On November 4th, Texans across the State will go to the polls to vote on seventeen (17) proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution. These proposed amendments were passed by at least a two-thirds majority of both chambers of the Texas Legislature and require a majority (50% + 1) of voting Texans for them to be adopted and officially added to the Texas Constitution.
Below we provide the ballot language of each proposition, along with a brief explanation and TFR’s perspective on whether or not the amendment would be pro-taxpayer, anti-taxpayer, or neutral.
Proposition 1 – SJR 59
TFR Position: ANTI-TAXPAYER
Ballot language (the language that will appear on voter’s ballots):
“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.”
Explanation:
SJR 59 proposes a constitutional amendment to create two new state-managed funds specifically for capital investments and infrastructure at the Texas State Technical College System. These funds would exist outside the general revenue stream and receive continuous funding with investment returns distributed annually. Unlike most state programs, this funding would be automatically appropriated without further legislative approval, removing oversight. The bill repeals an existing safeguard that caps TSTC’s allocation from constitutionally dedicated higher education funding. The bill limits flexibility in budgeting, and ties the hands of both future taxpayers and future legislatures. It also expands government spending obligations and increases the risk of future calls for similar carveouts by other institutions. This amendment entrenches a long-term funding stream in the constitution that lacks strong taxpayer accountability measures. Taxpayers will end up footing the bill for permanent infrastructure commitments regardless of TSTC’s performance or need, at a time when the legislature should be prioritizing property tax relief.
Proposition 2 – SJR 18
TFR Position: PRO-TAXPAYER
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.”
Explanation:
SJR 18 strengthens Texas’ pro-growth tax structure by constitutionally banning any tax on capital gains, whether realized or unrealized. This protects individuals, families, and small businesses from future efforts to tax investment income, which could stifle entrepreneurship, savings, and job creation. By providing long-term tax certainty, the amendment helps Texas maintain its competitive edge as a destination for investors and businesses.
Proposition 3 – SJR 5
TFR Position: NEUTRAL
Ballot language:
“The constitutional amendment requiring the denial of bail under certain circumstances to persons accused of certain offenses punishable as a felony.”
Explanation:
SJR 5 proposes a constitutional amendment to the Texas Constitution that would allow judges or magistrates to deny bail to individuals accused of specific felonies, such as murder, capital murder, and aggravated sexual assault, under certain conditions. The denial of bail would require a hearing where the state demonstrates by a preponderance of evidence that bail cannot prevent the accused from missing court, or by clear and convincing evidence that it cannot ensure community safety. If bail is granted, judges must set conditions to prevent nonappearance and ensure safety, supported by a written justification.
Proposition 4 – HJR 7
TFR Position: ANTI-TAXPAYER
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.”
Explanation:
HJR 7 seeks to constitutionally earmark up to $1 billion per year from state sales tax revenue for the Texas Water Fund. While water infrastructure is important, this measure removes large sums from the general revenue fund limiting legislative flexibility. It represents a long-term commitment of taxpayer dollars without sufficient legislative oversight. By constitutionally dedicating funds, lawmakers reduce the legislature’s ability to prioritize spending based on changing needs, and ties the hands of both future taxpayers and future legislatures. The lack of reforms or spending guardrails on the Water Fund also raises concerns about transparency and efficiency. With the state’s history of under-delivering on accountability in large infrastructure funds, this amendment risks growing government bureaucracy without guaranteeing outcomes. Voters should be cautious of creating another permanent spending mechanism carved out of the budget.
Proposition 5 – HJR 99
TFR Position: PRO-TAXPAYER
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.”
Explanation:
HJR 99 proposes a constitutional amendment to allow the Texas Legislature to exempt animal feed held for retail sale from property taxes. Right now, while feed is tax-free during production and use, it is taxed when held as inventory in stores. Removing this tax would reduce costs for feed suppliers and help lower prices for farmers and ranchers, who are already dealing with rising operational expenses. While providing specific exemptions like this comes with some reticence, this amendment prevents double-taxation, and supports small agricultural businesses without expanding government spending.
Proposition 6 – HJR 4
TFR Position: PRO-TAXPAYER
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.”
Explanation:
HJR 4 protects investors and financial markets by amending the Texas Constitution to prohibit new taxes on securities transactions or on the institutions that process them. By doing so, it safeguards retirement accounts and public pensions from decreased returns caused by higher transaction costs. The measure ensures Texas remains an attractive state for financial operations by rejecting burdensome taxation that could drive business away.
Proposition 7 – HJR 133
TFR Position: PRO-TAXPAYER
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.”
Explanation:
HJR 133 seeks to extend property tax exemptions to the surviving spouses of veterans who died due to service-connected conditions, addressing a current gap in the law by supporting those service members and their families who have sacrificed for our nation. By allowing the legislature to provide partial or full exemptions on the market value of a homestead, it ensures that the tax relief is continued for these families and helps to protect surviving spouses from losing their home.
Proposition 8 – HJR 2
TFR Position: PRO-TAXPAYER
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.”
Explanation:
HJR 2 proposes a constitutional amendment to permanently ban estate, inheritance, and gift taxes in Texas. This measure prevents future legislatures from taxing wealth transfers after death, protecting families, small businesses, and farmers from unexpected tax burdens. It safeguards private property rights and encourages investment and savings. Locking this policy into the constitution helps provide long-term financial certainty for taxpayers and families.
Proposition 9 – HJR 1
TFR Position: PRO-TAXPAYER
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.”
Explanation:
HJR 1 offers tax relief to small business owners and entrepreneurs by allowing a $125,000 exemption on income-generating tangible personal property. This constitutional amendment simplifies compliance, reduces bureaucratic costs, and incentivizes productivity. It cuts down on burdensome taxation that can stifle economic growth, especially for small operations. This is a pro-growth, pro-business reform that respects taxpayers and limits government overreach.
Proposition 10 – SJR 84
TFR Position: PRO-TAXPAYER
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.”
Explanation:
SJR 84 offers a narrowly tailored constitutional amendment to protect homeowners from being hit with property taxes on structures that no longer exist due to fire damage. It empowers the Legislature to determine the specific rules and time limits for such tax relief. This measure avoids creating any permanent or automatic exemptions, ensuring that relief is temporary and conditional, while providing homeowners with breathing room during recovery.
Proposition 11 – SJR 85
Position: NEUTRAL
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.”
Explanation:
SJR 85 proposes a constitutional amendment aiming to provide property tax relief by increasing the school district exemption for elderly and disabled homeowners from $10,000 to $60,000. The intent is completely understandable—some older and disabled Texans live on fixed incomes and face increasing costs of living. However, while the goal may be very well intentioned, the approach falls short of meaningful reform. Instead of lowering taxes for all Texans, this bill carves out relief for a subset of the population, pushing the cost onto other taxpayers. Taxpayers would bear more than $1.2 billion in additional costs over the next biennium alone, with no corresponding decrease in overall government size or spending. Other taxpayers, including younger families, renters, and small businesses, will pick up the tab. This is not comprehensive tax relief; it’s tax shifting that does not deliver broad-based, structural reforms or reductions in property tax burdens, and makes future reform more difficult.
Proposition 12 – SJR 27
Position: NEUTRAL
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.”
Explanation:
SJR 27 modifies the membership and authority of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct (SCJC), the tribunal reviewing its recommendations, and the Texas Supreme Court to enhance sanctions for judicial misconduct. It restructures the SCJC to include six judges or justices appointed by the Supreme Court (with two being trial court judges) and seven citizens appointed by the governor, all subject to Senate approval, replacing the previous diverse composition. The amendment also adjusts the SCJC’s disciplinary powers, allowing private or public admonitions, warnings, reprimands, censures, or training requirements, and enables the commission to recommend removal or retirement to a review tribunal, which must decide within 90 days.
Proposition 13 – SJR 2
TFR Position: PRO-TAXPAYER
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.”
Explanation:
SJR 2 seeks to provide property tax relief to homeowners by raising the homestead exemption from $100,000 to $140,000, costing roughly $3 billion out of the $24 billion State surplus over the biennium. While not a permanent fix to property taxes, the amendment should help slow the growth of property taxes for all homeowners.
Proposition 14 – SJR 3
TFR Position: ANTI-TAXPAYER
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.”
Explanation:
SJR 3 is the constitutional amendment that creates the Dementia Prevention and Research Fund, and appropriates $3 billion from general revenue to the fund for 2026. While well intentioned, issues of research and innovation should be left to the private sector, which is the most effective at developing new treatments and technologies. By constitutionally dedicating funds, lawmakers reduce the legislature’s ability to prioritize spending based on changing needs, and ties the hands of both future taxpayers and future legislatures. Medical research is not a proper function of the government and this is an inappropriate use of taxpayer dollars, which should be provided back to taxpayers in the form of property tax relief.
Proposition 15 – SJR 34
TFR Position: PRO-TAXPAYER
Ballot language:
“The constitutional amendment affirming that parents are the primary decision makers for their Children.”
Explanation:
SJR 34 enshrines the fundamental right of parents to raise their children without unnecessary government interference. It constitutionally guarantees that decisions about a child’s upbringing—such as education, healthcare, and values—rest with parents, not bureaucrats or unelected judges. This amendment reinforces the principle that parents, not government agencies, are best suited to make choices for their children. It restrains the growth of state power and keeps decision-making closer to the home. It also reduces the risk of taxpayer-funded legal conflicts over parental rights by clarifying legal boundaries in advance. Codifying this protection into the Texas Constitution helps secure individual liberty, family autonomy, and taxpayer interests alike.
Proposition 16 – SJR 37
TFR Position: PRO-TAXPAYER
Ballot language:
“The constitutional amendment clarifying that a voter must be a United States citizen.”
Explanation:
SJR 37 proposes a constitutional amendment to ensure that only United States citizens can vote in any election held in Texas. While current law requires voter citizenship, this amendment would prevent future local policies from expanding voting rights to non-citizens. It also safeguards taxpayer-funded governance by ensuring that only those fully vested in the nation’s interests—its citizens—can shape public policy. Enshrining this principle in the Constitution provides long-term security and reduces the risk of politically motivated changes in election law.
Proposition 17 – HJR 34
TFR Position: PRO-TAXPAYER
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 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.”
Explanation:
HJR 34 protects borderland property owners from being unfairly taxed when they allow the state or federal government to place security infrastructure on their land. Without this amendment, improvements like fencing or surveillance towers could raise a property’s appraised value, causing higher property tax bills for landowners who are simply helping with public safety. The bill respects private property rights by ensuring the government doesn’t punish these property owners with increased taxes. It promotes taxpayer fairness and avoids creating disincentives for cooperating with law enforcement. By shielding these owners from unintended financial burdens, the resolution aligns with principles of limited, fair, and respectful governance, and border security efforts.
Summary
| Proposition | TFR Position |
| Proposition 1 – SJR 59 | ANTI-TAXPAYER |
| Proposition 2 – SJR 18 | PRO-TAXPAYER |
| Proposition 3 – SJR 5 | NEUTRAL |
| Proposition 4 – HJR 7 | ANTI-TAXPAYER |
| Proposition 5 – HJR 99 | PRO-TAXPAYER |
| Proposition 6 – HJR 4 | PRO-TAXPAYER |
| Proposition 7 – HJR 133 | PRO-TAXPAYER |
| Proposition 8 – HJR 2 | PRO-TAXPAYER |
| Proposition 9 – HJR 1 | PRO-TAXPAYER |
| Proposition 10 – SJR 84 | PRO-TAXPAYER |
| Proposition 11 – SJR 85 | NEUTRAL |
| Proposition 12 – SJR 27 | NEUTRAL |
| Proposition 13 – SJR 2 | PRO-TAXPAYER |
| Proposition 14 – SJR 3 | ANTI-TAXPAYER |
| Proposition 15 – SJR 34 | PRO-TAXPAYER |
| Proposition 16 – SJR 37 | PRO-TAXPAYER |
| Proposition 17 – HJR 34 | PRO-TAXPAYER |
The last day to register to vote is October 6th. For more information about the constitutional amendments and what will be on the November ballot, visit the Texas Secretary of State’s website or VoteTexas.gov. To find more information on voting registration or voting locations, visit VoteTexas.gov, or your local elections office.
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