November Constitutional Amendments
In the 84th Texas Legislature, the House and Senate referred seven potential policy changes to the people of the State of Texas in the form of constitutional amendments. Texans can vote on these amendments within the next month – this year, Election Day falls on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2015. The first day of early voting is Monday, October 19th, 2015. If voters pass a proposed constitutional amendment by a majority margin, then that amendment becomes a part of the Texas Constitution. I wanted to provide you with an overview of each constitutional amendment. The Texas Legislative Council is a nonpartisan organization that provides information, analysis, and assistance in the crafting of legislation. I am including the Council’s summaries of the seven below.
Amendment No. 1 (S.J.R. 1) – The constitutional amendment increasing the amount of the residence homestead exemption from ad valorem taxation for public school purposes from $15,000 to $25,000, providing for a reduction of the limitation on the total amount of ad valorem taxes that may be imposed for those purposes on the homestead of an elderly or disabled person to reflect the increased exemption amount, authorizing the legislature to prohibit a political subdivision that has adopted an optional residence homestead exemption from ad valorem taxation from reducing the amount of or repealing the exemption, and prohibiting the enactment of a law that imposes a transfer tax on a transaction that conveys fee simple title to real property.
Amendment No. 2 (H.J.R. 75) – 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 100 percent or totally disabled veteran who died before the law authorizing a residence homestead exemption for such a veteran took effect.
Amendment No. 3 (S.J.R. 52) – The constitutional amendment repealing the requirement that state officers elected by voters statewide reside in the state capital.
Amendment No. 4 (H.J.R. 73) – The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to permit professional sports team charitable foundations to conduct charitable raffles.
Amendment No. 5 (S.J.R. 17) – The constitutional amendment to authorize counties with a population of 7,500 or less to perform private road construction and maintenance.
Amendment No. 6 (S.J.R. 22) – The constitutional amendment recognizing the right of the people to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife subject to laws that promote wildlife conservation.
Amendment No. 7 (S.J.R. 5) – The constitutional amendment dedicating certain sales and use tax revenue and motor vehicle sales, use, and rental tax revenue to the state highway fund to provide funding for nontolled roads and the reduction of certain transportation-related debt.
If you would like to follow the Texas House and learn more information on news, committees or other aspects of the legislative body, you can access its website at Texas House of Representatives. The site features live streaming from committee hearings as well as access to a number of other resources. You can also follow the Texas Senate at Texas Senate. For important information regarding transportation in the state, feel free to visit the Texas Department of Transportation. Other references are the Texas General Land Office, or visit the Texas Railroad Commission.
If you have questions regarding any of the information mentioned in this week’s article, please do not hesitate to call my Capitol or District Office. Please always feel free to contact my office if you have any questions or issues regarding a Texas state agency, or if you would like to contact my office regarding constituent services. As always, my offices are available at any time to assist with questions, concerns or comments (Capitol Office, 512-463-0672; District Office, 361-949-4603).
– State Representative Todd Hunter, District 32
Rep. Hunter represents Nueces (Part) County. He can be contacted at todd.hunter@house.state.tx.us or at 512-463-0672.
