Constitutional Amendments In Texas: What's On The Ballot In 2019

Ten statewide constitutional amendments are on the ballot in Texas for the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Along with local races on the ballot in constituencies across the state, all voters will consider the ten amendments that deal with issues like taxation, police dogs and protection against flooding.

The ten amendments are on ballots this year as several bills passed by the 86th state legislature require changes to be made to the constitution. Early voting on the amendments took place Oct.21-Nov.1 and now the proposals will be on the ballots in voting booths on Tuesday.

Polls opened at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. in Texas. Voters can find local polling places and information on the ballot via the Secretary of State's website. Information on the acceptable forms of voter ID can also be found via the Secretary of State's website.

Below are explanations of the 10 amendments residents will vote on:

Proposition 1: "The constitutional amendment permitting a person to hold more than one office as a municipal judge at the same time."

Current state law allows an appointed municipal judge to hold office in another city but the same is now allowed of elected municipal judges. Supporters of the proposition say the lack of municipal judges in smaller communities impeded their ability to deal with cases like ordinance violations, domestic cases and can impact public safety.

Proposition 2: "The constitutional amendment providing for the issuance of additional general obligation bonds by the Texas Water Development Board in an amount not to exceed $200 million to provide financial assistance for the development of certain projects in economically distressed areas."

The amendment would allow the Texas Water Development Board to provide funding in the form of bonds that don't exceed $200 million to eligible particiapants in the Economically Distressed Areas Program. The program provides financial assistance for water and wastewater projects in areas where the services are inadequate or the systems don't meet minimum state standards.

Proposition 3: "The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for a temporary exemption from ad valorem taxation of a portion of the appraised value of certain property damaged by a disaster."

The amendment would allow the legislature to create temporary property tax exemptions in places that have been declared a disaster area by the governor. The duration of the exemption and any additional eligibility requirements would be determined by the legislature.

Proposition 4: "The constitutional amendment prohibiting the imposition of an individual income tax, including a tax on an individual’s share of partnership and unincorporated association income."

There is currently no income tax in Texas but the constitution does allow the legislature to impose an income tax if approved in a statewide referendum. The amendment would further limit the legislature's ability in being able to do so.

Proposition 5: "The constitutional amendment dedicating the revenue received from the existing state sales and use taxes that are imposed on sporting goods to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Historical Commission to protect Texas’ natural areas, water quality, and history by acquiring, managing,and improving state and local parks and historic sites while not increasing the rate of the state sales and use taxes."

Sales tax from sporting goods would automatically be appropriated to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Historical Commission. The legislature would have the power to decide how the funds would be used and how they would be allocated.

Proposition 6: "The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to increase by $3 billion the maximum bond amount authorized for the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas."

The amendment would increase the maximum amount of bonds the Texas Public Finance Authority can provide, issue and sell on behalf of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas from $3 billion to $6 billion.

Proposition 7:"The constitutional amendment allowing increase distributions to the available school fund."

The amendment would increase from $300 million to $600 million the amount that the General Land Office, the State Board of Education or any other entity can distribute to the Available School Fund.

Proposition 8: "The constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the flood infrastructure fund to assist in the financing of drainage, flood mitigation, and flood control projects."

The amendment would create a special flood infrastructure fund outside the general revenue fund. Money from the fund would be used to finance drainage, flood mitigation or flood control projects.

Proposition 9:"The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation precious metal held in a precious metal depository located in this state."

The amendment would allow the legislature to exempt precious metal held in depositories in the state from from property taxes.

Proposition 10: "The constitutional amendment to allow the transfer of a law enforcement animal to a qualified caretaker in certain circumstances."

Law enforcement animals like K9s are auctioned off or donated but the amendment would allow retiring animals to be transferred to their handler or another qualified caretaker. Animals could also be transfered to their handlers or another qualified caretaker if it's in the animal's best interest.

Editor's Note: A previous version of this article stated that early voting began in Texas on Oct. 25 instead of Oct. 21. Patch regrets the error.