Thanks to Flora for all the gumshoeing she did on these Amendments to the Texas Constitution.

Prop 1 = NO  “Right to Farm”, but small farmers are worried. why: https://farmandranchfreedom.org/texas-proposition-1-right-to-farm-or-right-to-harm/

Prop 2 = YES Allows municipalities to cancel property tax on day care facilities. from Mothers against greg abbott:

• The Texas childcare shortage is having devastating effects on early childhood education, economic growth and employment opportunities for parents.
• The Texas economy loses more than 9 Million every year due to inadequate childcare.
• This bill helps exempt child-care facilities for property taxation.

Prop 3 = NO  Preemptively banning any “wealth tax”. Why:  we don’t currently have a wealth tax, nor is anyone actively fighting for it in texas as far as i can see… but we should!  and the fact that they are banning it before anyone even tries is notable….maybe they think it would pass because a wealth tax is one of the few things with bi-partisan appeal?  https://2020.elizabethwarren.com/toolkit/umt

Prop 4 = NO  Homestead Tax relief at the expense of public education and local rule. Why:  https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/15/texas-constitutional-amendment-voter-guide/#d08b01bb-0e0f-4ddf-81b4-9fac48af1f50and https://mothersagainstgregabbott.com/2023-ballot-propositions/ My understanding is that this homestead tax passes every year, so CCISD made a bond to cover the loss of $ that is coming from the state, or not coming from the state.  The state is trying to cut public education funding left right and center and this is just one tool.  but that’s just my take.

Prop 5 = YES  Creating a “Texas University Fund” Why: so texas can have better state schools

Prop 6 = YES  Creating a “Texas Water Fund Why = because water main breaks are more frequent with global warming/shifting of the ground and more problematic during a drought.

Prop 7 =  NO  Creating an “Energy Fund” specifically for fossil fuel energy.

• This amendment will provide billions of dollars in low-interest loans to support the development of new methane gas power plants.
• It is subsidizing new gas power plants
• Why should Texans subsidize the building of gas power plants that could cost up tot $18 Billion in taxpayer funds.
• Will this ensure that gas power plants don’t hike rates for Texans?
• and go on ballotpedia and see who opposes it and who is for it… https://ballotpedia.org/Texas_Proposition_7,_Creation_of_State_Energy_Fund_Amendment_(2023)

Prop 8 = YES  Creating a “broadband infrastructure fund”

• We need to expand broadband internet across Texas.
• Internet access is a must have utility in this day and age and we need all Texans to have access.
• This bill compliments Federal funds from the Biden administration toward the expansion of broadband

Prop 9 = YES  Cost of Living increase for retired teachers. Why:  what are you, a monster?  they haven’t had a raise in 25 yrs and some of them live on less than $1000 per month!

Prop 10 = NO  Cancel sales tax on biomedical equipment

• Medical manufacturers will get property tax relief and cost school districts $43 Million in 2024 and 60 Million in 2028 in funds. These lost funds will not be recouped and more Texas families will have to cover the gap.
• So medical manufacturers will get a tax break, public schools won’t get funded and you will have to pay the difference as taxpayers.

Prop 11 = YES*  Allowing El Paso to raise funds for Parks and Rec. Why: because parks and rec help the environment, mental health and they want it.  for these local bills it has to pass 50% in the whole state AND 50% in the effected county.

Prop 12 = NEUTRAL* Allowing Galveston to abolish the role of Treasurer. (note: Representive Rosenthal thinks this should be a NO).  the current treasurer in galveston who was voted in is actively trying to abolish the role and isn’t taking a salary. like el paso, it needs to get 50% in the whole state and 50% in the affected county

Prop 13 = NEUTRAL Increasing the mandatory retirement age for judges. my personal instinct is YES to term limits, but I haven’t looked through the roster of judges and their leanings.  I know that there was a joke during the trump administration that they were apppointing judges straight off the harvard conservative relay race team.  so if all the liberal judges are older, and all the conservative judges are like 30… maybe we should raise the age? 

Prop 14 = YES Creation of “Centenial Parks Restoration Fund”  why: i bet we have more parking than parks in texas.