Voters weighed 14 constitutional amendments on the ballot with property tax cuts, a raise for retired teachers and billions in investments in infrastructure, research, tech and energy have been approved by voters following the November 7 election.
According to Decision Desk HQ, ballot numbers are as follows: Proposition 1, requiring state and local governments to provide evidence that regulation of generally accepted farming and ranching practices is needed to protect the public from danger was approved with 79% voting in favor and 21% voting against it. There were 2,013,645 votes in favor and 532,601 votes against the proposition.
Proposition 2, allowing cities and counties to exempt child care providers from property taxes on any facility used to run a child care business was approved with 65% voting in favor and 35% voting against the proposition. There were 1,616,675 votes in favor and 880,551 votes against the proposition.
Proposition 3, forcing lawmakers to ask voters for authorization before they could impose any new state taxes on residents that would be based on net worth or wealth was approved with 68% in favor and 32% against the proposition. There were 1,702,701 votes in favor while 802,476 votes were against the proposition.
Proposition 4, allowing the state to spend $18 billion on property tax cuts for homeowners and businesses, cut school districts’ tax rates and enact other tax changes was approved with 83% in favor and 17% against the proposition. There were 2,107,038 votes in favor while 418,073 votes were against the proposition.
Proposition 5, authorizing the state to create the Texas University Fund, a $3.9 billion endowment to help “emerging” research universities across the state enhance their research capabilities was approved with 64% voting in favor and 36% voting against the proposition. There were 1,609,558 votes in favor and 894,061 votes against the proposition.
Proposition 6, creating a water fund administered by the Texas Water Development Board to support a wide range of projects including fixing Texas’ aging, deteriorating pipes, acquiring more water sources and mitigating water loss was approved with 78% voting in favor and 22% voting against the proposition. There were 1,954,726 votes in favor and 564,489 votes against the proposition.
Proposition 7, creating an energy fund allowing officials to distribute loans and grants to companies with the aim of building new natural gas-fueled power plants was approved with 65% in favor of the proposition and 35% against the proposition. There were 1,633,410 votes in favor and 881,673 votes against the proposition.
Proposition 8, creating an broadband infrastructure fund where $1.5 billion would be allocated to expand internet availability in Texas, where some 7 million people currently lack access was approved with 69% in favor and 31% against the proposition. There were 1,737,420 votes in favor while 765,786 votes were against the proposition.
Proposition 9, providing some retired Texas teachers with costof- living raises to their monthly pension checks was approved with 84% in favor and 16% against the proposition. There were 2,130,045 votes in favor and 414,439 votes against the proposition.
Proposition 10, exempting school districts, cities and counties from collecting property taxes on the value of equipment and inventory held by medical and biomedical product manufacturers was approved with 55% voting in favor and 45% voting against the proposition. There were 1,361,819 votes in favor and 1,112,870 votes against the proposition.
Proposition 11, permitting conservation and reclamation districts in El Paso County to issue bonds supported by property taxes to fund recreational development and improvement. Eleven other Texas counties are already authorized to do this was approved with 63% voting in favor and 37% voting against the proposition. There were 1,514,353 votes in favor and 878,832 votes against the proposition.
Proposition 12, abolishing Galveston County’s office of the county treasurer, an office that exists in other Texas counties was approved with 53% in favor and 47% against the proposition. There were 1,205,138 votes in favor and 1,069,689 votes against the proposition.
Proposition 13, increasing the mandatory retirement age for state judges from 75 to 79 and the minimum retirement age from 70 to 75 was rejected with 37% in favor and 63% against the proposition. There were 926,674 votes in favor and 1,555,844 votes against the proposition.
Proposition 14, creating a centennial parks conservation fund to invest more than $1 billion to create and improve state parks was approved with 76% in favor and 24% against the proposition. There were 1,914,077 votes in favor and 589,326 votes against the proposition.