What to watch: Seventeen proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution will appear on the November ballot, covering issues from taxes to education funding to public safety. The Texas Scorecard compiled position statements from four leading conservative organizations, Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, True Texas Project, Texas Public Policy Research, and Texas Eagle Forum, to show where each stands on the measures.

Supporter and opponent summaries below are drawn from the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s analysis of the proposed amendments.

Proposition 1: Creating funds to support the capital needs of educational programs offered by the Texas State Technical College System — All oppose

  • Opponents argue the amendment would increase government spending unnecessarily and create a permanent funding source outside the normal legislative process. They warn that removing the Legislature’s discretion to adjust funding levels over time undermines fiscal accountability and flexibility.

Proposition 2: Banning taxes on the realized or unrealized capital gains of an individual, family, estate, or trust — All support

  • Supporters say this amendment is necessary to prevent future legislatures from imposing a capital gains tax structured to bypass Texas’ existing income tax ban. They argue that such a tax could discourage investment, slow job creation, and drive businesses out of state. Maintaining a clear constitutional prohibition, they say, protects Texas’ pro-business reputation and ensures predictability in tax policy.

Proposition 3: Denying bail under certain circumstances to persons accused of certain felony offenses — TFR: Neutral | TTP: Support | TPR: Oppose | TEF: Oppose

  • Supporters say denying bail in serious felony cases, such as murder or human trafficking, could prevent repeat offenses by high-risk defendants awaiting trial. They note the proposal mirrors federal standards and gives judges clearer authority to protect public safety.
  • Opponents argue the amendment could expand pretrial detention, raising costs and straining county jails. They say Texas judges already have the discretion to set high bail when necessary and warn that longer detentions could worsen inequities and violate the principle of presumed innocence.

Proposition 4: Dedicating a portion of state sales and use tax revenues to the Texas water fund — All oppose

  • Opponents argue the measure would expand government spending without addressing Texas’ long-term water challenges. They say the amendment creates an additional funding stream without prioritizing how the money would be used or ensuring it adequately meets future water supply needs. Critics also note it could reduce fiscal flexibility in future budgets.

Proposition 5: Exempting animal feed held for retail sale from property tax — All support

  • Supporters say taxing animal feed inventory unfairly increases costs for feed retailers and, in turn, for farmers and ranchers. Because inventories are typically highest during tax appraisal season, sellers face inflated property taxes that are passed to consumers. Exempting feed from this tax would reduce costs, ease the burden on agriculture-related businesses, and keep prices more affordable.

Proposition 6: Prohibiting occupation or transaction taxes on securities trades — All support

  • Supporters say the measure will protect Texas’ growing financial sector from burdensome transaction taxes that could drive business elsewhere. With the new Texas Stock Exchange being established, they argue the amendment ensures a low-tax, pro-investment environment. Financial transaction taxes, they say, raise costs, reduce efficiency, and harm retirees and investors relying on savings returns.

Proposition 7: Granting a property tax exemption to the surviving spouses of veterans who died from service-related conditions — TFR: Support | TTP: Oppose | TPR: Support | TEF: Neutral

  • Supporters say the amendment corrects an oversight created by federal law changes under the 2022 PACT Act, ensuring surviving spouses of all service-connected veterans are treated equally. It provides tax relief to families who lost loved ones due to military service.
  • Opponents caution the exemption could shift the tax burden to other residents, particularly in communities with high veteran populations, and expand tax breaks beyond what the state can sustain long term.

Proposition 8: Prohibiting state “death taxes” on estates or inheritances — All support

  • Supporters say the amendment guarantees Texans will not face estate or inheritance taxes, ensuring that property and assets can be passed on without additional taxation. They argue the money has already been taxed during a person’s lifetime, and further taxation would be unfair and economically harmful. The change provides certainty for families planning their estates.

Proposition 9: Increasing the business personal property tax exemption — All support

  • Supporters say this amendment would ease the tax burden on small businesses by raising the exemption threshold for tangible personal property used to generate income. They argue the change encourages reinvestment, expansion, and job growth while simplifying compliance and appraisal processes. The fiscal impact is expected to be minor, with economic benefits outweighing revenue losses.

Proposition 10: Providing a temporary property tax exemption for homes destroyed by fire — All support

  • Supporters say homeowners who lose their homes to fire should not be taxed on property that no longer exists or is uninhabitable. The measure ensures temporary financial relief while owners recover from the loss and rebuild, correcting an unfair gap in current tax law.

Proposition 11: Raising the school district homestead exemption for elderly or disabled Texans — TFR: Neutral | TTP: Oppose | TPR: Oppose | TEF: Oppose

  • Opponents argue the proposal is unnecessary given recent tax cuts and could reduce funding for core services like schools and infrastructure. They warn that expanding exemptions benefits homeowners but not renters and could strain the state budget if revenue declines. Existing mechanisms already allow seniors to defer property taxes, making another exemption redundant.

Proposition 12: Strengthening judicial conduct oversight and sanctions — TFR: Neutral | TTP: Support | TPR: Support | TEF: Support

  • Supporters say the amendment promotes transparency and accountability by reforming the State Commission on Judicial Conduct. It adds public representation and limits private disciplinary actions, ensuring judges who abuse authority face timely, fair consequences. Backers argue it restores public trust in the judiciary and better protects citizens’ rights.

Proposition 13: Raising the school district homestead exemption from $100,000 to $140,000 — TFR: Support | TTP: Reluctantly Support | TPR: Support | TEF: Reluctantly Support

  • Supporters say the increase provides meaningful property tax relief, especially for seniors and fixed-income homeowners. They argue that rising appraisals and inflation have eroded the value of previous cuts, and the higher exemption helps keep housing affordable. While some groups express concern about reliance on temporary surpluses, most agree broad-based tax relief is justified.

Proposition 14: Creating the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas — All oppose

  • Opponents say the amendment would create a new government bureaucracy with open-ended funding and limited oversight. They argue dementia research can be effectively pursued by private institutions without taxpayer support. Critics also cite past accountability problems with similar state research programs and warn of potential waste and political favoritism.

Proposition 15: Recognizing parents as the primary decision-makers for their children — TFR: Support | TTP: Oppose | TPR: Support | TEF: Support

  • Supporters say enshrining parental rights in the state constitution strengthens families’ ability to make educational and medical decisions without government interference. They argue it clarifies parents’ legal standing and protects a fundamental liberty recognized by courts.
  • Opponents question whether the language sufficiently protects children’s rights and warn that vague phrasing could allow government agencies to define when a parent’s “responsibility” has been met.

Proposition 16: Requiring voters to be United States citizens — All support

  • Supporters say the amendment reinforces the principle that voting is a right reserved for citizens, clarifying constitutional language to match existing election law. They argue the change safeguards against efforts in other states to allow noncitizen voting and will strengthen voter confidence and election integrity.

Proposition 17: Creating a property tax exemption for border security infrastructure — All support

  • Supporters say landowners who host or build border security infrastructure should not face higher taxes due to property improvements tied to public safety. The amendment would exempt the value of those enhancements from taxation, encouraging voluntary cooperation with border initiatives while ensuring fairness for affected property owners.