Category Archives: Be Informed!

The 2015 General Election will take place on November 3, with early voting being held October 19 through October 30. For information about where and when to vote, visit www.brazoriacountyclerk.net.

Proposed state constitutional amendments are introduced during the legislative session, which occurs only in odd-numbered years. If approved by two-thirds of each chamber, the proposal must then be approved by voters, usually during the uniform election in November of that year. Since the Constitution was adopted in 1876, Texas voters have approved 484 amendments to the lengthy document. This year, seven proposed amendments will be on the ballot for consideration of voters at the general election on Tuesday, November 3.

Proposition 1: Increasing the homestead property tax exemption

Proposition 1 would amend Texas Constitution, Art. 8, sec. 1-b(c) to increase the mandatory homestead exemption from $15,000 to $25,000. When the Legislature convened in January of this year, they set out to develop a plan to provide tax relief to Texas home and business owners. Senate Bill 1, the amendment’s enabling legislation, would increase the homestead exemption for school property tax from $15,000 to $25,000 beginning with the 2015 tax year, effectively returning $1.24 billion to Texas taxpayers. SB 1 will take effect only if voters approve the constitutional amendment proposed by SJR 1.

Proposition 2: Surviving Spouses of 100% Disabled Veterans

This would exempt property taxes for the surviving spouses of the totally disabled veterans who died prior to the law authorizing a residence homestead exemption for such a veteran took effect. This is allowed if: The surviving spouse has not remarried since the death of the disabled veteran; and the property was the residence homestead of the surviving spouse when the disabled veteran died, and the property remains the surviving spouse’s residence homestead.

Proposition 3: Austin Residence for Statewide Elected Officials

Proposition 3 removes the requirement that statewide elected officials (comptroller of public accounts, commissioner of the General Land Office, attorney general, commissioner of agriculture, and railroad commissioners) have to reside in Austin. The residence of the governor is addressed in a different section of the Texas Constitution and is not affected by this proposed amendment. Proposition 3 would allow these officials to maintain a residency at a location in Texas other than Austin.

Proposition 4: Charitable Raffles

Proposition 4 authorizes the legislature to allow a professional sports team charitable foundation to conduct charitable raffles under the terms and conditions imposed by the law and to use raffle proceeds to pay reasonable advertising, promotional, and administrative expenses.

As far back as 1876, the Texas Constitution prohibited all lotteries and gift enterprises, and this was interpreted to mean that the state cannot allow most forms of gambling. However, in 1980, it was changed to allow the regulation of bingo games if the bingo proceeds are used for charitable purposes.

In 1989, it was again changed to allow the regulation of charitable raffles if the raffle proceeds are spent for the organization’s charitable purposes and its members conduct the raffles. In 1991, it was again changed to allow the state to operate lotteries or to contract with legal entities to operate lotteries for the state.

Proposition 4 would change the Constitution again to allow charitable raffles conducted by professional sports team charitable foundations under the terms and conditions imposed by law.

Prop 5: Rural Counties and their private roads

Currently, rural counties with population less than 5,000 citizens can construct and maintain private roads. Proposition 5 would increase that population threshold to allow counties with 7,500 people or less to perform private road construction and maintenance. The population of Brazoria County is about 330,000, so this wouldn’t apply locally.

Proposition 6: Hunting and Fishing

Proposition 6 establishes an individual’s right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife in Texas.  This would support the state’s hunting heritage, promote outdoor recreation and would prevent anti-hunting and fishing groups from imposing stricter limitations on hunting and fishing in Texas. This would not modify any provision of law relating to trespass, property rights, or eminent domain, and does not affect TPWD’s ability to collect hunting and fishing license fees.

There are more than 2.7 million people that hunt or fish in Texas. In total, they spend $4.1 billion annually, which is a business nearly twice the size of Texas’ second largest commodity. Over 65,000 jobs in Texas are supported by hunting and fishing. This number is more than Dell, The University of Texas-Austin, and MD Anderson Cancer Center combined. Furthermore, $415 million in state and local taxes are generated from hunting and fishing in Texas, which is enough money to support the average salaries of 8,100 police officers.

Proposition 7: Dedicating a portion of sales tax revenue to the state highway fund

Two years ago, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) indicated that it needs $5 billion more per year to maintain the current condition of the state’s roads and keep congestion from getting worse. The Legislature identified funding for transportation projects without raising taxes or fees.

Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 5 proposes a constitutional amendment  that would dedicate a portion of general sales tax revenue to the State Highway Fund. If approved by voters in November, SJR 5 will dedicate up to $2.5 billion annually to the State Highway Fund. SJR 5 provides a stable revenue source to address the state’s transportation needs without raising taxes or fees and cannot be used for toll roads.

Thank you to Rep. Ed Thompson for the information!