UPDATE: I’ve changed my position on Prop 12. See my explanation under the prop description below. I’ve also provided a little more detail about my (unchanged) position on Prop 4.
On Monday, October 20th, polls open for the November 2025 elections. This isn’t a Presidential Election, or even a mid-term. However, 17 proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution will be on the ballot, and YOU get the chance to vote on them! Below I’ve outlined the 17 ballot propositions along with how I plan to vote on each. Texas Public Policy Foundation has published a fantastic guide providing the arguments for and against each prop here.
See polling locations and times here.
Prop 1 (SJR 59): 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.
- Yes – the state is already charged with providing these educational systems and technical jobs in the trades are increasingly important, so we should not neglect them.
Prop 2 (SJR 18): The constitutional amendment prohibiting the imposition of a tax on the realized or unrealized capital gains of an individual, family, estate, or trust.
- Yes – this prevents an unnecessary, unfair, and punitive tax.
Prop 3 (SJR 5): The constitutional amendment requiring the denial of bail under certain circumstances to persons accused of certain offenses punishable as a felony.
- Yes – This must adhere to due process, and a very high bar is set to deny bail and when it’s met, these are the most violent, dangerous offenders. How many news stories have we seen about violent criminals released who murder someone?
Prop 4 (HJR 7): 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.
- Yes – water is an increasingly critical resource, and most people don’t even understand how critical the situation is for our future. I understand and agree with concerns about mandatory spending and oversight. With this amendment, I believe the pros far outweigh the cons.
Prop 5 (HJR 99): 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.
- Yes – this is another band-aid on a property tax system that no longer works, but a band-aid is better than nothing.
Prop 6 (HJR 4): 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.
- Yes – this prevents another hidden, unnecessary tax which would be passed along to consumers anyway.
Prop 7 (HJR 133): 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.
- Yes – this plugs a hole in a previous amendment that was approved.
Prop 8 (HJR 2): 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.
- Yes – again, this prevents an unnecessary, unfair, and punitive tax.
Prop 9 (HJR 1): 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.
- Yes – until we can eliminate property tax in Texas, we need more relief in a system that no longer makes sense. And again, taxes on business ultimately get passed along to the consumer anyway.
Prop 10 (SJR 84): 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.
- Yes – if an improvement has been destroyed, that improvement should not be taxed on its non-existent value.
Prop 11 (SJR 85): 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.
- Yes – under our problematic property tax system, those who are senior and disabled need the most protections.
Prop 12 (SJR 27): 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.
- Yes – I was originally a no on this, but after speaking with some of the most knowledgeable people in the state on this matter, I’ve changed to a yes. There are things I don’t like about this amendment, most notably that it erodes due process a little for judges being sanctioned, but this is counterbalanced by greater accountability. On the whole, I’m now a yes.
Prop 13 (SJR 2): 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.
- Yes – until we can eliminate property tax, we need more relief. Can you tell I’m seriously down on property tax?
Prop 14 (SJR 3): 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.
- No – I feel for this one, and while Alzheimer’s and dementia research is very important, that’s just not the role of government.
Prop 15 (SJR 34): The constitutional amendment affirming that parents are the primary decision makers for their children.
- Yes – this should be obvious. That we even have to put this in the State Constitution is alarming.
Prop 16 (SJR 37): The constitutional amendment clarifying that a voter must be a United States citizen.
- Yes – this should also be obvious.
Prop 17 (HJR 34): 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 located 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.
- Yes – those closest to the border have the most skin in the game when it comes to border security, and that should be reflected by an exemption from their property taxes.
Remember, whether these amendments pass or fail is up to YOU!
