AUSTIN, TX - Please see the guide below from the Office of Rep. Murr outlining upcoming constitutional amendments featured on the November 2021 Proposition Ballot.
Every November in odd number years, the state generally puts forward a Proposition Ballot with proposed changes to the Texas Constitution. Texas voters have the opportunity to decide whether or not to approve these Constitutional Amendments directly with their vote. This year, Election Day will fall on Tuesday, November 2nd, with early voting beginning on October 18th and running through October 29th.
“I encourage every Texas voter to go out and vote on each proposed constitutional amendment. Our ability to vote and participate in the democratic process is a core component of our civic duty as Texans and Americans. It’s more important than ever that Texans make sure their voice is heard in the political process and each of these proposed amendments deserves thoughtful consideration.” remarked Murr.
The present Texas Constitution has been changed more than 500 times since it was adopted in February 1876. Since that time, the Legislature has proposed a total of 690 constitutional amendments, with 687 of them making it to the ballot box in Texas. Of those presented to voters for review, 180 proposed amendments have not been approved by Texas voters.
The upcoming Proposition Ballot will feature eight proposed constitutional amendments that passed the Texas House this past spring and now await voter approval. Each proposal is required to pass both the Texas House and the Texas Senate with a super-majority (or two-thirds) vote. Below you will find the actual proposition ballot language followed by a brief description of its effect:
Proposition 1
"The constitutional amendment authorizing the professional sports team charitable foundations of organizations sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association or the Women's Professional Rodeo Association to conduct charitable raffles at rodeo venues."
WHAT IT DOES: Allows a professional sports team charitable foundation to conduct raffles at rodeo venues, and will include organizations sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association or the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association under the definition of professional sports team.
Proposition 2
"The constitutional amendment authorizing a county to finance the development or redevelopment of transportation or infrastructure in unproductive, underdeveloped, or blighted areas in the county."
WHAT IT DOES: Authorizes counties to form Transportation Reinvestment Zones (“TRZ”) and Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones (“TIRZ”) and use collected tax increment revenues to directly benefit projects within zones.
Proposition 3
"The constitutional amendment to prohibit this state or a political subdivision of this state from prohibiting or limiting religious services of religious organizations."
WHAT IT DOES: Ensures religious organizations may not be prohibited or limited from performing religious services by state or local governments.
Proposition 4
"The constitutional amendment changing the eligibility requirements for a justice of the supreme court, a judge of the court of criminal appeals, a justice of a court of appeals, and a district judge."
WHAT IT DOES: Clarifies that state supreme court and court of appeals justices, as well as court of criminal appeals judges, must be Texas residents at the time of election and have practiced law in Texas and/or served as Texas state or county court judges for at least 10 years (the current experience requirement) with no license suspensions or revocations. Requires district court judges to have eight years of combined Texas law practice and/or court judge experience (double the current experience requirement) with no license suspensions or revocations. These requirements would apply to those individuals who are elected or appointed to a term beginning after January 1, 2025.
Proposition 5
"The constitutional amendment providing additional powers to the State Commission on Judicial Conduct with respect to candidates for judicial office."
WHAT IT DOES: Authorizes the Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct to investigate complaints and reports filed against candidates for state judicial office in the same fashion as it investigates complaints and reports filed against current judicial officeholders.
Proposition 6
"The constitutional amendment establishing a right for residents of certain facilities to designate an essential caregiver for in-person visitation."
WHAT IT DOES: Ensures residents of nursing homes, assisted living centers, and other comparable residential facilities have the right to select an essential caregiver to whom in-person visitation cannot be denied.
Proposition 7
"The constitutional amendment to allow the surviving spouse of a person who is disabled to receive a limitation on the school district ad valorem taxes on the spouse's residence homestead if the spouse is 55 years of age or older at the time of the person's death."
WHAT IT DOES: Allows the surviving spouse of a person who is disabled to receive a limitation on the school district ad valorem taxes on the spouse's residence homestead if the spouse is 55 years of age or older at the time of the person's death.
Proposition 8
"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 member of the armed services of the United States who is killed or fatally injured in the line of duty."
WHAT IT DOES: Provides a homestead property tax exemption for the surviving spouse of a military member who was killed or fatally injured in the line of duty.