Texas propositions explained

After considering the often-liberal suggestions of Reform Austin and the conservative explanations of the North Texas Citizens Lobby, I threw together the following guide (mostly for myself, since early voting started on 18 October 2021).

For specifics on any of the eight propositions (including the voting history on the topics and various perspective on those topics), refer to the North Texas Citizens Lobby site.

Prop No.	Prop words	Prop description	Constitutional/ Needed/ Affordable	My Vote
1	The constitutional amendment authorizing the professional sports team charitable foundations of organizations sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association or the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association to conduct charitable raffles at rodeo venues.	Two specific professional sports associations will be able to conduct raffles.	No/No/No	No or eh. This allows two special groups to start their own raffle. Why not equal protection  for all?
2	The constitutional amendment authorizing a county to finance the development or redevelopment of transportation or infrastructure in unproductive, underdeveloped, or blighted areas in the county.	Through twists and turns, it allows counties to raise taxes for transportation infrastructure in “unproductive, underdeveloped, or blighted areas.”	No/Neutral/Neutral	No This vaguely-worded proposition could be applied to just about any property. Since counties already have taxing authority, they don’t need more.
3	The constitutional amendment to prohibit this state or a political subdivision of this state from prohibiting or limiting religious services of religious organizations.	Texas and its counties and cities will be kept from stopping or limiting religious services of churches.	Yes/Neutral/Yes	Yes Texas churches should be further protected from overreach by counties. Leaders like Lina Hidalgo have proven their lust for power that would steal our freedom of religion.
4	The constitutional amendment changing the eligibility requirements for a justice of the supreme court, a judge of the court of criminal appeals, a justice of a court of appeals, and a district judge.	Generally, this requires that judges be practicing lawyers.	Yes/Neutral/Yes	Yes This removes the possibility of an appointed judge who has no legal experience.
5	The constitutional amendment providing additional powers to the State Commission on Judicial Conduct with respect to candidates for judicial office.	This amendment would extend the Commission’s authority to impose the same standards on all judicial candidates as it does for those who are already judges, therefore leveling the playing field.	Yes/Yes/Yes	Yes. We need to treat candidates the same as we treat incumbents.
6	The constitutional amendment establishing a right for residents of certain facilities to designate an essential caregiver for in-person visitation.	This would allow a Texan at a senior care facility to name someone who would always be allowed to visit.	Neutral/No/Neutral	Yes Someone needs to be allowed to be with the elderly at the time of death.
7	The constitutional amendment to allow the surviving spouse of a person who is disabled to receive a limitation on the school district ad valorem taxes on the spouse’s residence homestead if the spouse is 55 years of age or older at the time of the person’s death.	Counties will have to calculate the taxes that should have been imposed for the 2020 and 2021 tax years according HB 1313, and if the taxes collected exceeded those that should have been imposed, the collector would have to refund the difference to the qualifying surviving spouse.	No/No/No	Yes The intent of HB 1313 was to reduce taxes. This works in line with that intent.
8	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 member of the armed services of the United States who is killed or fatally injured in the line of duty.	For the spouse of a member of our armed services who dies in the line of duty, we have created an exemption to the ad valorem tax.	No/No/No	Yes Those supporting our service members deserve this exemption.

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