Breaking Down the Texas Constitutional Amendments

Proposition 1 (SJR 14) would let the Texas Legislature give property tax exemptions on all or part of the market value of homes owned by fully disabled veterans or their surviving spouses.

Proposition 2 (SJR 4) would let the Texas Water Development Board issue general obligation fund bonds, up to $6 billion, to pay for key needs.

Proposition 3 (SJR 50) would authorize the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (or its successors) to issue and sell general obligation bonds to help finance student loans.

Proposition 4 (HJR 63) would let the Legislature give counties the ability to issue bonds or other funding to pay for redeveloping blighted, underdeveloped or unproductive areas and raise property taxes in those areas to help repay the debt. The amendment would not provide independent authority for increasing ad valorem tax rates.

Proposition 5 (SJR 26) would give the Legislature authority to let cities and counties enter into interlocal contracts with other communities to consolidate services and programs - such as criminal justice buildings or equipment maintenance facilities - without having to meet tax assessment and sinking fund requirements.

Proposition 6 (HJR 109) would allow the transfer of up to $300 million a year from the Permanent School Fund - which helps finance Texas public schools - to the Available School Fund, a fund that the Legislature draws from to spend on schools.

Proposition 7 (SJR 28) would add El Paso County to the list of counties that may create conservation and reclamation districts to develop recreational facilities and parks financed by taxes.

Proposition 8 (SJR 16) would give Texans using agricultural exemptions more tools to manage property by encouraging water quality improvement projects.

Proposition 9 (SJR 9) would let the governor grant a pardon, reprieve or commutation of punishment to people who complete deferred adjudication community supervision.

Proposition 10 (SJR 37) would extend the length of time elected officials may serve in office once they announce their candidacy for another office.