Texas Proposition 7, Establish Homestead Exemption for Surviving Spouses of Veterans Killed by a Service-Connected Disease Amendment (2025)

Texas Proposition 7
Election date November 4, 2025
Topic Homestead tax exemptions and Property tax exemptions
Status On the ballot
Type Legislatively referred constitutional amendment	Origin State legislature

Texas Proposition 7, the Establish Homestead Exemption for Surviving Spouses of Veterans Killed by a Service-Connected Disease Amendment, is on the ballot in Texas as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on November 4, 2025.

A "yes" vote supports amending the state constitution to authorize the state legislature to establish a property tax exemption on all or part of the market value of the homestead of a surviving spouse of a veteran who died from a service-connected disease.

A "no" vote opposes amending the state constitution to authorize the state legislature to establish a property tax exemption on all or part of the market value of the homestead of a surviving spouse of a veteran who died from a service-connected disease.

Overview

What would Proposition 7 do?

See also: Text of measure

Proposition 7 would authorize the Texas State Legislature to pass a law to provide a homestead property tax exemption to the surviving spouse of a veteran of the armed services of the United States who died as a result of a condition or disease that is presumed under federal law to have been service-connected regardless of disability status. The amendment would also authorize the state legislature to allow the surviving spouse to apply the homestead exemption, in an amount equal to the dollar amount of the exemption of the first homestead for which the exemption was received, to a new qualifying residence. A surviving spouse would only qualify for the exemption as long as they have not remarried. The exemption would apply to tax years after January 1, 2026.

The implementing legislation, House Bill 2508 (HB 2508), which would take effect if Proposition 7 is approved, was also passed during the 2025 legislative session. According to the state Comptroller of Public Accounts, 11% of the 27,996 completed claims filed with the U.S. by surviving family for veterans killed by a service-connected disease were Texans. The fiscal note estimated that 3,000 surviving spouses would be eligible for the property tax exemption under Proposition 7 and HB 2508.

Have Texans decided on similar amendments before?

See also: Texas constitutional amendments related to tax exemptions for veterans

Between 1972 and 2021, Texas voters decided on eight constitutional amendments related to tax exemptions for veterans. All eight were approved with at least 69% of the vote. To view the list of amendments, click here.

How do property tax exemptions work in Texas?

See also: Property tax exemptions on homesteads in Texas

A homestead property tax exemption reduces the taxable value of a residence. State law defines residence homestead as a structure (including a mobile home) or a separately secured and occupied portion of a structure; any land the structure is on, not to exceed 20 acres; and improvements used in the residential occupancy of the structure, if the structure and the land are owned by the same person.

Who supports and opposes Proposition 7?

See also: Support and Opposition

American Legion (Texas) and Texas Policy Research endorsed Proposition 7. State Reps. Chris Turner (D-101), Angie Chen Button (R-112), Philip Cortez (D-117), and Linda Garcia (D-107), authors of the amendment argued, "[A] gap exists in current law with respect to veterans who pass away due to a condition or disease for which the federal Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022 establishes a presumption of service connection but who are not yet rated as 100 percent disabled at the time of the veteran's death, in which case the surviving spouse is not entitled to a residence homestead exemption. H.J.R. 133 seeks to address this issue by authorizing the legislature to entitle the surviving spouse of a veteran who died as a result of a qualifying condition or disease presumed under federal law to have been service-connected to certain exemptions from property taxation."

Ballotpedia has not located arguments in opposition to the ballot measure. You can share arguments, along with source links for this information, with us at editor@ballotpedia.org.

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title is as follows:

“

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 veteran who died as a result of a condition or disease that is presumed under federal law to have been service-connected.

”

Constitutional changes

See also: Article 8, Texas Constitution

The measure would amend section 1-b of Article 8 of the state constitution. The following underlined text would be added, and struck-through text would be deleted:

Section 1-b

(q) The legislature by general law may provide that the surviving spouse of a veteran of the armed services of the United States who died as a result of a condition or disease that is presumed under federal law to have been service-connected is entitled to an exemption from ad valorem taxation of all or part of the market value of the surviving spouse’s residence homestead if the surviving spouse has not remarried since the death of the veteran.

(r) The legislature by general law may provide that a surviving spouse who qualifies for and receives an exemption in accordance with Subsection (q) of this section and who subsequently qualifies a different property as the surviving spouse’s residence homestead is entitled to an exemption from ad valorem taxation of the subsequently qualified homestead in an amount equal to the dollar amount of the exemption from ad valorem taxation of the first homestead for which the exemption was received in accordance with Subsection (q) of this section in the last year in which the surviving spouse received the exemption in accordance with that subsection for that homestead if the surviving spouse has not remarried since the death of the veteran.

TEMPORARY PROVISION. (a) This temporary provision applies to the constitutional amendment proposed by the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, 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 veteran who died as a result of a condition or disease that is presumed under federal law to have been service-connected.

(b)Sections 1-b(q) and (r), Article VIII, of this constitution take effect January 1, 2026, and apply only to a tax year beginning on or after that date.

(c) This temporary provision expires January 1, 2027.

Full text

The full text is available here.

Support

Supporters

Organizations

• American Legion, Department of Texas
• Texas Policy Research

Arguments

• State Reps. Chris Turner (D-101), Angie Chen Button (R-112), Philip Cortez (D-117), and Linda Garcia (D-107): "[A] gap exists in current law with respect to veterans who pass away due to a condition or disease for which the federal Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022 establishes a presumption of service connection but who are not yet rated as 100 percent disabled at the time of the veteran's death, in which case the surviving spouse is not entitled to a residence homestead exemption. H.J.R. 133 seeks to address this issue by authorizing the legislature to entitle the surviving spouse of a veteran who died as a result of a qualifying condition or disease presumed under federal law to have been service-connected to certain exemptions from property taxation."
• Texas Policy Research: "This measure honors the sacrifices of military families and protects individual liberty and property rights. While further exemptions complicate the tax system, this narrowly targeted relief is justified. It should, however, be accompanied by broader property tax reform to maintain equity and simplicity."

Opposition

Ballotpedia has not located a campaign in opposition to the ballot measure. You can share campaign information or arguments, along with source links for this information, with us at editor@ballotpedia.org.

Arguments

You can share campaign information or arguments, along with source links for this information, at editor@ballotpedia.org.

Background

Property tax exemptions on homesteads in Texas

See also: Article 8, Texas Constitution

A homestead property tax exemption reduces the taxable value of a residence. The taxable value can either be the market value or the property's assessed value. Market value is the price at which the property would be sold. Assessed value is calculated by applying an assessment ratio to the market value.

Article 8 of the Texas Constitution is labeled "Taxation and Revenue" and provides for the following property tax exemptions on residence homesteads:

• $100,000 general property tax exemption;
• $10,000 property tax exemption for persons 65 years or older or disabled persons;
• a property tax exemption equal to the disability rating of a disabled veteran or their surviving spouse;
• a total property tax exemption for the surviving spouse of certain first responders killed or fatally injured in the line of duty;
• 100% exemption on the entire appraised value increase due to a solar or wind device being installed on the property.

State law defines residence homestead as:

• a structure (including a mobile home) or a separately secured and occupied portion of a structure;
• any land the structure is on, not to exceed 20 acres; and
• improvements used in the residential occupancy of the structure, if the structure and the land are owned by the same person.

The homestead must be:

• owned by one or more individuals, either directly or through a beneficial interest in a qualifying trust;
• designed or adapted for human residence;
• used as a residence; and
• occupied as the individual's principal residence by an owner, the owner's surviving spouse, or a trustor or beneficiary of the trust who qualifies for the exemption.

House Bill 2508 (2025)

House Bill 2508 (HB 2508) is the implementing legislation for the amendment, and it was also passed during the 2025 legislative session. It will take effect if Proposition 7 is approved. HB 2508 authorizes a property tax exemption for the total appraised value of the homestead of a surviving spouse of a veteran killed by a service-connected disease, regardless of disability status at the time of death. The surviving spouse would qualify for the exemption as long as they have not remarried and the service-connected disease is a qualifying condition or disease under the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022, also known as the PACT Act. A surviving spouse would also be able to receive a homestead property tax exemption on a new property in an amount equal to the dollar amount of the exemption on the first property if the surviving spouse has not remarried.

HB 2508 passed in the state House by a vote of 144-0, with six not voting or absent, and in the state Senate by a vote of 31-0.

Property taxes in Texas

Texas does not have a state property tax. Voters repealed the constitutional authorization for a state property tax in 1982 with the approval of Proposition 1. It was approved with 72.0% of voters supporting it.

Local governments, such as school districts, cities, and counties, are authorized to levy property taxes in Texas. The rate of local taxes is applied to the taxable value after any exemptions are deducted.

In fiscal year 2023, $81.4 billion was collected in property taxes in Texas. The chart below shows the property tax revenue reported by taxing unit (e.g., school district, cities, etc.):

Texas constitutional amendments related to tax exemptions for veterans

Between 1972 and 2021, Texas voters decided on eight constitutional amendments related to tax exemptions for veterans. All eight were approved with at least 69% of the vote.

Year	Type	Title	Description	Result	Yes Votes	No Votes
2021	LRCA	Proposition 8	Amends the Texas Constitution to allow the legislature to apply a homestead tax exemption for surviving spouses of members of the military to those fatally injured in the line of duty	a	1,291,920 (88%)	180,179 (12%)
2017	LRCA	Proposition 1	Authorizes tax exemption for property of partially disabled veterans received as donations	a	754,739 (86%)	122,864 (14%)
2015	LRCA	Proposition 2	Authorizes a property tax exemption for spouses of disabled veterans	a	1,433,837 (91%)	134,885 (9%)
2013	LRCA	Proposition 4	Allow the legislature to grant property tax exemptions on part of the market value of residence homesteads donated by charities to partially disabled veterans or their surviving spouses	a	965,377 (85%)	168,435 (15%)
2011	LRCA	Proposition 1	Allow the legislature to grant surviving spouses of totally disabled veterans an valorem tax exemption on their principal residences	a	568,959 (83%)	117,520 (17%)
2007	LRCA	Proposition 9	Revise tax exemption calculations for residence homesteads to grant ad valorem tax exemptions for certain totally disabled veterans.	a	932,418 (86%)	149,275 (14%)
1995	LRCA	Proposition 14	Increase property tax exemption limits for disabled veterans and their surviving spouses or minor children.	a	490,199 (69%)	217,443 (31%)
1972	LRCA	Proposition 5	Offer tax exemptions for specific property of disabled veterans, as well as for surviving spouses and minor children of disabled veterans or those who lost their life while on active duty	a	2,072,065 (76%)	640,476 (24%)

Path to the ballot

Amending the Texas Constitution

See also: Amending the Texas Constitution

A two-thirds (66.67%) vote is required during one legislative session for the Texas State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 100 votes in the Texas House of Representatives and 21 votes in the Texas State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.

House Joint Resolution 133 (2025)

The following is the timeline of the constitutional amendment in the state legislature:

• February 5, 2025: House Joint Resolution 133 (HJR 133) was introduced.
• April 28, 2025: The House passed HJR 133 by 135-6 with nine not voting or absent.
• May 25, 2025: The Senate passed HJR 133 by a vote of 31-0.

Partisan Direction Index = -5.8% (Bipartisan)

Democratic Support

100.0%

Republican Support

94.2%

How does this vote compare to other legislative ballot measures in 2025?
Learn more about the ballot measures PDI →

 Texas House of Representatives

Voted on April 28, 2025

Votes Required to Pass: 100
	Yes	No	NV
Total	135	6	9
Total %	90.0%	4.0%	6.0%
Democratic (D)	58	0	4
Republican (R)	77	6	5

Texas State Senate

Voted on May 25, 2025

Votes Required to Pass: 21
	Yes	No	NV
Total	31	0	0
Total %	100.0%	0.0%	0.0%
Democratic (D)	11	0	0
Republican (R)	20	0	0

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in Texas

See below to learn more about current voter registration rules, identification requirements, and poll times in Texas.

How to vote in Texas

Poll times

In 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.

Registration

Check your voter registration status here.

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.

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.

Automatic registration

Texas does not practice automatic voter registration.

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

Texas does not permit online voter registration.

Same-day registration

Texas does not allow same-day voter registration.

Residency requirements

Prospective voters must reside in the county in which they are registering to vote.

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

Texas 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:

“	The secretary of state shall quarterly compare the information received under Section 16.001 of this code and Section 62.113, Government Code, to the statewide computerized voter registration list. If the secretary determines that a voter on the registration list is deceased or has been excused or disqualified from jury service because the voter is not a citizen, the secretary shall send notice of the determination to the voter registrar of the counties considered appropriate by the secretary.	”
—Section 18.068, Texas Election Code

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. The review was halted by a federal judge in February 2019, and Secretary of State David Whitley rescinded the advisory in April. 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.”

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. 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 registration

The Texas Secretary of State’s office allows residents to check their voter registration status online by visiting this website.

Voter ID requirements

Texas requires voters to present photo identification while voting.

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.

• Texas driver’s license issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
• Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS
• Texas Personal Identification Card issued by DPS
• Texas handgun license issued by DPS
• United States Military Identification Card containing the person’s photograph
• United States Citizenship Certificate containing the person’s photograph
• United States passport (book or card)

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.

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:

• Copy or original of a government document that shows the voter’s name and an address, including the voter’s voter registration certificate
• Copy of or original current utility bill
• Copy of or original bank statement
• Copy of or original government check
• Copy of or original paycheck
• Copy of or original of (a) a certified domestic (from a U.S. state or territory) birth certificate or (b) a document confirming birth admissible in a court of law which establishes the voter’s identity (which may include a foreign birth document)

The following voters are exempt from showing photo ID:

• Voters with a disability
  • Voters with a disability "may apply with the county voter registrar for a permanent exemption to presenting an acceptable photo identification or following the Reasonable Impediment Declaration procedure in the county."
• Voters who have a religious objection to being photographed

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.

See also

2025 ballot measures

View other measures certified for the 2025 ballot across the U.S. and in Texas.

• 2025 ballot measures
• Texas 2025 ballot measures
• Texas elections, 2025

Texas ballot measures

Explore Texas's ballot measure history, including constitutional amendments.

• List of Texas ballot measures
• Texas Historical Ballot Measures Factbook
• Homestead tax exemptions ballot measures
• Texas State Legislature

Legislative process

Understand how measures are placed on the ballot and the rules that apply.

• Legislatively referred constitutional amendment
• Texas Constitution
• Amending state constitutions

External links

• Text of HJR 133

Footnotes

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