To make well-informed votes educate yourselves on the proposed changes
By State Rep. Todd Hunter
AUSTIN Texas (Texas Insider Report) On Tuesday November 5th the residents of Texas have the ability to vote on 10 Proposed Amendments to the Texas Constitution. The amendments were introduced by legislators in the 86th Legislative Session.
Over the past few weeks we reviewed Amendments 1 through 6 (see links below) and this week we will review the last four propositions that are on the ballot this year.
Proposition 7: Allowing increased distributions to Available School Fund
The wording on the ballot will be:
- The constitutional amendment allowing increased distributions to the available school fund."
This proposition allow the State Board of Education the General Land Office or another entity that had responsibility for the management of revenues derived from Permanent School Fund land or other properties to distribute each year to the Available School Fund revenue derived during that year from the land or properties up to $600 million by each entity each year.
Proposition 8: Creating the Flood Infrastructure Fund
The wording on the ballot will be:
- The constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the flood infrastructure fund to assist in the financing of drainage flood mitigation and flood control projects."
This proposition would create the Flood Infrastructure Fund as a special fund in the state treasury outside the general revenue fund. As provided by general law the fund could be used by the Texas Water Development Board without further appropriation to provide financing for drainage flood mitigation or flood control projects.
This includes planning and design activities as well as work to obtain related regulatory approval to provide nonstructural and structural flood mitigation and drainage.
Proposition 9: Exempting precious metals held in Texas depositories from property taxes
The wording on the ballot will be:
- The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation precious metal held in a precious metal depository located in this state."
This proposition would amend Texas Constitution Art. 8 to authorize the Legislature to exempt from property taxes precious metal held in a precious metal depository in Texas. The Legislature could define precious metal" and precious metal depository" for purposes of the exemption.
Proposition 10: Allowing retired law enforcement animal transfer without fee
The wording on the ballot will be:
- The constitutional amendment to allow the transfer of a law enforcement animal to a qualified caretaker in certain circumstances."
This would allow the Legislature to authorize a state agency or a county municipality or other political subdivision to transfer without any fees a law enforcement dog horse or other animal to the animals handler or another qualified caretaker upon the animals retirement or at another time if it was in the animals best interest.
Educate yourself & make well-informed votes
To make well-informed votes we must educate ourselves on the changes proposed.
- For more information on these propositions please visit https://hro.house.texas.gov/pdf/focus/amend86.pdf.
- This site includes more Details & Specifics on each Amendment.
- You will also have access to the arguments For & Against each Amendment on this website as well.
And be sure to also review:
- HUNTER: What You Need to Know About Constitutional Amendments 1 thru 3
- HUNTER: What You Need to Know About Constitutional Amendments 4 thru 6
If you have questions regarding any of the information mentioned above please dont hesitate to call my Capitol or District Offices. As always my offices are available at any time to assist you with Constituent Services questions concerns or comments (Capitol Office: 512-463-0672; District Office: 361-949-4603).
And feel free to contact my office if you have questions or issues regarding any Texas State Agency.
Texas State Representative Todd Hunter represents Texas House District 32 covering Aransas Calhoun Nueces (Part) & San Patricio Counties. He can be contacted at todd.hunter@house.texas.gov or at 512-463-0672.
