Texas voters approved all 17 proposed amendments to the state constitution on Tuesday, encompassing a wide range of issues including tax exemptions, prohibitions, bail reform, and health research initiatives.
Among the measures approved was Proposition 15, the “Parental Bill of Rights,” which amends the constitution to affirm that parents are the primary decision-makers for their children. The measure formalizes parental authority in matters related to education and upbringing.
Proposition 3, a high-profile bail reform initiative, allows judges to deny bail in cases involving first-degree felony sexual offenses, continuous trafficking of persons, or certain violent crimes if the district attorney presents clear and convincing evidence that the defendant is unlikely to appear in court or poses a threat to public safety. The amendment does not require judges to detain defendants without bail.
Proposition 16 clarifies that only U.S. citizens are eligible to vote in Texas elections. This amendment was added to the ballot amid national and state-level discussions about voter eligibility and measures to prevent noncitizens from participating in elections.
Proposition 14, the establishment of the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (DPRIT), was also approved. The amendment allocates $3 billion to support research into dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and related neurological diseases. The initiative had been a legislative priority for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick during the regular session.
Proposition 4, which directs $1 billion annually from state sales tax collections over 20 years to the Texas Water Fund, also passed. The measure aims to address the state’s water supply and infrastructure needs, though it faced debate over whether water management should be handled by government or private industry.
Other amendments approved by voters included measures on tax exemptions, homestead protections, and the state’s judicial oversight structure. Among them were prohibitions on capital gains and estate taxes, a homestead exemption for school district taxes, and tax exemptions for veterans’ spouses and certain business activities.
The full list of approved amendments is as follows:
Proposition 1 – Texas Technical College System funding
Proposition 2 – Capital gains tax prohibition
Proposition 3 – Bail reform
Proposition 4 – Texas Water Fund
Proposition 5 – Animal feed tax exemption
Proposition 6 – Tax prohibition on securities transactions
Proposition 7 – Veteran spouse homestead tax exemption
Proposition 8 – Death tax prohibition
Proposition 9 – Business tax exemption
Proposition 10 – Fire disaster homestead exemption
Proposition 11 – Tax exemption for the elderly or disabled
Proposition 12 – State Commission on Judicial Conduct authorities
Proposition 13 – Homestead exemption from school district taxes
Proposition 14 – Establishment of Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas
Proposition 15 – Parental Bill of Rights
Proposition 16 – U.S. citizenship requirement for voters
Proposition 17 – Border infrastructure tax exemption for counties along U.S.-Mexico border
The closest vote was on Proposition 6, which passed with 56 percent support.
