Texas Scorecard by Sydnie Henry October 7, 2023
Texas Scorecard has consolidated the recommendations for voting on the upcoming state constitutional amendments.There are 14 constitutional amendments on the November ballot that must be approved by a majority of Texas voters for the underlying legislation to take effect.
Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, True Texas Project, and the Huffines Liberty Foundation have all released recommendations for voting on these amendments.
Below is the round-up of recommendations from TFR, TTP, and HLF (which only has recommendations on six of the amendment propositions).
Additionally, each amendment has an analysis compiled by the Texas Legislative Council, complete with comments from supporters and opponents.
Election Day is Tuesday, November 7, 2023.
Proposition 1 (HJR 126): Protecting the right to engage in farming, ranching, timber production, horticulture, and wildlife management.
TFR: FOR – We recommend voting in favor of this amendment, to further protect and enshrine private property rights into the Texas Constitution.
TTP: FOR – This amendment would protect farmers and ranchers whose land falls within municipal jurisdictions from being forced out of business by overreaching municipal ordinances. While we believe in local control, many municipal governments have abused their authority. Food production must be protected.
Texas Legislative Council Analysis
Proposition 2 (SJR 64): 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.
TFR: AGAINST – We strongly recommend voting against this amendment. Carving out property tax exemptions for businesses always result in higher tax burdens for other businesses, especially homeowners, who must pay more in taxes to make up the difference in lost tax revenue.
TTP: AGAINST – Exempting certain types of businesses from taxes puts a greater burden on the remaining taxpayers. Exemptions like this have governments picking winners and losers.
HLF: AGAINST – Texans should reject this tax break targeted for childcare facilities that only receive government subsidies and increases incentives for parents to spend less time with their children.
Texas Legislative Council Analysis
Proposition 3 (HJR 132): 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.
TFR: FOR – We recommended voting in favor of this amendment. Texans are already taxed too much, and taxing individuals or families based on their total wealth is immoral and would be an abuse of the state’s taxing authority.
TTP: FOR – We would always be opposed to a wealth tax. Texans are already taxed at every level of earning and spending, and a wealth tax would be a tax on success.
Texas Legislative Council Analysis
More:
https://texasscorecard.com/state/november-ballot-voting-recommendations-round-up/
