November Ballot initiatives
Hello Friends, This November, there will be 14 propositions on the ballot which will give voters the opportunity to approve measures like property tax relief and funding for Texas’s future infrastructure needs.
I know ballot propositions can be wordy and confusing, so I want to ensure that you have the tools and background knowledge to make an educated vote in November. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me and my staff if you have any questions.
PROPOSITION 1 (HJR 126): “The constitutional amendment protecting the right to engage in farming, ranching, timber production, horticulture, and wildlife management.”
What it means: As Texas continues to increase in population and development, Texas loses more than 200,000 acres of farm and ranch land per year. Proposition 1 would constitutionally protect the right of Texans to engage in generally accepted agricultural practices on their own property without fearing that municipal encroachment will threaten their livelihood with broad overregulation that prohibit or greatly restrict normal practices.
PROPOSITION 2 (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.”
What it means: Proposition 2 would allow the governing body of a county or municipality the ability to decide whether to give an exemption for part or all of the appraised value of the property of a childcare facility from property taxes in order to help lower childcare costs.
PROPOSITION 3 (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 & liabilities of an individual” What it means: Proposition 3 would add language to the Texas Constitution prohibiting the State Legislature from creating a tax based on an individual’s wealth or assets. Currently, there is no prohibition on the State Legislature creating this type of tax and during the 2023 Legislative Session there were 8 states that introduced this kind of legislation. The intent of this proposition is to make sure Texans have a direct say in the possibility of a net worth tax being imposed by the legislature.
PROPOSITION 4 (HJR 2 – 88 (2)): “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; & 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.”
What it means: Proposition 4 amends the Constitution to do the following: Raise the homestead exemption from $40,0000 to $100,000 for property owners under the age of 65.
Raise the homestead exemption to $110,000 for those 65 or older.
Temporarily limits the maximum appraised value of property for the purpose of property taxation in a tax year for commercial, mineral, and non-homestead residential properties under $5 million.
Compresses the school M&O taxes an additional 10.7 cents per $100 valuation.
Raises the amount of money a business can make before it is subject to the franchise tax.
Requires 3 new members on the Appraisal District Board who are elected on the ballot in counties over 75K.
The Enterprise will print contents of the November ballot in this space in coming issues.