BALLOT LANGUAGE: "The constitutional amendment protecting the right to engage in farming, ranching, timber production, horticulture, and wildlife management."

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

Prop 1 ensures that the legislature retains the authority to regulate these practices in specific situations:

• When a state agency or political subdivision deems it necessary to protect public health and safety from immediate danger.

• When a state agency intervenes to prevent threats to animal health or crop production.

• When a state agency or political subdivision acts to preserve or conserve the state's natural resources, as mandated by the Texas Constitution.

Furthermore, the proposed amendment does not impede the legislature's power to authorize property use or acquisition for public purposes, including the development of natural resources under the Texas Constitution.

BALLOT LANGUAGE: "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 DOES IT MEAN?

Prop 2 presents a constitutional amendment proposal aimed at permitting county or municipal governing bodies to grant property tax exemptions for real property utilized for child-care facilities.

The amendment empowers these governing bodies to determine the exemption percentage based on the appraised value of the property, provided it is no less than 50% of the property's appraised value.

It additionally grants the legislature the authority to:

• Define the term "child-care facility" for clarity.

• Set additional eligibility criteria for entities seeking to benefit from this property tax exemption.

BALLOT LANGUAGE: "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."

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

Prop 3 introduces a constitutional amendment aimed at preventing the legislature from imposing taxes tied to an individual's or family's wealth or net worth.

The proposed amendment extends this prohibition to taxes based on the disparity between an individual's or family's assets and liabilities.

BALLOT LANGUAGE: "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."

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

Proposes a constitutional amendment focused on property tax-related modifications in the Texas Constitution.

Allows the legislature to temporarily limit the maximum appraised value of real property for property tax purposes in a given tax year.

Increases the mandatory homestead exemption for school district property taxation from $40,000 to $100,000.

Requires the legislature to implement a reduction in the limitation on school district property taxes for the elderly or disabled residing in a homestead. This ensures seniors continue to receive the lowered tax rate under the new compressed rate.

Exempts appropriations that are not constitutionally dedicated and allocated for property tax relief from counting as appropriations when assessing compliance with the constitutional tax spending limit.

Authorizes the legislature to establish term limits, not exceeding four years, for members serving on an appraisal board in counties with a population of at least 75,000, including Denton County.

BALLOT LANGUAGE: "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."

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

Proposes a constitutional amendment that would rename the national research university fund as the Texas University Fund (TUF).

The amendment entails appropriating funds from the economic stabilization fund to the newly designated TUF.

The amendment outlines the appropriation amount, which equals the interest income, dividends, and investment earnings linked to the economic stabilization fund in the preceding state fiscal year.

It sets limits on the appropriation amount, capping it at $100 million for the state fiscal year commencing on September 1, 2023, with subsequent years allowing adjustments based on the general price index, not to exceed two percent.

The proposed amendment also includes a prohibition: state universities eligible for dedicated funding under Article VII, Section 18 of the Texas Constitution cannot receive money from the TUF.

BALLOT LANGUAGE: "The constitutional amendment creating the Texas water fund to assist in financing water projects in this state."

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

Proposes a constitutional amendment to establish the Texas water fund, a dedicated special fund separate from the general revenue fund, to be administered by the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) or its successor.

Directs that the Texas water fund be exclusively utilized for transferring money to other TWDB funds or accounts.

Authorizes the legislature to allocate funds for deposit into the water fund for eligible transfers, eliminating the need for additional legislative appropriations for fund transfers or restoration.

Specifies the sources of funding for the water fund, which include:

• Money transferred or deposited as per general law.

• Revenue designated by the legislature through statute for deposit.

• Investment earnings and interest generated from credited amounts.

• Monetary contributions from gifts, grants, and donations.

• Money returned from authorized transfers.

Mandates that the legislature, through general law, outlines the permissible uses of funds from the Texas water fund.

Requires at least 25% of the initially appropriated money to the Texas water fund be transferred to the New Water Supply for Texas Fund.

BALLOT LANGUAGE: "The constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the Texas energy fund to support the construction, maintenance, modernization, and operation of electric generating facilities."

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

Proposes a constitutional amendment to establish the Texas Energy Fund, a distinct special fund housed outside the general revenue fund.

Designates the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) or its successor as the fund administrator, with the exclusive authority to utilize the Texas energy fund without requiring further appropriations.

Specifies that the fund's purpose is to provide loans and grants for the construction, maintenance, modernization, and operation of electric generating facilities, specifically those essential for ensuring the reliability and adequacy of the state's electric power grid.

Requires PUC to allocate fund resources for loans and grants to eligible projects that serve as backup power sources across all regions of the state integrated into an electric power grid, distributed in proportion to each region's load share.

Outlines the sources of funding for the Texas energy fund, including:

• Money credited, appropriated, or transferred as authorized by the legislature.

• Revenue dedicated by the legislature for deposit.

• Returns generated from the investment of fund money.

• Contributions in the form of gifts, grants, and donations.

BALLOT LANGUAGE: "The constitutional amendment creating the broadband infrastructure fund to expand high-speed broadband access and assist in the financing of connectivity projects."

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

Proposes a constitutional amendment for the creation of the broadband infrastructure fund, a dedicated special fund situated apart from the general revenue fund.

Designates the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (Comptroller) as the fund's administrator, with exclusive authority to use its resources to expand broadband and telecommunications services access and adoption without necessitating further appropriations.

Outlines the sources of funding for the broadband infrastructure fund, which include:

• Money transferred or deposited as mandated by the Texas Constitution, general law, or the General Appropriations Act.

• Revenue designated for deposit as per legislative general law.

• Returns on investments and interest accrued on fund money.

• Contributions in the form of gifts, grants, and donations.

Grants the Comptroller the authority to transfer money from the broadband infrastructure fund to another fund in accordance with general law. The receiving state agency can then use this money exclusively to expand access to and adoption of broadband and telecommunications services without further appropriations.

Specifies a sunset provision, causing the broadband infrastructure fund to expire on September 1, 2035, unless an extension is granted through the legislature's adoption of a joint resolution.

Mandates that, just before the fund's expiration, the Comptroller must transfer any remaining unexpended and unobligated balance from the broadband infrastructure fund to the general revenue fund.

BALLOT LANGUAGE: "The constitutional amendment authorizing the 88th Legislature to provide a cost-of-living adjustment to certain annuitants of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas."

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

Proposes a constitutional amendment to grant legislative authority for implementing cost-of-living adjustments for eligible annuitants enrolled in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS).

The proposed amendment further grants legislative authorization to allocate funds from the general revenue fund to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, earmarked for covering the expenses associated with the cost-of-living adjustment.

BALLOT LANGUAGE: "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."

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

Proposes a constitutional amendment to grant the legislature the authority to exempt tangible personal property from property taxation.

This exemption specifically applies to property held by medical or biomedical manufacturers, provided it is either a finished product or used in the manufacturing or processing of medical or biomedical products.

In certain instances, the legislature will propose a Constitutional Amendment that affects only a single county. Prop 11 deals with El Paso County, and Prop 12 is related to Galveston County. Neither of these propositions affects Denton or Wise Counties or the state at large.

VOTE RECOMMENDATION: Against

PROP 11: "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."

PROP 12: "The constitutional amendment providing for the abolition of the office of county treasurer in Galveston County."

BALLOT LANGUAGE: "The constitutional amendment to increase the mandatory age of retirement for state justices and judges."

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

Proposes a constitutional amendment with the aim of increasing the mandatory retirement age for state justices and judges.

Currently, the Texas Constitution dictates that justices and judges of appellate courts, district courts, and criminal district courts must retire upon reaching the age of 75 years, or an earlier age set by the legislature, not below 70 years.

The proposed amendment seeks to raise the mandatory retirement age for these justices and judges to 79 years or an earlier age, provided it is not below 75 years, as determined by the legislature.

Additionally, the amendment eliminates the provision stating that justices and judges can only serve until December 31 of their fourth year in office if they reach the age of 75 years within the initial four years of a six-year term.

BALLOT LANGUAGE: "The constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the centennial parks conservation fund to be used for the creation and improvement of state parks."

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

Proposes a constitutional amendment to establish the centennial parks conservation fund as a trust fund, separate from the state treasury.

The fund's sole purpose, by general law, would be to create and enhance state parks.

Sources of funding for the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund include:

• Money allocated, credited, or transferred to the fund by the legislature.

• Contributions in the form of gifts, grants, and donations received by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) or its successor, earmarked for purposes aligned with the fund's usage.

• Investment earnings and interest accrued on fund balances.

The proposed amendment grants the legislature authority to appropriate money from the centennial parks conservation fund to TPWD or its successor, specifically for developing and enhancing state parks.