Your monthly support provides voters the knowledge they need to make confident decisions at the polls. Donate today.
San Antonio, Texas, Proposition B, Repeal Police Collective Bargaining Initiative (May 2021)
| San Antonio Proposition B | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Election date May 1, 2021 | |
| Topic Local law enforcement | |
Status Defeated | |
| Type Initiative | Origin Citizens |
San Antonio Proposition B, the Repeal Police Collective Bargaining Initiative, was on the ballot for San Antonio voters in Bexar County, Texas, on May 1, 2021.[1] It was defeated.
A "yes" vote supported repealing local authority for collective bargaining with the San Antonio Police Officers Association to negotiate wages, healthcare, leave, and other policies. As of 2020, Chapter 174 of state law allows cities the option to negotiate with unions through collective bargaining. |
A "no" vote opposed repealing local authority granting collective bargaining to police officers under Chapter 174 of state law. |
A simple majority vote was required for the approval of Proposition B.
Election results
|
San Antonio Proposition B |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 73,375 | 48.85% | ||
|
|
76,833 | 51.15% | ||
Measure design
- See also: Text of measure
Proposition B would have repealed local authority for collective bargaining with police officers to negotiate wages, healthcare, leave, and other policies. Going into the election, collective bargaining could be pursued when a majority of the city's police officers affected by the changes are represented by the San Antonio Police Officers Association. [2]
As of 2021, Chapter 174 of state law allowed cities the option to negotiate with unions through collective bargaining. Chapter 174 also contained a provision that prohibits strikes and lockouts and authorizes penalties for such activity. Proposition B would have opted the city out of this provision as well.[2][3]
Text of measure
Ballot question
The ballot question for Proposition B was as follows:[2]
| “ | Shall the adoption of the state law applicable to City of San Antonio police officers that establishes collective bargaining if a majority of the affected employees favor representation by an employees association, preserves the prohibition against strikes and lockouts, and provides penalties for strikes and lockouts be repealed?[4] | ” |
Full text
The full text can be read here.
Support
Fix SAPD led the campaign in support of Proposition B.[5]
Supporters
Former Officials
- Julián Castro (D) -
- Former U.S. Representative Beto O'Rourke (D)
Political Parties
Unions
Organizations
- Asian American and Pacific Islanders for Justice
- Black Lives and Allies in Community
- Black Voters Matters
- Campaign Zero
- Local Progress Texas
- Move Texas
- Our Revolution Texas
- Police Oversight Project
- Radical Registrars
- Reliable Revolutionaries
Arguments
Opposition
Back SA Blue led the campaign in opposition to Proposition B.[6]
Opponents
Unions
- Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas
- San Antonio Black Police Officers Coalition
- San Antonio Central Labor Council
- San Antonio Hispanic Police Officers Organization
- San Antonio Police Officers Association
Arguments
Background
Prior contracts between San Antonio and the police union
Collective bargaining under Chapter 174 is defined as negotiations between firefighters or police associations with their public employer concerning "compensation, hours, and other conditions of employment." The last contract approved between the San Antonio City Council and the San Antonio Police Officers Association was agreed upon on September 1, 2016. The council voted 9-2. The contract included a 14% wage increase, a 3% signing bonus, a healthcare option requiring officer dependents to pay premiums for the first time, and an increase in clothing allowance. It also reduced the evergreen clause, the clause which authorizes the terms to be in effect until a new contract is ratified, to eight years and includes an exception that premiums paid by officers and dependents will escalate 10% each year the contract is in evergreen. The previous contract had expired in 2014 but had a 10-year evergreen clause.[7][8]
Contract negotiations to replace the 2016 contract were set to begin on February 12, 2021. If the union and the city reach an agreement before the election, the repeal of Chapter 174 would take effect after the new contract expires.[9]
Texas Local Government Code Chapter 143
San Antonio voters adopted Chapter 143 of the Texas Local Government Code in 1947. It establishes hiring, firing, benefits, and public record procedures for police and firefighters through a Civil Service Commission. When San Antonio voters adopted Chapter 174, it allowed the collective bargaining negotiations to override the provisions of Chapter 143. If Chapter 174 is repealed, the city will revert to the provisions of Chapter 143. Chapter 143 can be adopted by Texas cities that have a population greater than 10,000 and have paid firefighters and police officers.[10][11]
Meet and confer
Meet and confer is another alternative to collective bargaining. Unlike collective bargaining, there is no requirement that a city and police or firefighter union reach an agreement regarding wages, benefits, and other working conditions.
As of January 2021, Texas includes 13 of the top 100 cities in the U.S. Of those 13 cities, four (Corpus Christi, El Paso, Laredo, and San Antonio) use collective bargaining in police negotiations, five (Austin, Arlington, Dallas, Fort Worth, and Houston) use meet and confer, and four (Lubbock, Garland, Irving, and Plano) operate under the provisions of Chapter 143.[12]
In 2021, Ballotpedia covered a selection of local police-related measures concerning police oversight, the powers and structure of oversight commissions, police practices, law enforcement department structure and administration, law enforcement budgets, law enforcement training requirements, law enforcement staffing requirements, and body and dashboard camera footage.
| State | Jurisdiction | Title | Election date | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | Albany | Proposal 7 | November 2 | Increases the authority of the Community Police Review Board over investigations and oversight of complains against police | 
|
| Texas | Austin | Proposition A | November 2 | Requires a minimum number of police officers and certain police training and sets demographically representative hiring practice guidelines |
|
| Washington | Bellingham | Initiative 2 | November 2 | Prohibits facial recognition and predictive policing technology |
|
| Colorado | Denver | Referred Question 2G | November 2 | Transfers the power to appoint the Independent Monitor to the Office of the Independent Monitor, which is responsible for disciplinary investigations concerning the Denver police and sheriff’s departments, from the mayor to the Citizen Oversight Board |
|
| Minnesota | Minneapolis | Question 2 | November 2 | Replaces the police department with a department of public safety in the city charter |
|
| Ohio | Cleveland | Issue 24 | November 2 | Changes the oversight structure of the Cleveland Police Department |
|
| Michigan | Detroit | Proposition P | August 3 | Revises the Detroit City Charter, with multiple changes to the Detroit Police Department included |
|
| Texas | Austin | Proposition C | May 1 | Establishes the position of the Director of Police Oversight in the city charter |
|
| Texas | San Antonio | Proposition B | May 1 | Repeals provisions allowing police officers to collectively bargain with the city |
|
| Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh | Ban No-Knock Warrants Initiative | May 18 | Requires police to knock on a door, announce their presence, and wait at least 15 seconds before entering a residence to execute a warrant |
|
| Pennsylvania | Allegheny County | Prohibit Solitary Confinement Initiative | May 18 | Prohibits the solitary confinement of persons held in the Allegheny County Jail |
|
| Illinois | Oak Park | Police Defunding Advisory Question | April 6 | Advises the city to defund the police department |
|
In 2020, Ballotpedia identified 20 police-related measures in 10 cities and four counties within seven states that appeared on local ballots. All 20 of the ballot measure were approved.
Path to the ballot
In San Antonio, citizens can place a ballot measure on the ballot through an indirect initiative petition signed by at least 10% of the city's qualified voters as of the last regular election. The petition is then voted on by the city council. The required number of signatures was 20,282.[13]
The initiative campaign was launched in September 2020. On January 8, 2021, supporters submitted over 28,000 signatures to the city clerk. On February 4, 2021, City Clerk Tina Flores announced that the campaign had submitted over 20,282 valid signatures and had qualified for the May ballot. On February 11, 2021, the San Antonio City Council voted to certify the initiative for the ballot.[14][15]
How to cast a vote
- See also: Voting in Texas
Click "Show" to learn more about voter registration, identification requirements, and poll times in Texas.
| How to cast a vote in Texas | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Poll timesIn Texas, all polling places are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time. Texas is divided between the Central and Mountain time zones. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[16]
Registration requirements
To register to vote in Texas, an applicant must be a United States citizen, a resident of the county in which he or she is registering, and at least 17 years and 10 months old.[17] The deadline to register to vote is 30 days before the election. Prospective voters can request a postage-paid voter registration form online or complete the form online and return it to the county voter registrar. Applications are also available at a variety of locations including the county voter registrar’s office, the secretary of state’s office, libraries, and high schools. Voter registration certificates are mailed to newly registered voters.[18] Automatic registrationTexas does not practice automatic voter registration.[19] Online registration
Texas does not permit online voter registration.[19] Same-day registrationTexas does not allow same-day voter registration.[19] Residency requirementsProspective voters must reside in the county in which they are registering to vote.[20] Verification of citizenshipTexas does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury. State law requires election officials to conduct a check of registered voters' citizenship status. Section 18.068 of the Texas Election Code says the following:
In January 2019, the Texas secretary of state’s office announced that it would be providing local election officials with a list of registered voters who obtained driver’s licenses or IDs with documentation such as work visas or green cards. Counties would then be able to require voters on the list to provide proof of citizenship within 30 days.[22] The review was halted by a federal judge in February 2019, and Secretary of State David Whitley rescinded the advisory in April.[23][24] A news release from Whitley’s office stated that “... going forward, the Texas Secretary of State's office will send to county voter registrars only the matching records of individuals who registered to vote before identifying themselves as non-U.S. citizens to DPS when applying for a driver's license or personal identification card. This will ensure that naturalized U.S. citizens who lawfully registered to vote are not impacted by this voter registration list maintenance process.”[25] All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[26] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. One state, Ohio, requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters. Verifying your registrationThe Texas Secretary of State’s office allows residents to check their voter registration status online by visiting this website.
Voter ID requirementsTexas requires voters to present photo identification while voting.[27] The following list of accepted ID was current as of October 2025. Click here for the Texas Secretary of State's page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.
Identification provided by voters aged 18-69 may be expired for no more than four years before the election date. Voters aged 70 and older can use an expired ID card as long as the ID is otherwise valid.[27] Voters who are unable to provide one of the ID options listed above can sign a Reasonable Impediment Declaration and provide one of the following supporting documents:[27]
The following voters are exempt from showing photo ID:[27]
Voters who do not have a photo ID can obtain a Texas Election Identification Certificate (EIC) at any Texas driver’s license office during regular business hours. Voters can also obtain an Election Identification Certificate from a mobile station. Locations are listed here.[27] | ||||||
See also
External links
Support |
Opposition |
Footnotes
- ↑ San Antonio Report, "City clerk certifies petitions for May ballot item on police collective bargaining rights," February 4, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 San Antonio City Council, "Proposition B Ordinance," accessed February 8, 2021
- ↑ San Antonio Report, "New police union president: ‘Someone has to fight the fight’, February 7, 2021
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Fix SAPD, "Home, " accessed February 8, 2021
- ↑ Back SA Blue, "Home," accessed April 12, 2021
- ↑ San Antonio Report, "City Council Approves Long-Awaited Police Union Contract," September 1, 2016
- ↑ San Antonio.gov, "Texas Local Government Code, Chapter 174," accessed March 2, 2021
- ↑ Texas Public Radio, "San Antonio Police Union To Start City Contract Negotiations Friday, With Added Pressure Of May Ballot Measure That Could Strip Its Bargaining Power," February 10, 2021
- ↑ Texas Public Law, "Chapter 143," accessed April 12, 2021
- ↑ San Antonio Report, "Cops could lose collective bargaining power in May. What would that mean for labor negotiations?" February 26, 2021
- ↑ Check the Police, "Police Contracts Database," accessed March 2, 2021
- ↑ Express News, "San Antonio City Council puts police reform, expanding use of bonds for housing in hands of the voters," February 11, 2021
- ↑ KENS 5, "Petition submitted to city aims at bringing issue of SAPD reform in front of voters in May," January 8, 2021
- ↑ Texas Public Radio, "San Antonio City Council Approves May Election To Include Housing Bond Amendment And Bargaining Recall With Police Union," February 11, 2021
- ↑ VoteTexas.gov, "Who, What, Where, When, How," accessed February 27, 2023
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, “Request for Voter Registration Applications,” accessed February 27, 2023
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, “Voter Registration,” accessed February 27, 2023
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 NCSL, "State Profiles: Elections," accessed July 28, 2024
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, "Request for Voter Registration Applications," accessed July 28, 2024
- ↑ Texas Constitution and Statutes, “Election Code,” accessed February 23, 2023
- ↑ The Texas Tribune, “Texas officials flag tens of thousands of voters for citizenship checks,” January 25, 2019
- ↑ The New York Times, “Federal Judge Halts ‘Ham-Handed’ Texas Voter Purge,” February 28, 2019
- ↑ The New York Times, “Texas Ends Review That Questioned Citizenship of Almost 100,000 Voters,” April 26, 2019
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, “Secretary Whitley Announces Settlement In Litigation On Voter Registration List Maintenance Activity,” April 26, 2019
- ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 27.4 Texas Secretary of State, "Identification Requirements for Voting," accessed October 9, 2025 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "tvid" defined multiple times with different content
