Isabella Carter
On November 7, 2023, Texans voted on 14 proposed amendments to their state constitution. The topics of these amendments ranged from property tax breaks to farming rights. Before the public can vote on an amendment, legislators must first approve the addition of the proposition to the ballot. A resolution must pass with a two-thirds majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate before voters can decide to approve or reject each proposed amendment in a general election.
Explore related products
$9.99 $9.99
What You'll Learn
Tax breaks for biomedical manufacturers
The Texas Constitution is one of the longest in the nation and is still growing. As of 2024, the Texas Legislature has proposed 714 amendments, of which 530 have been adopted, 181 defeated, and 3 never made it to the ballot. The Texas Constitution can be amended with a legislatively referred constitutional amendment, requiring a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) for voter approval.
One of the 14 proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution, which Texans voted on during the November 7, 2023, election, was Proposition 10. This proposition, also known as SJR 87, sought to provide tax breaks for biomedical manufacturers by exempting them from ad valorem taxation on equipment and inventory. Specifically, it aimed "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."
Voting "yes" on Proposition 10 supported new tax breaks for biomedical manufacturers, while voting "no" opposed the creation of this new tax break. This proposition is in line with Texas's history of imposing various restrictions on the ability of the Legislature and local governments to impose taxes, particularly concerning local property taxes. Texas, for example, does not have a personal income tax, and an amendment adopted in 1993 restricts the state legislature from imposing one.
Proposition 10 was one of 13 amendments approved by Texas voters on November 7, 2023. These propositions covered a range of topics, from property tax breaks to expanding broadband access, and will have significant implications for the state in the coming years.
Amendment XXI: Revoking Prohibition and Empowering States
You may want to see also
Bonds for El Paso County parks
The Texas Constitution is one of the longest in the nation and is still growing. As of 2024, the Texas Legislature has proposed 714 amendments, of which 530 have been adopted, 181 defeated, and 3 never made it to the ballot. The Texas Constitution can be amended with a legislatively referred constitutional amendment, requiring a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) for voter approval.
On November 7, 2023, Texans voted on 14 proposed amendments as part of the Constitutional Amendment Election. One of these amendments, Proposition 11, pertained specifically to El Paso County parks.
Proposition 11 sought to "authorize 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." In simpler terms, Proposition 11 aimed to allow El Paso County to issue bonds, backed by property taxes, to finance the creation and upkeep of parks and recreational spaces.
The passage of Proposition 11 would have provided El Paso County with a dedicated funding source for investing in and improving its parks and recreational infrastructure. This could have led to enhanced outdoor spaces for residents and visitors, potentially boosting the county's appeal as a place to live, work, and play.
The outcome of the vote on Proposition 11 is not yet clear, but it is known that Texans showed support for 13 out of the 14 propositions on the ballot.
Amending South Dakota's Constitution: A Guide to the Process
You may want to see also
Texans' right to farm
The Texas Constitution is one of the longest in the nation and is still a work in progress, with 714 amendments proposed as of 2024. Of these, 530 have been adopted, 181 defeated by voters, and three never made it to the ballot. The Texas Constitution can be amended with a legislatively referred constitutional amendment, which requires voter approval in the form of a simple majority vote (over 50%).
On November 7, 2023, Texans voted on 14 proposed amendments as part of the Constitutional Amendment Election. One of these was Proposition 1, which sought to enshrine Texans' right to farm, ranch, and garden on land they own or lease. This amendment was one of 13 approved by voters.
Proposition 1, or the "Texans' Right to Farm" amendment, aimed to protect the right to engage in farming, ranching, timber production, horticulture, and wildlife management. This amendment was designed to safeguard Texans' ability to participate in these agricultural activities without undue interference or restriction from the state government.
The right to farm is a fundamental aspect of agrarian and property rights. By recognizing and protecting this right, the Texas Constitution now provides explicit assurance that individuals have the freedom to utilize their land for agricultural purposes. This amendment reinforces the importance of farming and related activities in Texas, a state with a rich agricultural history and a significant agricultural industry.
The "Texans' Right to Farm" amendment joins a host of other rights and limitations outlined in the Texas Constitution's "Bill of Rights" (Article 1), which consists of 34 sections. Most of the provisions in this article concern specific limitations on the power of the state government and the protection of certain citizens' rights. The addition of the "Right to Farm" amendment further strengthens the rights-based framework of Texas's governance.
The Constitution: Roe vs Wade Amendment?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Cost-of-living adjustments for teachers
Texas Proposition 9, also known as the Changes to Teacher Retirement System Amendment, was a ballot measure in the state's November 7, 2023, election. The proposition sought to amend the Texas Constitution by introducing a new section that would grant the state legislature the authority to enact laws allowing for cost-of-living adjustments and supplemental payments to eligible annuitants of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS).
Proposition 9 aimed to address the lack of cost-of-living adjustments for retired teachers in Texas, who have faced challenges in keeping up with their bills due to rising inflation. The proposition was supported by the Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA), which noted that TRS retirees had not received any cost-of-living adjustments since 2004. The Texas affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers (Texas AFT), the state's largest union of public sector educators, also expressed its support for the proposition.
The proposition included a temporary provision mandating a one-time transfer of funds to the TRS to provide cost-of-living adjustments, with strict limitations on the use of these funds. The Texas Legislative Budget Board concluded that the proposed adjustment outlined in Senate Bill 10 and authorized by Proposition 9 would have no fiscal impact, as the legislature funded a lump-sum payment of $3.35 billion to the TRS Pension Trust Fund for the state's 2024 fiscal year. However, it is important to note that the Teacher Retirement System of Texas currently has $63 billion in unfunded pension liabilities.
If approved by Texas voters, Proposition 9 would have authorized the state to use $3.3 billion to fund cost-of-living adjustments for retirees, resulting in pension increases ranging from 2% to 6%. This would provide much-needed financial relief for retired teachers and school employees who rely on their state pensions as their primary source of retirement income.
The Twenty-First Amendment: Reversing Prohibition's Legacy
You may want to see also
The process of amending the constitution
The Texas Constitution is one of the longest in the nation and is still a work in progress. As of 2024, the Texas Legislature has proposed 714 amendments, of which 530 have been adopted, 181 defeated by voters, and three never made it to the ballot.
The Texas Constitution outlines the process for amending it in Article 17. The Legislature may propose amendments at any regular session or special session. A proposal for submission must be approved by a vote of two-thirds of all members elected to each House, with the votes recorded in the journals. The date of the elections is specified by the Legislature.
A brief explanatory statement about the nature of the proposed amendment, along with the election date and the wording of the proposition, must be published twice in each qualifying newspaper in the state. This statement is prepared by the Secretary of State and approved by the Attorney General. It must be published within a specific time frame: the first notice should appear no more than 60 days and no less than 50 days before the election, and the second notice should be published the following week. The Secretary of State sends a full copy of the proposed amendment(s) to each county clerk, who posts it in a public place in the courthouse at least 30 days before the election.
The election is held according to procedures prescribed by the Legislature, and the returning officer in each county submits the number of legal votes cast for and against each amendment to the Secretary of State. If a majority of the votes cast are in favour of an amendment, it becomes part of the Constitution, and the Governor proclaims it.
Civil Rights: Constitutional Amendments Explained
You may want to see also
![The Constitution of Michigan as Proposed for Amendment 1874 [Leather Bound]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/617DLHXyzlL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
