Early voting is underway for 17 proposed state constitutional amendments which includes $51 billion in property tax cuts.
Early voting began last week and continues through Friday. Election day is November 4.
Here is a breakdown of the propositions on the ballot.
Seven amendments on the ballot directly reference ad valorem tax, which include: Breaks for animal feed stored for retail sale (Prop. 5); Surviving spouses of veterans who died from service- connected conditions (Prop. 7). The exemption would continue until the spouse remarried; Personal property, such as equipment or tools, up to $250,000 of market value used for generating income (Prop. 9); Temporary exemptions for homesteads destroyed by fire (Prop. 10). The exemption would only apply to the destroyed structure; Increased school district property tax exemptions for the elderly and disabled from $10,000 to $60,000 (Prop. 11). The loss in revenue would be offset by state funds; Increased school district property tax exemptions on homesteads from $100,000 to $140,000 (Prop. 13). The state would be responsible for reimbursing the districts for the loss in revenue; and A property tax increase exemption for land in border counties that result from border security infrastructure (Prop. 17).
Three amendments relate to funding, which would exist outside of the state’s budget and legislative appropriations processes, for: Two state funds, with an initial investment of $850 million from general revenue, to support infrastructure, land purchase and equipment to support workforce education programs by the Texas State Technical College System (Prop. 1); The Texas water fund by diverting up to $1 billion per year in sales tax revenue to support water infrastructure projects until 2035 (Prop. 4); and Dementia Prevention and Research Fund by dedicating $3 billion from general revenue and up to $300 million each year for research and infrastructure related to neurodegenerative diseases (Prop. 14).
Three amendments prohibit taxation on: Capital gains (Prop. 2); Securities (Prop. 6); and Inheritance (Prop. 8). Other amendments would: Require the denial of bail for felony offenses such as murder, aggravated assault and human trafficking among others (Prop. 3); Increase judicial oversight by expanding and restructuring the State Commission on Judicial Conduct (Prop. 12); Enshrine the rights of parents to care for and make decisions about their children’s upbringing without unjustified governmental interference (Prop. 15); and Require voters to be United States citizens (Prop. 16).
Early voting locations are the elections workroom at the Bowie County Courthouse, Southwest Center’s ABC Room and Northside Church east entrance.
The following polling locations are available for all voters on election day: Oak Street Baptist Church, Family Life Center, 401 Waterall St.
St. Paul’s Missionary Baptist Church, Family Life Center, 2921 Norris Cooley Dr.
Liberty Eylau Baptist Church, Family Life Center, 5605 S. Lake Dr.
Liberty Eylau School of Success, Cafeteria, 766 Macedonia Rd.
Wake Village First Baptist Church, Fellowship Hall, 820 Wake Ave.
Collins Senior Center, Meeting Room, 3000 Texas Blvd.
Texarkana College, Levi Hall, 2500 N. Robison Rd.
Northside Church, East Entrance, 5801 Summerhill Rd.
Sullivan Performing Arts Center, Foyer, 3941 Summerhill Rd.
Nash First Baptist Church, Room 117A, 500 E. New Boston Rd.
Texarkana First Baptist Church, Scout Center, 3015 Moores Ln.
Richmond Road Baptist Church, Worship Center, 5805 Richmond Rd.
Hardy Memorial Methodist Church, Youth Center, 6203 N. Kings Hwy.
Hooks High School, Gym, 401 E. Ave A.
Simms Baptist Church, Fellowship Hall, 105 CR 4216.
Old Salem Baptist Church, Fellowship Hall, 6199 FM 1840.
Dekalb High School, Gym, 101 SW Maple St.
Leary City Hall, Council Chambers, 9504 W. New Boston Rd.
First Baptist Church Red Springs, Family Life Center, 1101 FM 991.
Redwater First Baptist Church, Family Life Center, 105 Redwater Blvd E.
Maud Church of Christ, Family Life Center, 414 Houston Dr.
Malta Baptist Church, Family Life Center, 23 PR 27891.
Southwest Center, ABC Room, 3222 W. 7th St.
Cross Pointe Texarkana, Gym, 3130 University Ave.
