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Texas Proposition 1, Property Tax Limit Reduction for Elderly and Disabled Residents Amendment (May 2022)
| Texas Proposition 1 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Election date May 7, 2022 | |
| Topic Taxes | |
Status Approved | |
| Type Constitutional amendment | Origin State legislature |
Texas Proposition 1, the Property Tax Limit Reduction for Elderly and Disabled Residents Amendment, was on the ballot in Texas as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on May 7, 2022. It was approved.[1][2]
A "yes" vote supported amending the state constitution to authorize the state legislature to reduce the property tax limit for school maintenance and operations taxes imposed on the homesteads of elderly or disabled residents to reflect any tax rate reduction enacted by law from the preceding tax year. |
A "no" vote opposed this amendment, which would have extended a tax limit reduction to the homesteads of elderly or disabled residents whose tax rates are frozen when they turn 65 or buy a new property. |
Election results
|
Texas Proposition 1 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
|
|
1,128,380 | 87.03% | ||
| No | 168,141 | 12.97% | ||
Overview
What did Proposition 1 do?
- See also: Text of measure
Proposition 1 authorized the state legislature to reduce the property tax limit for school maintenance and operations taxes imposed on the homesteads of elderly or disabled residents to reflect any tax rate reduction enacted by law from the preceding tax year. In 2019, the Texas State Legislature passed House Bill 3 (HB 3), which provided school maintenance and operations tax rate compression. However, the rate reduction did not apply to the homesteads of elderly or disabled residents.
The implementing legislation, Senate Bill 12, which extended the 2019 reduction, was also passed during the second special legislative session in 2021.[2]
Have Texans voted on a similar amendment in the past?
- See also: Proposition 1 (2007)
Proposition 1 and SB 12 were modeled after a 2007 constitutional amendment and 2006 property tax reduction. In 2007, voters approved Proposition 1, which was a temporary provision that reduced school property tax freeze amounts on homesteads of the elderly or disabled to provide a tax reduction similar to the reduction other taxpayers had received in 2006. The temporary provision expired on January 1, 2009. It was passed by a margin of 87.7% to 12.3%.
How did the amendment get on the ballot?
- See also: Path to the ballot
Proposition 1 was introduced as Senate Joint Resolution 2 (SJR 2) on August 6, 2021. On August 9, 2021, the state Senate passed SJR 2 by a vote of 29-0 with two absent. On August 26, 2021, the state House passed SJR 2 by a vote of 116-0 with 32 absent or not voting.
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title was as follows:[2]
| “ | The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for the reduction of the amount of a limitation on the total amount of ad valorem taxes that may be imposed for general elementary and secondary public school purposes on the residence homestead of a person who is elderly or disabled to reflect any statutory reduction from the preceding tax year in the maximum compressed rate of the maintenance and operations taxes imposed for those purposes on the homestead.[3] | ” |
Constitutional changes
- See also: Article 8, Texas Constitution
Proposition 1 amended section 1-b of Article 8 of the state constitution. The following underlined text was added:[2]
(d-2) Notwithstanding Subsections (d) and (d-1) of this section, the legislature by general law may provide for the reduction of the amount of a limitation provided by Subsection (d) of this section and applicable to a residence homestead for a tax year to reflect any statutory reduction from the preceding tax year in the maximum compressed rate, as defined by general law, or a successor rate of the maintenance and operations taxes imposed for general elementary and secondary public school purposes on the homestead. A general law enacted under this subsection may take into account the difference between the tier one maintenance and operations rate for the 2018 tax year and the maximum compressed rate for the 2019 tax year applicable to a residence homestead and any reductions in subsequent tax years before the tax year in which the general law takes effect in the maximum compressed rate applicable to a residence homestead.[3]
Full text
The full text of Proposition 1 can be read here.
Readability score
- See also: Ballot measure readability scores, 2022
Using the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL) and Flesch Reading Ease (FRE) formulas, Ballotpedia scored the readability of the ballot title for this measure. Readability scores are designed to indicate the reading difficulty of text. The Flesch-Kincaid formulas account for the number of words, syllables, and sentences in a text; they do not account for the difficulty of the ideas in the text. The state legislature wrote the ballot language for this measure.
The FKGL for the ballot title is grade level 37, and the FRE is -33. The word count for the ballot title is 77.
Support
Supporters
Officials
- Gov. Greg Abbott (R)
- State Senator Paul Bettencourt (R)
- State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst (R)
- State Senator Robert Nichols (R)
- State Rep. Trent Ashby (R)
- State Rep. Brooks Landgraf (R)
- State Rep. Glenn Rogers (R)
- State Representative Hugh Shine (R)
Arguments
Opposition
Ballotpedia did not locate a campaign in opposition to the ballot measure.
Campaign finance
If you are aware of a committee registered to support or oppose this amendment, please email editor@ballotpedia.org.
| Cash Contributions | In-Kind Contributions | Total Contributions | Cash Expenditures | Total Expenditures | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Support | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Oppose | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Total | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Media editorials
- See also: 2022 ballot measure media endorsements
Ballotpedia identified the following media editorial boards as taking positions on Proposition 1.
Ballotpedia lists the positions of media editorial boards that support or oppose ballot measures. This does not include opinion pieces from individuals or groups that do not represent the official position of a newspaper or media outlet. Ballotpedia includes editorials from newspapers and outlets based on circulation and readership, political coverage within a state, and length of publication. You can share media editorial board endorsements with us at editor@ballotpedia.org.
Support
Opposition
Ballotpedia had not identified media editorial boards in opposition to the ballot measure.
Background
Property tax limit for elderly and disabled residents
In Texas, homesteads of residents 65 years of age or older or disabled residents can qualify for a special tax exemption and school district property tax limit that places a ceiling at the amount the resident paid in the year they qualified for the exemption. In order to qualify for the disabled exemption and tax limit, the individual must also qualify to receive disability benefits under the Federal Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Program administered by the Social Security Administration. The tax limit may increase if improvements are made to the property to reflect the added value to the homestead.[4]
Senate Bill 12 (2021)
During the second special legislative session in 2021, the state legislature passed Senate Bill 12 (SB 12). SB 12 is the enabling legislation for Proposition 1 that extended a property tax reduction enacted by House Bill 3 (HB 3) in 2019 to elderly and disabled residents whose property taxes are frozen either when they turn 65 or buy a new property if they are disabled. The Senate passed SB 12 by a vote of 31-0, and the House passed SB 12 by a vote of 121-0 with 27 absent or not voting. The governor signed the bill on September 17, 2021. Since Proposition 1 passed, SB 12 was designed to take effect on Jan. 1, 2023. The Legislative Budget Board estimated that the reduction would result in a $467.5 million reduction to revenue in the first two years of its implementation.[5]
House Bill 3 (2019)
In 2019, the Texas State Legislature passed House Bill 3 (HB 3), which effectively reduced school maintenance and operations (M&O) tax rates in exchange for more state dollars to local school districts. The bill passed the House by a vote of 139-0 with 11 absent or not voting. HB 3 passed the Senate by a vote of 31-0.[6]
Proposition 1 (2007)
Proposition 1 and SB 12 were modeled after a 2007 constitutional amendment and 2006 property tax reduction. In 2007, voters approved Proposition 1, which was a temporary provision that reduced school property tax freeze amounts on homesteads of the elderly or disabled to provide a tax reduction similar to the reduction other taxpayers had received in 2006. The temporary provision expired on January 1, 2009. It was passed by a margin of 87.7% to 12.3%.[7]
Even-year ballot measure elections in Texas
Between 1985 and 2021, Ballotpedia tracked 10 measures on even-numbered year ballots in Texas. All 10 measures were approved. During that same period, Texas voters decided 251 ballot measures on odd-numbered year elections. Of that total, 219 measures were approved, and 32 measures were defeated.
Path to the ballot
- See also: Amending the Texas Constitution
To put a legislatively referred constitutional amendment before voters, a two-thirds vote is required in both the Texas State Senate and the Texas House of Representatives.
Proposition 1 was introduced as Senate Joint Resolution 2 (SJR 2) on August 6, 2021. On August 9, 2021, the state Senate passed SJR 2 by a vote of 29-0 with two absent. On August 26, 2021, the state House passed SJR 2 by a vote of 116-0 with 32 absent or not voting.[1]
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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.[8]
Registration
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.[9] 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.[10] Automatic registrationTexas does not practice automatic voter registration.[11] Online registration
Texas does not permit online voter registration.[11] Same-day registrationTexas does not allow same-day voter registration.[11] Residency requirementsProspective voters must reside in the county in which they are registering to vote.[12] 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.[14] The review was halted by a federal judge in February 2019, and Secretary of State David Whitley rescinded the advisory in April.[15][16] 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.”[17] 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.[18] 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. 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.[19] The following list of accepted ID was current as of February 2023. 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 regardless of how long ago the ID expired.[19] 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:[19]
The following voters are exempt from showing photo ID:[19]
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.[19] | ||||||
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Texas State Legislature, "Overview of SJR 2," accessed August 10, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Texas State Legislature, "Senate Joint Resolution 2," accessed August 10, 2021
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "quotedisclaimer" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid<ref>tag; name "quotedisclaimer" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Comptroller Texas, "AGE 65 OR OLDER OR DISABLED EXEMPTIONS FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS," accessed May 18, 2021
- ↑ Texas State Legislature, "Senate Bill 12," accessed August 30, 2021
- ↑ Texas State Legislature, "House Bill 3," accessed September 10, 2021
- ↑ Texas State Legislature, "Senate Joint Resolution 13," accessed September 10, 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
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 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."
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 Texas Secretary of State, "Required Identification for Voting in Person," accessed February 27, 2023 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "tvid" defined multiple times with different content
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