AUSTIN (KXAN) - Texans will get a chance to weigh in on 11 proposed
constitutional
amendments on Tuesday. The list includes
changes to property appraisals, eminent domain and tier one
universities.
The most high-profile amendments include Prop 4, which provides
funding to more state schools so they can conduct enough research
to qualify as tier one universities. Several politicians, including
the Texas Speaker of the House, have thrown their weight behind the
amendment, saying it would help boost the state's economy.
Proposition 11, which limits the government's use of eminent
domain, would prevent the seizure of private property for economic
development or private projects.
The 11 proposals passed both chambers of the Legislature
with a two-thirds vote and must win voter approval to be added to
the state constitution. Below is a full list of the
propositions:
- PROPOSITION 1: Authorizes financing methods for
municipalities and counties to acquire buffer zones or open
spaces next to military bases. The proposal could prevent
encroachment next to the base and allow construction of roads,
utilities and other infrastructure to promote the mission of a
military base.
- PROPOSITION 2: Allows the Legislature to provide for ad
valorem taxation of a residence homestead solely on the basis of
the property's value as a residence, not at the potentially
higher commercial use value.
- PROPOSITION 3: Provides for uniform standards and procedures
for the appraisal of property for taxation. Texas lacks uniform
standards, and proponents say this amendment would ensure that
property in diverse parts of the state are valued using the same
generally accepted practices.
- PROPOSITION 4: Establishes a national research university
fund to help emerging research universities achieve national
prominence as major research universities. Those pushing the
proposal say it will provide funding similar to what elevated
Texas A&M University and the University of Texas to Tier One
status, providing jobs and stature or the state. Others question
whether now is the time to spend such money.
- PROPOSITION 5: Permits the Texas Legislature to allow a
single board of equalization for two or more adjoining appraisal
entities. That means area appraisal boards can be consolidated if
they choose.
- PROPOSITION 6: Authorizes the Veterans' Land Board to issue
general obligation bonds in amounts equal to or less than amounts
previously authorized. It would prevent the land board from
continually having to seek legislative authorization.
- PROPOSITION 7: Allows an officer or enlisted member of the
Texas State Guard or other state militia or military force to
hold other civil offices. This would correct what some say is an
oversight in the state constitution.
- PROPOSITION 8: Authorizes the state to contribute money,
property and other resources to establish veterans hospital. It's
designed to speed up efforts to open a federal Veterans
Administration hospital in the Rio Grande Valley, where residents
currently must travel to San Antonio to receive some VA hospital
services.
- PROPOSITION 9: Protects the right of the public to access and
use the public beaches bordering the seaward shore of the Gulf of
Mexico. This would block private developers from restricting
beach access to the public, but some say it could infringe on
private property rights.
- PROPOSITION 10: Limits elected members of the governing
boards of emergency services districts to terms no longer than
four years.
- PROPOSITION 11: Prohibits governments from taking private
property for private economic development to increase a tax base.
It also limits the Legislature's power to grant eminent domain
authority to a governmental entity.
While low voter turnout is expected, election officials say that
all elections are important.
You can find polling locations in Travis County
here.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.