In Texas, 10 statewide ballot measures are certified for the ballot on November 5, 2019.
We now know the order in which Texas voters will see the state’s 10 proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution.
These changes range from flood infrastructure funding to more money for state cancer research projects to deciding whether to prohibit a state income tax.
Texas’ Deputy Secretary of State, Joe Esparza, drew the ballot initiatives out of a hat Tuesday (July 23) afternoon.
“It is a simple process and unfortunately not all functions of government can be boiled down to pulling numbers out of a hat,” Esparza said Tuesday after the drawing.
“I want to impress upon everyone the importance of this election come Nov. 5 that Texans do have the ability to impact the way we function as a state,” Esparza continued. “It’s very important, so we encourage all eligible Texans to register to vote.”
PROPOSITION 1: Our opinion? VOTE AGAINST
Allowed to Serve as Multiple Municipal Judges Amendment
Description: Allows persons to serve as more than one appointed or elected municipal judge
A “FOR” vote supports this amendment to allow persons to hold more than one office as an elected or appointed municipal judge in more than one municipality at the same time
An “AGAINST” vote opposes this amendment, thereby allowing a person to hold more than one office as an appointed, but not an elected, municipal judge in more than one municipality at the same time
PROPOSITION 2: Our opinion? VOTE AGAINST
Water Development Board Bonds Amendment
Description: Allows the Texas Water Development Board to issue up to $200 million in bonds
A “FOR” vote supports this amendment to allow the Texas Water Development Board to issue bonds on a continuing basis, but not exceeding $200 million in total principal at any time, for water supply, sewer service, and drainage projects in areas defined as economically distressed
An “AGAINST” vote opposes this amendment, thus discontinuing bond funding for the Texas Water Development Board’s economically distressed areas program
PROPOSITION 3: Our opinion? VOTE FOR
Temporary Property Tax Exemption for Disaster Areas Amendment
Description: Authorizes temporary property tax exemption for disaster areas
A “FOR” vote supports this amendment to allow political subdivisions to provide temporary property tax exemptions in areas that the governor declared as disaster areas
An “AGAINST” vote opposes this amendment, thus continuing to allow property reappraisals following disasters but not tax exemptions
PROPOSITION 4: Our opinion? VOTE FOR
Prohibit State Income Tax on Individuals Amendment
Description: Prohibits the state from levying an income tax on individuals
A “FOR” vote supports this amendment to prohibit the state from levying an income tax on individuals.
An “AGAINST” vote opposes this amendment, thus continuing to allow the state to enact a tax on individuals in the future through a statewide referendum.
PLEASE NOTE: The proposition is only to help ensure that we don’t ever have a state income tax.. A YES vote supports adding verbiage to the Texas constitution that will make it harder for future legislatures to give us a State tax.
Sen. Pat Fallon explains:
“We are banning the possibility of a state income tax. If this measure fails we will NOT have an income tax in Texas. Right now all it takes to have an income tax imposed on folks is to get a simple majority of both the House and the Senate and then a simply majority of the voters and we’d have an income tax in Texas. By passing this measure and amending the constitution we would change this to a 2/3 majority vote in both the House and Senate and then voter approval. We are essentially raising the bar considerably.“
PROPOSITION 5: Our opinion? VOTE FOR
Sales Tax on Sporting Goods Dedicated to Parks, Wildlife, and Historical Agencies Amendment
Description: Dedicates revenue from the sales tax on sporting goods to parks, wildlife, and historical agencies
A “FOR” vote supports this constitutional amendment to dedicate revenue from the sales tax on sporting goods to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Historical Commission
An “AGAINST” vote opposes this constitutional amendment, thus allowing the legislature to decide how much of the revenue from the sales tax on sporting goods is allocated to the state Parks and Wildlife Department and the state Historical Commission
PROPOSITION 6: Our opinion? VOTE AGAINST
Cancer Prevention and Research Institute Bonds Amendment
Description:Authorizes the legislature to increase bonds for the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute
A “FOR” vote supports this amendment to allow the legislature to increase the maximum amount of bonds for the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas from $3 billion to $6 billion.
An “AGAINST” vote opposes this amendment, thereby keeping the maximum amount of bonds for the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas at $3 billion.
PROPOSITION 7: Our opinion? VOTE AGAINST
Increase Distributions to School Fund Amendment
Description: Increases distributions to the state school fund
A “FOR” vote supports this amendment to increase the amount of revenue from $300 million to $600 million that the land board is permitted to transfer from the permanent fund to the available school fund each year.
An “AGAINST” vote opposes this amendment, thereby keeping the amount of revenue that the land board is permitted to transfer from the permanent fund to the available school fund each year at $300 million
PROPOSITION 8: Our opinion? VOTE AGAINST
Flood Infrastructure Fund Amendment
Description: Creates a Flood Infrastructure Fund
A “FOR” vote supports this constitutional amendment to create the Flood Infrastructure Fund, which the Texas Water Development Board would use to provide financing for flood drainage, mitigation, and control projects
An “AGAINST” vote opposes this constitutional amendment to create the Flood Infrastructure Fund
PROPOSITION 9: Our opinion? VOTE FOR
Precious Metals in Depositories Exempt from Property Tax Amendment
Description: Authorizes property tax exemption for precious metals held in depositories
A “FOR” vote supports this amendment to allow the legislature to exempt precious metals held in precious metal depositories from property taxation
An “AGAINST” vote opposes this amendment, thereby continuing to permit taxation of precious metals held in precious metal depositories as property
PROPOSITION 10: Our opinion? VOTE FOR
Transfer of Care of Law Enforcement Animals Amendment
Description:Allows for transfer of law enforcement animals to handlers or others if in animal’s best interest
A “FOR” vote supports this amendment to allow for the transfer of a law enforcement animal, such as a dog or horse, to the animal’s handler or another qualified caretaker if the transfer is in the animal’s best interest.
An “AGAINST” vote opposes this amendment to allow for the transfer of a law enforcement animal, such as a dog or horse, to the animal’s handler or another qualified caretaker if the transfer is in the animal’s best interest