By Julie Tomascik
Editor

Texas voters approved all 17 Texas constitutional amendments on the ballot, which included new tax exemptions, investments on water infrastructure and technical college funds.

Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) supported 10 of the propositions and was neutral on the remaining seven.

“Texans have a long history of working together to solve the challenges that shape our future,” Regan Beck, TFB director of Government Affairs, said. “Propositions 1, 4 and 5 build on that legacy. They invest in long-term solutions to our state’s water issues, strengthen the pipeline for a skilled and educated workforce, and recognize the unique needs of agriculture with the feed inventory tax exemption. These measures take a practical, forward-looking approach to ensure Texas remains strong, sustainable and positioned for growth.”

Proposition 1
Proposition 1 created an endowment for the Texas State Technical College Program to fix campus infrastructure, upgrade classroom equipment and expand its footprint across the state.

Proposition 2
Proposition 2 prohibits the Legislature from imposing a tax on the realized or unrealized capital gains of an individual, family, estate or trust.

Proposition 3
Proposition 3 requires judges deny bail for individuals accused of committing specific felonies.

Proposition 4
Proposition 4 directs the first $1 billion in sales tax revenue exceeding $46.5 billion annually to the State Water Fund, which finances water and wastewater projects. This dedication of sales tax revenue will be in effect until 2047. This will be used to fix infrastructure, develop new water sources and support conservation efforts to help meet the state’s increasing water demands. It will not fund groundwater export projects taking water from rural Texas, and the Texas Water Fund cannot be used to take land for reservoirs.

Proposition 5
Proposition 5 authorizes a property tax exemption for livestock feed that is held as inventory by feed retailers.

Proposition 6
Proposition 6 prevents the Texas Legislature from creating new taxes on securities transactions, such as stock trading, and form taxing those who operate or work in the securities market, including financial institutions, brokers and dealers.

Proposition 7
Proposition 7 provides property tax breaks on homes of spouses of U.S. veterans who died in connection to their service.

Proposition 8
Proposition 8 bans the Texas Legislature from creating any new taxes on estates, inheritances or gifts when someone passes away. It also blocks lawmakers from increasing or expanding any such taxes that were already in place as of Jan. 1, 2025. Since Texas doesn’t currently have these taxes, the amendment will make sure they can’t be added in the future.

Proposition 9
Proposition 9 allows the Texas Legislature to give a property tax break to people who own items like equipment, tools, or other personal property used to earn income. It would allow up to $125,000 of the value of that property to be exempt from local property taxes to help small business owners and entrepreneurs by reducing their tax burden on the tools used to earn a living.

Proposition 10
Proposition 10 allows the Texas Legislature to temporarily waive property taxes on parts of a home that are completed destroyed by a fire.

Proposition 11
Proposition 11 allows the Texas Legislature to increase the property tax exemption for elderly and disabled homeowners from $10,000 to $60,000.

Proposition 12
Proposition 12 changes the make-up and review process for the Texas’ State Commission on Judicial Conduct.

Proposition 13
Proposition 13 increases the homestead exemption from $100,000 to $140,000.

Proposition 14
Proposition 14 provides $3 billion to create the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas to study dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease and other brain-related conditions.

Proposition 15
Proposition 15 adds language on parental rights, as currently outlined in federal case law, to the Texas Constitution.

Proposition 16
Proposition 16 changes the Texas Constitution to clearly state that only U.S. citizens are allowed to vote in Texas elections.

Proposition 17
Proposition 17 allows the Texas Legislature to provide tax relief for landowners in counties along the Texas-Mexico border who install or build border security infrastructure, such as border walls, fences, surveillance equipment or other security-related improvements.