Texas Constitutional Admendments 2023

Just say NO

A free pass for the Legislature to spend our money.

Not only are these constitutional amendments greatly flawed,

but they also will take out of circulation close to $12 billion.

Proposition 1 – HJR 126 AGAINST

“The constitutional amendment protecting the right to engage in farming, ranching, timber production, horticulture, and wildlife management.”

The amendment does not prevent the legislature

or authorized state agencies from regulating these activities

for specific purposes in the future.

Vote Recommendation: Against–

the language is overly broad,

it will give cover to major industry taking over smaller operations.

Proposition 2 – SJR 64 AGAINST

“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.”

This amendment allows cities and counties

to exempt appraisal values of childcare facilities from property taxes.

Exempting certain types of businesses from taxes

puts a greater burden on the remaining taxpayers.

Exemptions like this have governments picking winners and losers.

Proposition 3 – HJR 132 Wealth Tax

“The constitutional amendment prohibiting the imposition

of an individual wealth or net worth tax,

including a tax on the difference between the assets and liabilities

of an individual or family.”

This amendment will prevent the legislature

from imposing wealth tax on individuals or families.

Proposition 4 – HJR 2 AGAINST

from the second special session

“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;

and 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.”

This is the “tax relief” bill from 2nd special session. 2023

It contains 4 parts:

(1) temporary limit on appraisal value of non-homesteaded properties;

(2) increase homestead exemptions for school taxes to $100,000;

(3) exempt certain appropriations to pay for tax relief

from the constitutional growth limitation; and

(4) authorizes the legislature to provide for a 4-year term of office

for a member of the board of certain appraisal districts.

This tax relief bill will provide very little, very short-lived tax relief,

which will quickly be eaten up by inflation, appraisal increases,

and governments’ reluctance to control spending and lower tax rates.

AGAINST - we need something better

Proposition 5 – HJR 3 AGAINST

“The constitutional amendment relating to the Texas University Fund,

which provides funding to certain institutions of higher education

to achieve national prominence as major research universities

and drive the state economy.”

This amendment will cost about $208 million the first year

(taken from the rainy-day fund),

and then about $100 million per year after that.

This is one of the “fund” amendments to keep spending off-budget.

We already fund higher education by billions each year,

and they have become primarily leftist indoctrination meccas.

Proposition 6 – SJR 75 AGAINST

“The constitutional amendment creating the Texas water fund

to assist in financing water projects in this state.”

This amendment will cost taxpayers $1 Billion.

This is one of the “fund” amendments to keep spending off-budget.

The state is already spending money on financing water projects

and not solving the problem.

This fund is socialistic and is government ownership of means of production.

Proposition 7 – SJR 93 AGAINST

“The constitutional amendment providing for the creation

of the Texas energy fund to support the construction, maintenance,

modernization, and operation of electric generating facilities.”

This amendment will cost taxpayers $5 Billion.

This is one of the “fund” amendments to keep spending off-budget.

This fund would incentivize construction, maintenance, modernization,

and operation of electric generating facilities.

It provides loans and grants to electric generating companies,

picking winners & losers.

We already subsidize renewable and traditional electric generation

with about $6 Billion per year.

Proposition 8 – HJR 125 AGAINST

“The constitutional amendment creating the broadband infrastructure fund

to expand high-speed broadband access and assist in the financing of connectivity projects.”

This amendment will cost taxpayers $1.5 Billion.

This is one of the “fund” amendments to keep spending off-budget.

This amendment is Bankster welfare.

crony capitalism and government interference in markets.

Proposition 9 – HJR 2, AGAINST

regular session

“The constitutional amendment authorizing the 88th Legislature

to provide a cost-of-living adjustment to certain annuitants

of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.”

This amendment will cost taxpayers $5 Billion

It will cost the state billions.

Proposition 10 – SJR 87 AGAINST

“The constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature

to exempt from ad valorem taxation equipment or inventory

held by a manufacturer of medical or biomedical products

to protect the Texas healthcare network

and strengthen our medical supply chain.”

This amendment will cost taxpayers $29 million in the first 2 years,

then approximately $40 million annually.

Like proposition #2, this amendment grants property tax exemptions

to a certain industry – medical supply equipment.

exempting certain types of businesses from taxes

puts a greater burden on the remaining taxpayers.

Proposition 11 – SJR 32 AGAINST

“The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature

to permit conservation and reclamation districts in El Paso County

to issue bonds supported by ad valorem taxes

to fund the development and maintenance of parks and recreational facilities.”

It could have a financial impact on the citizens of El Paso County

in the form of higher property taxes to support bonds.

Proposition 12 – HJR 134 AGAINST

“The constitutional amendment providing for the abolition

of the office of county treasurer in Galveston County.”

Galveston County anticipates savings if the amendment passes.

This amendment would abolish the position of County Treasurer in Galveston County, .

there will be no more accountability to the office and it will be handed to cronies.

Proposition 13 – HJR 107 AGAINST

“The constitutional amendment to increase the mandatory age of retirement

for state justices and judges.”

This amendment raises the current mandatory retirement age

for State Justices and Judges from 75 to 79.

Proposition 14 – SJR 74 AGAINST

“The constitutional amendment providing for the creation

of the centennial parks conservation fund

to be used for the creation and improvement of state parks.”

This amendment will cost taxpayers $1 Billion.

This is one of the “fund” amendments to keep spending off budget.

There are other ways to create and improve state parks.

This amendment is just an excuse to spend more money

without having it show up in the budget.

None of these amendments would do much, if anything,

to solve problems we are facing or improve the Texas economy.

They are simply Bankster welfare

designed to deceive voters into thinking they are serious solutions

to our problems.

It is just a free pass for the Legislature to spend our money.

Not only are these constitutional amendments greatly flawed,

but they also will take out of circulation close to $12 billion