17 Constitutional Amendments
Their potential pros and cons, and what they would mean for Texans if passed in the Nov. 4th 2025 Election.
During the recent 89th Legislative Session, state lawmakers passed 17 of the proposed Constitutional Amendments to be placed on the ballot for the November 4th, 2025 Election. The voter registration deadline is October 6th.
Below is the ballot order as drawn (meaning this will be the same order in which the 17 amendments will be listed on your ballot in November), what they would do if passed, and their potential pros and cons.
From the Texas Secretary of State’s website, here is the ballot order as drawn in PDF format in English and Spanish.
17 Constitutional Amendments: What they do and the pros & cons
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."
What it does: Creates two funds to help pay for buildings and infrastructure at Texas State Technical Colleges and workforce training programs.
Plain English: Helps pay for buildings and upgrades at trade schools and technical colleges.
✅ Proponents may say:
Helps address Texas's growing demand for skilled labor.
Strengthens technical education without raising taxes.
❌ Opponents may say:
Adds another earmarked fund to the state budget, reducing flexibility.
Critics may argue funding decisions should be made through the regular budget process, not constitutionally locked in.
Unclear if oversight or metrics are strong enough to ensure effective use of funds.
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."
What it does: Bans Texas from ever creating a tax on capital gains (profits from selling things like stocks, property, etc.), whether you’ve actually sold them or not.
Plain English: Blocks the state from taxing your investment profits now or in the future.
✅ Proponents may say:
Protects Texans from future income or investment taxes.
Encourages investment and entrepreneurship.
❌ Opponents may say:
Locks out a major revenue source that could fund services without burdening low-income Texans.
Benefits the wealthy disproportionately.
Reduces flexibility for future lawmakers responding to budget needs or economic change.
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."
What it does: Lets judges deny bail to people accused of certain serious felonies if they believe the person is dangerous.
Plain English: Makes it easier to keep people in jail before trial if they're accused of violent crimes.
✅ Proponents may say:
Closes loopholes that allow violent offenders out on bail.
Supports victims’ rights and community protection.
❌ Opponents may say:
Risks undermining due process and the presumption of innocence.
Could disproportionately impact poor defendants and people of color.
Bail decisions are already governed by law; this could lead to overreach or inconsistent application.
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."
What it does: Sets aside part of the sales tax money to fund water projects through the Texas Water Fund.
Plain English: Dedicates some sales tax dollars to improving water infrastructure.
✅ Proponents may say:
Dedicates stable funding for vital water infrastructure and drought mitigation.
Proactive investment in long-term water security.
No new tax—just a reallocation of existing revenue.
❌ Opponents may say:
Restricts legislative budgeting flexibility.
Dedicating funds could come at the expense of other urgent needs.
Lacks clarity on implementation and accountability.
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."
What it does: Lets the legislature stop charging property taxes on animal feed held for retail sale.
Plain English: Gives tax breaks to businesses that sell animal feed.
✅ Proponents may say:
Supports agricultural and retail businesses.
Aligns with existing exemptions on other inventory items.
❌ Opponents may say:
Further erodes the local property tax base.
Opens the door to more special-interest exemptions.
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."
What it does: Stops lawmakers from creating new taxes on people or businesses that deal in stocks and securities.
Plain English: Prevents Texas from adding a tax on stock market transactions.
✅ Proponents may say:
Encourages business retention and investment in Texas.
Keeps Texas competitive in the financial services sector.
❌ Opponents may say:
Prioritizes protecting financial firms while ignoring working-class needs.
Constitutionally banning future revenue options is shortsighted.
Reinforces structural tax inequities.
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."
What it does: Gives property tax breaks to the surviving spouse of a veteran who died from a service-related illness.
Plain English: Helps widows and widowers of certain veterans save money on property taxes.
✅ Proponents may say:
Provides financial relief to grieving spouses.
Similar to past veteran-related exemptions.
❌ Opponents may say:
Creates further carve-outs in the tax code, shifting the burden to others.
Lacks income-based criteria, meaning wealthy survivors also benefit.
Continues trend of using tax code for social policy without oversight.
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."
What it does: Prohibits any future inheritance or estate taxes in Texas.
Plain English: Bans Texas from ever taxing your inheritance or estate when you die.
✅ Proponents may say:
Protects family-owned farms and small businesses from future taxation.
❌ Opponents may say:
Estate taxes target the ultra-wealthy; banning them shields generational wealth.
Reduces revenue options without public benefit.
Makes it harder to address wealth inequality or fund services equitably.
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."
What it does: Allows a property tax break for personal items used to make money (like tools, equipment, etc.).
Plain English: Lets people or businesses pay less tax on items they use to earn income.
✅ Proponents may say:
Reduces burden on small businesses and self-employed Texans.
Encourages entrepreneurship and reinvestment.
❌ Opponents may say:
Further drains local government revenue.
Complicates enforcement and fairness across business sizes.
May disproportionately benefit high-earning individuals who don’t need the break.
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."
What it does: Lets homeowners get a temporary property tax exemption if their home is completely destroyed by fire.
Plain English: Gives homeowners a property tax break after a house fire.
✅ Proponents may say:
Provides financial relief to disaster victims.
Prevents homeowners from paying taxes on non-existent property.
❌ Opponents may say:
May lead to inconsistent application across disaster types.
Doesn’t address broader needs like affordable housing recovery.
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."
What it does: Increases the property tax exemption amount for seniors and people with disabilities.
Plain English: Helps elderly and disabled Texans save more on school property taxes.
✅ Proponents may say:
Offers greater relief to vulnerable populations on fixed incomes.
Updates exemption to reflect rising home values.
❌ Opponents may say:
Further shifts tax burden to younger or lower-income homeowners.
Local school districts could lose funding.
Doesn’t differentiate based on actual need or income level.
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."
What it does: Changes how the State Commission on Judicial Conduct operates, including how it handles complaints against judges.
Plain English: Strengthens oversight and punishment options for misbehaving judges.
✅ Proponents may say:
Strengthens accountability for judges accused of misconduct.
❌ Opponents may say:
Gives too much power to politically appointed review bodies.
Could be used to chill judicial independence.
Details may be vague or subject to partisan manipulation.
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."
What it does: Raises the school property tax exemption on homes from $100,000 to $140,000.
Plain English: Cuts school property taxes for homeowners by increasing the homestead exemption.
✅ Proponents may say:
Offers more tax relief to homeowners.
❌ Opponents may say:
Risks underfunding public schools.
Local governments may have to make up the shortfall.
Benefits wealthier homeowners more than renters or the poor.
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."
What it does: Creates a new state-run Dementia Research Institute with $3 billion in state funds.
Plain English: Funds a major state effort to study and fight dementia and related diseases.
✅ Proponents may say:
Responds to growing public health crisis.
Boosts research, treatment, and prevention across multiple neurodegenerative diseases.
❌ Opponents may say:
$3 billion is a large upfront cost with uncertain returns.
Should be funded through the standard budget process, not constitutional amendment.
Lacks detailed oversight mechanisms.
Proposition 15 (SJR 34)
"The constitutional amendment affirming that parents are the primary decision makers for their children."
What it does: Puts language in the Constitution saying parents are the main decision-makers for their kids.
Plain English: Reaffirms that parents, not the government, have the main say in their children’s lives.
✅ Proponents may say:
Reinforces parental rights in education, healthcare, and upbringing.
❌ Opponents may say:
Could be used to justify discriminatory or anti-science behavior.
Vague language may undermine child welfare protections.
May politicize school and healthcare decisions.
Proposition 16 (SJR 37)
"The constitutional amendment clarifying that a voter must be a United States citizen."
What it does: Clearly states that only U.S. citizens can vote in Texas elections.
Plain English: Reinforces that voting in Texas is only for U.S. citizens (already the law, but adds it to the Constitution).
✅ Proponents may say:
Reasserts the rule that only citizens vote—already law, but now constitutional.
❌ Opponents may say:
Unnecessary and redundant—it’s already illegal for non-citizens to vote.
May stoke xenophobia or voter suppression efforts.
Political messaging disguised as policy.
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."
What it does: Allows property tax breaks for landowners along the Mexico border who install border security features.
Plain English: Gives tax breaks to property owners near the border who build fencing or security infrastructure.
✅ Proponents may say:
Encourages private landowners to support state border security.
Helps offset the cost of fencing, surveillance, or other improvements.
❌ Opponents may say:
Politicizes tax policy and incentivizes vigilante-style enforcement.
Could have environmental, legal, and civil rights consequences.
Reduces tax revenue for politically charged goals.