against Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (35.7%).

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