(This article was written by Lisa Campos and appeared in the Explore Harlingen Magazine, November 2023 issue.)
On Election Day, November 7, 2023, Texans who have registered to vote by October 10, 2023, will have the opportunity to vote on 14 propositions to amend the Texas Constitution.
Here’s a summary of each proposition:
No. | Proposition | Description, per wikipedia.org |
1 | HJR 126 "The constitutional amendment protecting the right to engage in farming, ranching, timber production, horticulture, and wildlife management." | Establishes a right to farming, ranching, timber production, horticulture, and wildlife management in the state constitution |
2 | SJR 64 "The constitutional amendment authorizing a local option exemption from ad valorem taxation by a county or municipality of all or part of the appraised value of real property used to operate a child-care facility." | Allows local governments to exempt childcare facilities from property taxes |
3 | HJR 132 "The constitutional amendment prohibiting the imposition of an individual wealth or net worth tax, including a tax on the difference between the assets and liabilities of an individual or family." | Prohibits a wealth or net worth tax |
4 | HJR 2 from the second special session "The constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to establish a temporary limit on the maximum appraised value of real property other than a residence homestead for ad valorem tax purposes; to increase the amount of the exemption from ad valorem taxation by a school district applicable to residence homesteads from $40,000 to $100,000; to adjust the amount of the limitation on school district ad valorem taxes imposed on the residence homesteads of the elderly or disabled to reflect increases in certain exemption amounts; to except certain appropriations to pay for ad valorem tax relief from the constitutional limitation on the rate of growth of appropriations; and to authorize the legislature to provide for a four-year term of office for a member of the board of directors of certain appraisal districts." | Increases homestead tax exemption to $100,000 and increase state funding for public education
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5 | HJR 3 "The constitutional amendment relating to the Texas University Fund, which provides funding to certain institutions of higher education to achieve national prominence as major research universities and drive the state economy." | Renames the National Research University Fund to the Texas University Fund and establishes an ongoing revenue source from the accrued interest of the economic stabilization fund |
6 | SJR 75 "The constitutional amendment creating the Texas water fund to assist in financing water projects in this state." | Creates the Texas Water Fund to finance water projects |
7 | SJR 93 "The constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the Texas energy fund to support the construction, maintenance, modernization, and operation of electric generating facilities." | Creates the Texas Energy Fund and authorizes funding to modernize electric generation facilities |
8 | HJR 125 "The constitutional amendment creating the broadband infrastructure fund to expand high-speed broadband access and assist in the financing of connectivity projects." | Creates the Texas Broadband Infrastructure Fund to finance high-speed broadband access |
9 | HJR 2, regular session "The constitutional amendment authorizing the 88th Legislature to provide a cost-of-living adjustment to certain annuitants of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas." | Authorizes the state legislature to make cost-of-living adjustments or other benefit enhancements to eligible annuitants of the teacher retirement system |
10 | SJR 87 "The constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation equipment or inventory held by a manufacturer of medical or biomedical products to protect the Texas healthcare network and strengthen our medical supply chain." | Authorizes an ad valorem tax exemption on equipment and inventory manufactured by medical or biomedical companies |
11 | SJR 32 "The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to permit conservation and reclamation districts in El Paso County to issue bonds supported by ad valorem taxes to fund the development and maintenance of parks and recreational facilities." | Authorizes the state legislature to permit conservation and reclamation districts in El Paso County to allow the county to issue bonds to fund parks and recreational facilities |
12 | HJR 134 "The constitutional amendment providing for the abolition of the office of county treasurer in Galveston County." | Abolishes the Galveston County treasurer |
13 | HJR 107 "The constitutional amendment to increase the mandatory age of retirement for state justices and judges." | Increases the mandatory retirement age for state judges from 75 to 79 |
14 | SJR 74 "The constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the centennial parks conservation fund to be used for the creation and improvement of state parks."
| Creates the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund |
Early voting began on October 23, 2023 and ends on November 3, 2023. Early voting polling locations in Harlingen include the Harlingen County Annex Building, 3302 Wilson Road and the Harlingen Cultural Arts Center, 576 “76” Drive. For a full list of early voting polling locations in Cameron County, visit the Cameron County Elections & Voter Registration website, www.cameroncountytx.gov/elections/index.php/locations.
Polls will be open on Election Day, November 7, 2023, from 7 am to 7 pm. Election Day polling locations are specific to your address. The same Cameron County Elections & Voter Registration website listed above will have a complete list of Election Day polling locations.
Be sure to bring a form of acceptable identification with you to vote, such as:
Texas Driver License issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS
Texas Personal Identification Card issued by DPS
Texas Handgun License issued by DPS
United States Military Identification Card containing the person’s photograph
United States Citizenship Certificate containing the person’s photograph
United States Passport (book or card)
Mail-in ballots by mail must be received by November 7, 2023.