The Texas Legislature passed eight resolutions calling for the voters to approve changes to the Texas Constitution. All will be on the ballot November 2nd.
Proposition 1 authorizes professional rodeo organizations to conduct charitable raffles at rodeo venues. This will add rodeo to the list of professional sports already able to use on site raffles to support their charitable foundations.
Proposition 2 will allow counties to finance highways in blighted areas by issuing bonds to be paid for with the increase in property taxes collected from new development made possible by the highway.
Proposition 3 will prohibit political subdivisions in Texas from prohibiting or limiting religious services as happened during the Covid-19 shutdowns early in the pandemic.
Proposition 4 will change eligibility requirements for certain judges in Texas.
Proposition 5 provides additional powers to the State Commission on Judicial Conduct with respect to candidates for judicial office.
Proposition 6 establishes the right of a resident of certain facilities to designate an essential caregiver for in-person visitation. (This would restrict residential care facilities from eliminating all outside visitors as happened during the Covid-19 pandemic.)
Proposition 7 will allow the surviving spouse of a disabled person to retain limitations on school district property taxes if the spouse is at least 55 years old.
Proposition 8 authorizes the legislature to provide an exemption from property taxes on property owned by the surviving spouse of a member of the U.S. armed services who is killed in the line of duty.
Your Chamber has not established a position on these issues. More information will be available as we approach the November election.