The 87th Session of the Texas Legislature put forward 8 Texas Constitutional amendments for citizens to vote on.

Constitutional Amendment 1

The constitutional amendment authorizing the professional sports team charitable foundations of organizations sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association or the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association to conduct charitable raffles at rodeo venues.

Effects on Texans:

Adds rodeos to 18 other government “approved” organizations for charitable raffles
• Charitable restrictions don’t belong in the constitution
• Expands government via enforcement of rules and penalties

Constitutional Amendment 2

The constitutional amendment authorizing a county to finance the development or redevelopment of transportation or infrastructure in unproductive, underdeveloped, or blighted areas in the county.

Effects on Texans:

Allows counties to issue debt without voter approval
• Voters defeated this amendment in 2011
• Government can define “undeveloped, under developed, or blighted areas” and take property through eminent domain

Constitutional Amendment 3

The constitutional amendment to prohibit this state or a political subdivision of this state from prohibiting or limiting religious services of religious organizations.

Effects on Texans:

To prohibit or limit government interference of religious services
• Texas Constitution already prohibits government interference in religious practices
• We the People should not comply with tyrants. Stop asking government to solve the problems they create

Constitutional Amendment 4

The constitutional amendment changing the eligibility requirements for a justice of the supreme court, a judge of the court of criminal appeals, a justice of a court of appeals, and a district judge.

Effects on Texans:

Increases qualifications for judicial positions to the 4 highest Texas courts –

Texas Supreme Court / Court of Criminal Appeals / Texas Court of Appeals:
Must be a practicing lawyer licensed in Texas for at least ten year

District Judge:
• Must be practicing lawyer or a Judge of a Court in TX, or both combined, for 8 years [currently 4 years] DISQUALIFICATIONS: license to practice law has been revoked, suspended, or subject to a probated suspension.
• Changes are for justices elected or appointed for a term that begins on or after January 1, 2025

Constitutional Amendment 5

The constitutional amendment providing additional powers to the State Commission on Judicial Conduct with respect to candidates for judicial office.

Effects on Texans:

• Would extend the Commission’s authority to accept complaints or reports, conduct investigations, and take any other action or a judicial candidate in the same manner as a judicial incumbent.
• Would level the playing field, ensuring all candidates for judicial positions are treated equally

Constitutional Amendment 6

The constitutional amendment establishing a right for residents of certain facilities to designate an essential caregiver for in-person visitation.

Effects on Texans:

Allowing only one “essential caregiver” to visit a resident of a care facility
• An effort to prevent Governor from restricting in-person visitation to care facilities
• Grants TX Health & Human Service (largest bureaucracy in Texas) authority to rule and penalize non-compliance

Constitutional Amendment 7

The constitutional amendment to allow the surviving spouse of a person who is disabled to receive a limitation on the school district ad valorem taxes on the spouse’s residence homestead if the spouse is 55 years of age or older at the time of the person’s death.

Effects on Texans:

Extends exemption from ISD ad valorem tax to the surviving spouse of “disabled”
• Qualifying survivor must be at least 55 years of age, and cannot remarry
• Applies to surviving spouses who move to Texas
• Creates another special class of property owners, and penalizes others with more debt

Constitutional Amendment 8

The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of all or part of the market value of the residence homestead of the surviving spouse of a member of the armed services of the United States who is killed or fatally injured in the line of duty.

Effects on Texans:

• Extending property tax exemptions from all or part of homestead to the surviving spouse of a service member who is killed or fatally injured in “the line of duty”
• Qualifying spouse cannot remarry
• Applies to surviving spouses who move to Texas
• Creates another special class of property owners, penalizing others with more debt