Tag: texas
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Election legislation roundup: Texas House of Representatives
As of May 21, Ballotpedia has tracked 173 election-related bills in the Texas House of Representatives since the beginning of the year. Of the 173, Ballotpedia tracked one from May 15-21. Democrats sponsored the bill. The bill is below: TX HB21: Relating to the Texas Independent Citizen Redistricting Commission, Rep. James Talarico (D). As introduced,…
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Constitutional amendment to prohibit wealth or net worth taxes in Texas headed to November ballot
The Texas Legislature voted to send a constitutional amendment to prohibit any future legislation from enacting a wealth or net worth tax. This amendment was introduced as House Joint Resolution 132 on March 13, 2023. On May 2, the state House passed HJR 132 by a vote of 101-45 with four not voting. All Republicans…
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Childcare facilities could receive property tax exemption under a proposed Texas amendment
The Texas Legislature voted to send a constitutional amendment to the Nov. 2023 ballot that would allow counties or municipalities to authorize an exemption from property taxes on all or part of the appraised value of real property used to operate childcare facilities. A partial property tax exemption would need to equal at least 50%…
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Texans to decide on state parks funding in November
The Texas Legislature took the final vote to send a constitutional amendment establishing the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund to voters in November. The trust fund would consist of money appropriated to the fund by the legislature; gifts, grants, and donations received for the fund; and investment earnings on interest earned. The trust fund would be…
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Election legislation roundup: Texas State Legislature
As of May 21, members of the Texas State Legislature, which includes the Texas House of Representatives and the Texas State Senate, have passed two bills related to election administration since the beginning of the year. Of those two bills, legislators passed one during the week of May 15-21. A bipartisan group of legislators sponsored…
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Texas Legislature sends property tax exemption for medical equipment and inventory to November ballot
The Texas State Legislature voted to send a constitutional amendment that would authorize the legislature to provide for a property tax exemption on equipment and inventory manufactured by medical or biomedical companies to the November ballot. The legislature also passed the enabling legislation, Senate Bill 2289 (SB 2289), which would take effect if the amendment…
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An amendment to abolish a county treasurer in Texas is set to appear on the November ballot for the first time since 1987
The Texas Constitution provides that the office of county treasurer may be abolished via a constitutional amendment. Galveston County may be the next county to join nine others that previously abolished the office of treasurer in November. The last time Texans decided on such an amendment was in 1987 with the abolition of county treasurers…
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Texas Supreme Court issues six opinions from May 8-14
The Texas Supreme Court issued six opinions from May 8-14. As of May 14, the court issued 57 opinions — nine fewer than this point a year ago. Three of six opinions are below: In re Kappmeyer (Opinion), where the court “conditionally granted relief in this mandamus proceeding arising out of a dispute between Property…
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Texas voters will decide in November whether the state will have the second-highest mandatory retirement age for state judges at 79
The Texas State Legislature voted to send a constitutional amendment to the Nov. ballot that would increase the mandatory retirement age for state judges and justices from 75 to 79—the second-highest retirement age in the country, excluding those with no mandatory retirement ages. Vermont adopted in 2003 the highest retirement age for state judges at…
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Texas Supreme Court and Court of Criminal Appeals issue nine opinions from May 1-7
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals issued five opinions from May 1-7. The Texas Supreme Court issued four opinions from May 1-7. Both courts are the state’s courts of last resort. As of May 7, the court of criminal appeals issued 130 opinions in 2023 — 33 more than this point a year ago. The…