2019 Constitutional Election results: Texas voters approve nine of ten amendments

On Nov. 5, Texas voters took to the polls to decide on 10 proposed amendments to the state Constitution. Texans approved nine amendments, including a proposal making it harder for future lawmakers to enact a personal income tax and a proposal concerning bonds for cancer research. Voters rejected one amendment.

These results are from the Texas Secretary of State include early voting and election night returns from every county across the state.

The turnout for Rockwall County was just 12% with 7,747 people casting a ballot. Across the state, the turn out was just 12% as well.

The numbers in the chart below represent percentages.

Proposition 1

“The constitutional amendment permitting a person to hold more than one office as a municipal judge at the same time.”

Allowing selected municipal court judges to serve multiple municipalities at the same time. Currently, only appointed municipal court judges — who make up more than 95% of the state’s municipal court judges, according to the House Research Organization — can serve multiple jurisdictions at the same time.

This proposition was rejected by voters 1,289,626 votes against to 681,139 votes for; 1,970,765 votes total. In Rockwall County, 2,640 votes for and 5,010 votes against; 7,650 votes total.

Proposition 2

“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.

In areas where the median household income is at or below 75% of the statewide median income level, the TWDB would be allowed issue bonds to fund for water and wastewater infrastructure projects.

This proposition was approved by voters with 1,285,397 votes for and 673,306 votes against; 1,958,703 votes total. In Rockwall County, 4,531 votes for and 3,089 votes against; 7,620 votes total.

Proposition 3

“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.”

What it means: This would allow temporary property tax exemptions to be made by Legislation for people with property damaged in governor-declared disaster areas. The Legislature would be able to pass laws determining the eligibility requirements for the exemptions. The laws would be able to specify the duration and amount of any write-offs during the period.

This proposition was passed with 1,667,110 votes for and 292,031 votes against; 1,959,141 votes total. In Rockwall County, 6,736 votes for and 906 votes against; 7,642 votes total.

Proposition 4

“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.”

What it means: This makes it much more challenging for future lawmakers to enact a personal income tax, requiring support from two-thirds of the House and Senate and a majority of Texas voters. Currently, the state Constitution requires that any proposal be approved a majority of lawmakers in the House and Senate and a majority of voters in a state-wide referendum. The way the proposition is worded on the ballot may be confusing, but passing this proposition would ban creating a personal income tax in Texas.

This proposition passed with 1,467,994 votes for and 504,848 votes against; 1,972,842 votes total. In Rockwall County, 6,721 votes for and 987 votes against; 7,708 votes total.

Proposition 5

“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.”

Proposition 5 changed the Texas Constitution so that money generated from the existing sales tax on sporting goods can only go to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Historical Commission as it was intended when the tax was created in 1993.

This proposition passed with 1,732,331 votes for and 236,251 votes against; 1,968,582 votes total. In Rockwall County, 6,730 votes for and 937 votes against; 7,667 votes total.

Proposition 6

“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.”

This amendment allows the Legislature to double the maximum amount of bonds it can issue on behalf of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, from $3 billion to $6 billion.

This proposition passed with 1,250,089 votes for and 703,157 votes against; 1,953,246 votes total. In Rockwall County, 4,324 votes for and 3,305 votes against; 7,629 votes total.

Proposition 7

“The constitutional amendment allowing increased distributions to the available school fund.”

This allows the General Land Office, the State Board of Education and other entities to double the amount of revenue they can provide the Available School Fund each year. The Available School Fund provides classroom materials and funding for Texas schools.

This proposition passed with 1,449,333 votes for and 506,142 votes against; 1,955,475 votes total. In Rockwall County, 5,084 votes for and 2,532 votes against; 7,616 votes total.

Proposition 8

“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 amendment creates a flood infrastructure fund that the Texas Water Development Board could use to finance projects following a disaster. It would also designate where revenue for the fund can come from. Proposition 8 was one of three amendments which received the unanimous support of (present) Democrats and Republicans in the Texas State Legislature.

This proposition passed with 1,527,394 votes for and 435,184 votes against; 1,962,578 votes total. In Rockwall County, 5,353 votes for and 2,272 votes against; 7,625 votes total.

Proposition 9

“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 amendment allows the legislature to create a property tax exemption or precious metals held in state depositories — like the Texas Bullion Depository.

This proposition passed with 977,272 votes for and 916,513 votes against; 1,893,785 votes total. In Rockwall County, 4,070 votes for and 3,405 votes against; 7,475 votes total.

Proposition 10

“The constitutional amendment to allow the transfer of a law enforcement animal to a qualified caretaker in certain circumstances.”

This amendment allows former handlers or qualified caretakers to adopt retired law enforcement animals without a fee. Under the state’s Local Government Code, a retiring police dog or working animal is classified as salvage or surplus property and, according to code, surplus or salvage property can be auctioned, donated to a civic or charitable organization, or destroyed. According to the Texas Senate Research Center, the existing Local Government Code makes transferring a retiring animal to its handler difficult. Proposition 10 would allow agencies to transfer a dog, horse, or another animal to the animal’s handler or another qualified person if the transfer is in the animal’s best interest.

This amendment passed with 1,845,766 votes for and 123,032 votes against; 1,968,798 votes total. In Rockwall County, 7,386 votes for and 303 votes against; 7,689 votes total.