On November 5, 2019, voters will go to the polls to determine whether ten ballot initiatives will be added to the Texas Constitution. The language being voted on was approved by Texas lawmakers during their spring legislative session. At this time, the Frisco Chamber of Commerce has not taken a position on any of these amendments. Recently the ballot order was determined:
- Proposition 1
- Ballot Language: “The constitutional amendment permitting a person to hold more than one office as a municipal judge at the same time.”
- Summary: Allows one person to be elected to multiple cities’ judgeships, which would help smaller communities in the state.
- Proposition 2
- Ballot Language: “The constitutional amendment providing for the issuance of additional general obligation bonds by the Texas Water Development Board in an amount not to exceed $200 million to provide financial assistance for the development of certain projects in economically distressed areas.”
- Summary: Allows the Texas Water Development Board to sell bonds in order to encourage the construction of water supply and wastewater facilities in economically distressed cities.
- Proposition 3
- Ballot Language: “The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for a temporary exemption from ad valorem taxation of a portion of the appraised value of certain property damaged by a disaster.”
- Summary: Allows the Legislature to temporarily lower tax rates on property damaged during a disaster declared by the Governor.
- Proposition 4
- Ballot Language: “The constitutional amendment prohibiting the imposition of an individual income tax, including a tax on an individual’s share of partnership and unincorporated association income.”
- Summary: Bans the creation of a state income tax.
- Proposition 5
- Ballot Language: “The constitutional amendment dedicating the revenue received from the existing state sales and use taxes that are imposed on sporting goods to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Historical Commission to protect Texas’ natural areas, water quality, and history by acquiring, managing, and improving state and local parks and historic sites while not increasing the rate of the state sales and use taxes.”
- Summary: Dedicates all revenue from the sporting goods sales tax to state park operators and not allow for lawmakers to move those dollars for other purposes.
- Proposition 6
- Ballot Language: “The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to increase by $3 billion the maximum bond amount authorized for the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas.”
- Summary: Doubles the amount of bonds that can be sold by the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas to $6 billion.
- Proposition 7
- Ballot Language: “The constitutional amendment allowing increased distributions to the available school fund.”
- Summary: Doubles the annual possible funding amount that the General Land Office contributes towards schools, up to $600 million.
- Proposition 8
- Ballot Language: “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.”
- Summary: Allows the Texas Water Development Board to distribute monies from a flood infrastructure fund for flood prevention-related projects.
- Proposition 9
- Ballot Language: “The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation precious metal held in a precious metal depository located in this state.”
- Summary: Creates a tax exemption for precious metals held in the Texas Bullion Depository.
- Proposition 10
- Ballot Language: “The constitutional amendment to allow the transfer of a law enforcement animal to a qualified caretaker in certain circumstances.”
- Summary: Allows the Texas Water Development Board to sell bonds in order to encourage the construction of water supply and wastewater facilities in economically distressed cities.
