Texans must vote to change the state’s constitution often because of one simple reason: The Texas constitution reserves power over most big issues, such as taxation, for the people and not for the politicians they elect. Ten of the seventeen amendments on the ballot limit or restrict taxation on the people of Texas.
The only item on the ballot which has seen a modicum of opposition is Proposition 15 relating to parental rights. In short, those opposed to Prop. 15 present a lot of mights and maybes about the dangers of adopting the language but their argument fails largely because there is nothing preventing those same things from happening under the status quo, without adopting the amendment. I favor the amendment and recommend this article for good coverage of the issue: https://www.thecentersquare.com/texas/article_a9557b05-ed4f-42f6-96cf-a93a36e15f0e.html
My opposition to Proposition 14 is because it creates yet another state bureaucracy that hands out taxpayer money in the same manner as the previously created Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. That agency has used its purse strings to bully universities and other recipients to adopt social policy favored by the unelected people running the agency and deciding who gets the pots of money. I also believe it folly to think that forced taxpayer funding of various research programs is going to magically result in a cure for disease. It is this same model at the federal government which as grown into an industry of its own funding all sorts of ridiculous and often offensive research of little value. I certainly understand why most will favor the creation of this agency and funding stream but, I trust the freedom of Texans to direct their own money to charitable research more than I trust government operatives so to do.
I favor all but Proposition 14.
For a review of all of the amendments, this story is a good summary:
https://www.thecentersquare.com/texas/article_f7dedd2e-991c-45d2-98cf-374e182ab030.html
Ballot Language for the November 4, 2025 Constitutional Amendment Election with my voting recommendation.
FOR – Proposition 1 – SJR 59
“The constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the permanent technical institution infrastructure fund and the available workforce education fund to support the capital needs of educational programs offered by the Texas State Technical College System.”
FOR – Proposition 2 – SJR 18
“The constitutional amendment prohibiting the imposition of a tax on the realized or unrealized capital gains of an individual, family, estate, or trust.”
FOR – Proposition 3 – SJR 5
“The constitutional amendment requiring the denial of bail under certain circumstances to persons accused of certain offenses punishable as a felony.”
FOR – Proposition 4 – HJR 7
“The constitutional amendment to dedicate a portion of the revenue derived from state sales and use taxes to the Texas water fund and to provide for the allocation and use of that revenue.”
FOR – Proposition 5 – HJR 99
“The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation tangible personal property consisting of animal feed held by the owner of the property for sale at retail.”
FOR – Proposition 6 – HJR 4
“The constitutional amendment prohibiting the legislature from enacting a law imposing an occupation tax on certain entities that enter into transactions conveying securities or imposing a tax on certain securities transactions.”
FOR – Proposition 7 – HJR 133
“The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of all or part of the market value of the residence homestead of the surviving spouse of a veteran who died as a result of a condition or disease that is presumed under federal law to have been service-connected.”
FOR – Proposition 8 – HJR 2
“The constitutional amendment to prohibit the legislature from imposing death taxes applicable to a decedent’s property or the transfer of an estate, inheritance, legacy, succession, or gift.”
FOR – Proposition 9 – HJR 1
“The constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation a portion of the market value of tangible personal property a person owns that is held or used for the production of income.”
FOR – Proposition 10 – SJR 84
“The constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to provide for a temporary exemption from ad valorem taxation of the appraised value of an improvement to a residence homestead that is completely destroyed by a fire.”
FOR – Proposition 11 – SJR 85
“The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to increase the amount of the exemption from ad valorem taxation by a school district of the market value of the residence homestead of a person who is elderly or disabled.”
FOR – Proposition 12 – SJR 27
“The constitutional amendment regarding the membership of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, the membership of the tribunal to review the commission’s recommendations, and the authority of the commission, the tribunal, and the Texas Supreme Court to more effectively sanction judges and justices for judicial misconduct.”
FOR – Proposition 13 – SJR 2
“The constitutional amendment to increase the amount of the exemption of residence homesteads from ad valorem taxation by a school district from $100,000 to $140,000.”
AGAINST – Proposition 14 – SJR 3
“The constitutional amendment providing for the establishment of the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, establishing the Dementia Prevention and Research Fund to provide money for research on and prevention and treatment of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and related disorders in this state, and transferring to that fund $3 billion from state general revenue.”
FOR – Proposition 15 – SJR 34
“The constitutional amendment affirming that parents are the primary decision makers for their children.”
FOR – Proposition 16 – SJR 37
“The constitutional amendment clarifying that a voter must be a United States citizen.”
FOR – Proposition 17 – HJR 34
“The constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of the amount of the market value of real property located in a county that borders the United Mexican States that arises from the installation or construction on the property of border security infrastructure and related improvements.”
Key voting dates:
Monday, 20 October 2025 — Early voting starts
Friday, 24 October 2025 — Last day to apply for absentee ballot (received, not postmarked)
Friday, 31 October 2025 — Early voting ends
Tuesday, 4 November 2025 — Election Day
Thank you for always providing your thoughts on all elections, I always am glad for the suggestions
Thank you for your insights.
Thank you for the effort you make in providing election suggestions.
I have a question about Proposition 4. I understand the legislature enacted…something… this year about water development. So why do we need a constitutional amendment to do even more? And more importantly, perhaps, how much is “a portion of the revenue” from taxes we are going to dedicate each year to whatever they dream up? If we pass an amendment to dedicate funds, aren’t we kind of stuck with it more so than what the legislature dreams up? I would appreciate your insight.
When it comes to taxing and dedicating funds, it requires a constitutional amendment to allow the laws passed by the legislature to work. Here is a link that will provide the detail you are asking about: https://texas2036.org/posts/proposition-4-explained-funding/
I always depend on your to verify my vote will be a conservative vote. Thank you.
Thanks Robert for your analysis of the election. It is of great help understanding just what they are saying
Thank you Robert, for the great review for Ragtown’s “Say Nicklaus”…we appreciate you and Isabel! Also, appreciate your thoughts about the proposed amendments and am headed to the voting booth now. Chip was disappointed he didn’t see you last Saturday. See you soon!
I know this is really late, I’ll be voting in a couple of hours so seriously doubt I’ll hear anything back. But your analysis was recommended so I stopped in to look. Thanks! Very much appreciated. The only other reservation my husband and I have is about the amount of the allocation in proposition 1 for seemingly a relatively small population and how and by whom the funds would be managed. We’re all about vocational opportunities and generally highly favor promoting it. But that’s a lot of money and some reassurance about how and by whom it would be managed would be nice.
We shrank the Texas State Technical College System many years ago when “trades” were out of fashion. I have found the system to be among the most responsible and effective of any, much more than community college systems, in actually providing useful job training. There certainly is an argument that government shouldn’t be involved in such things to begin with but given that it is, I think the system to be effective and worthy of better funding. Just my thoughts.
Thanks for your response. I agree. Voted in favor.