TRUE TEXAS PROJECT
2025 Ballot Propositions for Constructional Amendments
Review and Recommendations

Background & Disclaimer:

Background:

The recommendations on these amendments represent a majority of our True Texas Project Board members opinions.  The Board was not unanimous on all of the amendments. 

The Texas constitution has already been amended 527 times!  We need to think carefully about each amendment that’s added.  However, we also have to consider that the Texas Constitution differs from the US Constitution in several ways.  The Texas Constitution is a restrictive, detailed document, requiring voter approval on even minor issues.  The US Constitution is written in broad principles and lists specific enumerated powers of the federal government, leaving everything else to the States.  Because of the rigid language of the TX Constitution, certain things cannot be addressed any other way.  Texas Policy Research has written a very good article about “Why Texas Has So Many Amendments”, and you can read it here.

We typically oppose constitutional amendments unless there is a compelling reason for them.  We also typically oppose property tax exemptions for special group carve-outs, because it puts a greater burden on the remaining taxpayers (and yet, we will sometimes find a compelling reason to support these types of amendments, so our conclusions may seem contradictory.  Please read our comments on each amendment).  We oppose amendments that are spending funds outside the normal budget process without legislative oversight, and amendments that create new bureaucracies that are not within the role of government.

Summary of our positions on the 17 amendments:

Disclaimer:

As with all voting recommendations, True Texas Project will always give you our opinion and recommendation, and then expect you to do your own research and draw your own conclusions.  You may disagree with our position on some of these amendments, and that’s OK!  There will also be other groups’ reviews of the amendments that you can use for reference in making your decisions.

Fiscal Notes:

We’ve provided the fiscal notes from the Legislative Budget Board to each amendment below.  Keep in mind that even if there is no fiscal impact from the amendment, just the cost of publication is $191,689 each.  If all 17 pass, that’s $3,258,713!

The important thing is to be well informed when you vote!  Don’t vote for or against something because it sounds good (or bad).  Make sure you understand the proposed amendment.  The language quoted for each amendment is from the Secretary of State and should be the exact wording you will see on the ballot.  The legislation for each amendment is linked so you can read all the details.

Please fee free to reach out with questions!

Fran Rhodes, President, True Texas Project

BALLOT PROPOSITIONS IN BALLOT ORDER

TEXAS GENERAL ELECTION, NOV 4, 2025

Proposition 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."

Position:  Oppose

Comment: This amendment creates a “fund” outside the state budget and legislative oversight.  Embedding such spending in the constitution creates a perpetual spending scheme with no legislative control.  While we support workforce education, this is not the way to expand land acquisition and equipment for the TX State Technical College System.  Such expenditures should be handled in the normal statutory process, providing legislative oversight and transparency.

Fiscal Note Prop 1:  None except publishing ($191,689).  However – page 5 of bill states the amount allocated for the fund may not exceed $52 million for 2026, and then the amount may be adjusted for inflation in subsequent years.  So, we can expect a minimum of $52 million to be put in the fund each year.

Proposition 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."

 Position:  Support

Comment:  This proposition keeps future legislatures from imposing a tax on capital gains.  Capital gains taxes are not consistent with TTP’s core values of limited government, and personal responsibility. 

Fiscal Note Prop 2:  Estimated two-year net impact to General Revenue-related funds for SJR18, as passed 2nd House: a negative impact of ($191,689 – the cost of publishing) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027.

Additionally, the bill will have a direct impact of a revenue loss to the Property Tax Relief Fund of ($304,000) for the 2026/27 biennium. Any loss to the Property Tax Relief Fund must be made up with an equal amount of General Revenue to fund the Foundation School Program.

Proposition 3 - SJR 5  "The constitutional amendment requiring the denial of bail under certain circumstances to persons accused of certain offenses punishable as a felony."

Position:  Support

Comment:  This proposition would amend Article I, Section 11, of our State Constitution to expand the options available to officials setting bail to include the option to deny bail under certain extraordinary circumstances.  Specifically, it would give magistrates the ability to deny bail to individuals accused of committing: (1) a sexual offense punishable as a felony of the first degree; (2) a violent offense as defined by the Texas Constitution; or (3) continuous trafficking of persons. 

We believe in limited government, but the judicial system has failed us on this issue time after time.  Too many violent criminals have been released on bail by liberal judges, only to go out and commit more violent crimes.  Judges need better direction on denying bail when public safety is at risk, so we support this amendment.

Fiscal Note Prop 3:  No significant fiscal implication to the state is anticipated, other than the cost of publication.  The cost to the state for publication of the resolution is $191,689.

Proposition 4 - HJR 7 (Enabling Legislation HB16)  "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."

Position:  Oppose

Comment:  This amendment puts $1 billion per year from sales tax revenue into a new water fund to support infrastructure projects.  The legislation has it set to automatically happen each year until 2035, at which time the legislature could extend it.

While we realize that water infrastructure is vital, we believe there are better ways to fund it than embedding $1 billion of spending into the Constitution for the next 10 years (or more).  Once a fund like this gets started, it rarely is withdrawn.  This resolution violates TTP’s principle of fiscal responsibility and limited government.  There are better solutions to addressing the state’s water issues.  At the very least, an appropriation for such projects should be done on a biennium basis with oversight and transparency, not baked into the Constitution.

Fiscal Note prop 4:  The resolution would propose an amendment to add Section 7e, Article VIII, Texas Constitution, to require the Comptroller of Public Accounts to annually deposit to the Texas Water Fund (TWF) the first $1 billion in sales and use tax revenue (Chapter 151, Tax Code) once annual revenue exceeds $46.5 billion.

Proposition 5 - HJR 99 (Enabling Legislation HB1399)  "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."

Position:  Support

Comment:  We generally oppose amendments that grant additional exemptions from property taxes, because it puts an additional burden on the rest of the property taxpayers.  This one is fairly benign, and it does not require the exemption, but permits future legislation to implement it should they choose to do so.  Certain other agricultural products are already exempted. 

Fiscal Note prop 5:  No fiscal implication to the state is anticipated, other than the cost of publication.  The cost to the state for publication of the resolution is $191,689

Proposition 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."

Position:  Support

Comment:  As with Proposition 2, this amendment binds future legislatures from imposing taxes on securities transactions or creating new occupation taxes on financial market operators.  Taxes on transactions and occupation taxes are not consistent with TTP’s core values of limited government, and personal responsibility. 

Fiscal Note Prop 6:  No fiscal implication to the state is anticipated, other than the cost of publication.  The cost to the state for publication of the resolution is $191,689.

Proposition 7 - HJR 133 (Enabling Legislation HB2508)  "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."

Position:  Oppose

Comment:  This amendment is another carve out for a specific group of people, putting further burdens on other taxpayers.  While we honor and appreciate our veterans who died in service, a better way to honor their surviving spouses would be to eliminate property taxes all together, which TTP has long supported.

Fiscal Note Prop 7:  No fiscal implication to the state is anticipated, other than the cost of publication.  The cost to the state for publication of the resolution is $191,689

Proposition 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."

 Position:  Support

Comment:  This is another amendment that seeks to bind future legislatures from imposing an estate or inheritance tax.  Texas currently doesn’t have such taxes, and this amendment would protect against future imposition of an inheritance tax.

Fiscal Note Prop 8:  No fiscal implication to the state is anticipated, other than the cost of publication.  The cost to the state for publication of the resolution is $191,689    

Proposition 9 - HJR 1 (Enabling Legislation HB 9)  "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."

Position:  Support

Comment:  This amendment authorizes businesses to exempt up to $250,000 of market value of income generating property (like equipment, tools, etc). The current exemption is $2,500.  Consider it comparable to the homestead exemptions on homeowners’ primary residence.  While we would prefer to have property taxes eliminated, we support this amendment that would at least give relief to business owners who pay taxes on personal property.  We do not consider this a carve out.  The exemption will help small business, and encourage entrepreneurial economic development.

Fiscal Note Prop 9:  No fiscal implication to the state is anticipated, other than the cost of publication.  The cost to the state for publication of the resolution is $191,689.

Proposition 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."

Position:  Support

Comment:  We support this “temporary” homestead exemption for fire damaged property.  People who have lost everything in a fire should not be taxed on the full value of what they used to own, but own no longer.  This is one of those “compelling reasons” to have tax exemptions.

Fiscal Note Prop 10:  No fiscal implication to the state is anticipated, other than the cost of publication.  The cost to the state for publication of the resolution is $191,689

Proposition 11 - SJR 85 (Enabling Legislation SB 23)  "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."

Position:  Oppose

Comment:  This amendment is another carve out for a specific group of people (elderly and disabled).  It increases homestead exemptions for seniors and disabled persons, who already have larger exemptions than the general homestead public.  It’s a very bad way to provide property tax relief because it’s picking winners and losers and shifting the tax burden to other tax payers. We strongly believe that property taxes should be eliminated and replaced with consumption tax, giving relief to all taxpayers. The amendment also carries a hefty negative fiscal impact.

Fiscal Note Prop 11:  The cost to the state for publication of the resolution is $191,689.  Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB23, is a negative impact of ($1,207,224,000) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027.

Proposition 12 - SJR 27 (Enabling Legislation SB 293)  "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."

Position:  Support

Comment:  This amendment expands and restructures the State Commission on Judicial Conduct.  The changes seem to be positive in giving more public representation on the committee and enhancing ability to sanction judges.  The change broadens citizens’ ability to have oversight into judicial ethics.

Fiscal Note Prop 12:  No significant fiscal implication to the state is anticipated, other than the cost of publication.  The cost to the state for publication of the resolution is $191,689.

Proposition 13 - SJR 2 (Enabling Legislation SB 4)  "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."

Position:  Reluctantly support

Comment:  Proposition 13 is one of those stop-gap measures that attempts to give property tax relief, but rarely does.  We strongly believe that property taxes should be eliminate and replaced with consumption tax, but we reluctantly support this amendment, giving additional exemption to all homesteads.

Fiscal Note Prop 13:  estimated two-year net impact to General Revenue-related funds for SB4, as passed, a negative impact of ($2,743,461,146) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027.  This analysis assumes a portion of the cost associated with providing additional state aid to offset the loss in local interest and sinking revenue under Education Code, Section 46.071 cannot be determined due to insufficient data; however, this analysis assumes the fiscal impact could be significant.  The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

Proposition 14 - SJR 3 (Enabling Legislation SB 5) "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."

Position:  Oppose

Comment:  This amendment creates a new state-run research institute and permanently dedicates $3 billion, plus up to $300 million annually for dementia research.   The spending for this amendment exists outside the state’s regular spending cap.  We do not believe it is the government’s job to provide medical research, no matter how well intended the cause.  The amendment also embeds the funding into the Constitution, bypassing the normal appropriation process.  For both those reasons, we oppose this amendment.

Fiscal Note Prop 14: estimated two-year net impact to General Revenue-related funds for SJR3, Committee Report 2^nd House, substituted: a negative impact of ($3,000,191,689) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027.  The cost to the state for publication of the resolution is $191,689.

Proposition 15 - SJR 34  "The constitutional amendment affirming that parents are the primary decision makers for their children."

Position:  Oppose (as unnecessary because this is a right already established by God)

Comment:  Prop 15 would simply declare that parents have the inherent right to make decisions for their children.  We should not have to put this into the State Constitution!  God has already ordained that parents are to be responsible for their children, and government has no place in family decisions, except in the case of child abuse and neglect.  In our opinion, if we put things like this into the Constitution, it equates to acknowledgement that the state has conferred this right.  And we know that what the state can give, the state can take away.

Fiscal Note Prop 15:  No fiscal implication to the state is anticipated, other than the cost of publication.  The cost to the state for publication of the resolution is $191,689.

Proposition 16 - SJR 37  The constitutional amendment clarifying that a voter must be a United States citizen."

Position:  Support

Comment:  This amendment prevents cities and other political subdivisions from allowing non-citizens to vote (like we’ve seen in San Francisco, and other cities).  We believe that only Texas citizens (and therefore US citizens) should vote in Texas elections, and we support this amendment to ensure that is the case for all Texans.

Fiscal Note Prop 16:  No fiscal implication to the state is anticipated, other than the cost of publication.  The cost to the state for publication of the resolution is $191,689.

Proposition 17 - HJR 34 (Enabling Legislation HB 247)  "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."

Position:  Support

Comment:  We opposed this legislation when it was first introduced to the House committee, due to a misunderstanding of the language.  Upon further inspection, we changed position on the bill.  It is NOT an exemption on the taxes owed, but only an exemption on the appraisal of any value added to the property that results from additional border security infrastructure.  If a landowner invests money in strengthening our border, he should not be punished for it with additional taxes.  This amendment would exclude the value of border security improvements from any increases in appraisal value.

Fiscal Note Prop 17:  No fiscal implication to the state is anticipated, other than the cost of publication.  The cost to the state for publication of the resolution is $191,689

The election for these amendments is Nov 4, 2025, with early voting beginning on Oct 20, and ending on Oct 31.

Be sure to get out and VOTE!