Cat Spring, Texas

The Texas Legislature has been busy making plans for how to spend taxpayer dollars , how to lower taxes for businesses and property owners, as well as how to prevent future legislation through various proposed constitutional amendments . Now it’s our turn to make our preferences known about what they’ve been up to . You must be registered to vote by October 6th.

Details on each proposition can be found here in this article by the Texas Tribune. https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/22/texas-statewide-propositions-november-ballot-election/

What’s on the ballot

• Proposition 1 (SJR 59): Texas State Technical College funding
• Proposition 2 (SJR 18): Capital gains tax ban
• Proposition 3 (SJR 5): Bail reform
• Proposition 4 (HJR 7): Water infrastructure funding
• Proposition 5 (HJR 99): Tax exemption on animal feed
• Proposition 6 (HJR 4): Securities tax ban
• Proposition 7 (HJR 133): Tax exemption for veterans’ spouses
• Proposition 8 (HJR 2): Inheritance tax ban
• Proposition 9 (HJR 1): Inventory and equipment tax exemption
• Proposition 10 (SJR 84): Tax exemption for homes destroyed by fire
• Proposition 11 (SJR 85): School tax exemption for the elderly or disabled homeowners
• Proposition 12 (SJR 27): Changing the State Judicial Conduct Commission
• Proposition 13 (SJR 2): Increased school tax exemption for homeowners
• Proposition 14 (SJR 3): Funding for dementia research and prevention
• Proposition 15 (SJR 34): Codifying parental rights
• Proposition 16 (SJR 37): Clarifying citizenship requirement for voters
• Proposition 17 (HJR 34): Property tax exemption for border security infrastructure

I expect all of the propositions will pass. The only questionable one I see is Proposition 9, Inventory tax exemption.

“The ballot language: “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.”

What it means: This amendment, along with accompanying legislation, would exempt up to $125,000 of businesses’ inventory or equipment from being taxed by school districts, cities, counties or any other taxing entity. Under current law, businesses don’t have to pay taxes on that property if it’s worth $2,500 or less.” Texas Tribune

What’s more noticeable is what’s not on the ballot, such as building data centers all over Texas, and congressional redistricting .

Under the Texas Constitution, the legislature has the power to pass laws and policy changes without seeking a referendum from the public. While Texans can vote on state constitutional amendments, and sometimes local issues, most legislation passed by the Texas House and Senate is enacted without a direct public vote. Therefore, for most laws, the only way for the public to voice their approval or disapproval is through legislative elections. 

The next election to choose a governor will be November 2026.