Discussion of Proposed Amendments to the Texas Constitution 2023
Guests: Dave & Donna Washam and Joanna Friebele
Proposition 1: Right to Farming, Ranching, Timber Production, Horticulture, and Wildlife Management Amendment
*Pat Schipper: state removes local control
*Dave Washam (Republican Party Chair): it would protect farm/ranch operations from losing their state protections and handing it over to local government.
*Bexar County Democrats recommended Against
Proposition 2: Property Tax Exemption for Child-Care Facilities Amendment
*Dave Washam:
-Conditions to qualify for the program is that 20% of the enrolled children must be receiving benefits from the Texas Employment Commission.
-Would not be a level playing field from one daycare to another because of the minimum
requirements to qualify for the funding.
-why does it need to be an amendment if it has an expiration date?
*Moumin Quazi (Democratic Party Chair):
-this could help under-represented and minority owners? I’m generally for this.
*Bexar County Democrats recommended For
Proposition 3: Prohibit Taxes on Wealth or Net Worth Amendment
*Dave Washam:
-question is ‘who will benefit from this?’
-distribution of financial liability
-making it an amendment would prohibit any future action so that a future piece of legislation could not be
passed without voters having a chance to vote on it.
*Moumin Quazi (Democratic Party Chair):
-this could help under-represented and minority owners?
*Bexar County Democrats recommended Against
Proposition 4: Property Tax Changes and State Education Funding Amendment
*Pat Schipper:
-exemption expires in 2 years; schools would be reimbursed for lost revenue by the state for those 2 years
-appraised value increases limited as well; expires in 2026
-after 2025, what is my homestead exemption? What happens to our schools in the meantime?
-Jennifer Carey says this bill is just all over the place and it’s hard to understand
*Dave Washam:
-this puts the state in a situation where we wouldn’t have a balanced budget; the Texas constitution mandates a balanced budget.
*Bexar County Democrats recommended Against
Proposition 5: Rename State University Research Fund and Establish Ongoing Revenue Source Amendment
*Dave Washam:
-4 university systems qualify currently; Texas State, North Texas, Texas Tech, University of Houston
-others could qualify in the future; for example 50 doctoral candidates graduating per year
-another concern is that they’re taking 3.5billion but they are only authorized to spend 100 million per year
*Jeri Martin:
-a new governmental entity would be created to administer the fund; non-elected
*Moumin Quazi:
-he is for this amendment because he believes that stronger university systems is good for our state
*Bexar County Democrats recommended For
Proposition 6: Creation of the Water Fund Amendment
Pat Schipper:
-administered by the existing Water management board – 3 members appointed by government
-fund is being set up outside of the TX general fund
-2055 700million acre/feet of water
-funds for repairs for aging water 186 billion gallons of water is lost by leaking/breaking water systems in TX
-one source they are looking out is desalination; really being supported by oil/gas companies
-funding – supposed to finance itself with proceeds from investments; cash isn’t going to be handed out; it
will be in the form of loans
Dave Washam:
-money appropriated will be outside of the budget appropriations
*Bexar County Democrats recommended For
Proposition 7: Creation of State Energy Fund Amendment
Joanna Friebele:
-proposed to make grid more resiliant and prop up renewables
-mandated since 1999 that renewables have to be used first, so gas peaker plants are not maintained adequately
-currently unlevel playing field bc renewables are highly subsidized; state has come up with this fund to incentivize people to invest in gas peaker plants
-in this past week ERCOT has made a deal with gas peaker plants; $9000 per megawat that
could make this amendment useless
-loans and grants
-no annual review process
-doesn’t specify that it’s for gas plants
-battery plants are unreliable and very expensive; $2.5 million per megawat
Dave Washam:
-government is becoming more and more involved in private business
-less incentive to improve processes to become competitive; free market is missing
-no mention of carbon capture requirements
Pat Schipper:
-winterizing is not mentioned
*Bexar County Democrats recommended Against
Proposition 8: Creation of Broadband Infrastructure Fund Amendment
Pat Schipper:
-rural communities could benefit bc medical facilities would be better connected
Dave Washam:
-broadband would not help emergency service anywhere bc they use radio and line-of-sight types of communications
-his opinion is that the money could actually not really exist in that ‘covid fund’
Joanna Friebele:
-why can’t the free market take care of this expansion?
*Bexar County Democrats recommended For
Proposition 9: Cost-of-Living Adjustments for Teacher Retirement System
Dave Washam:
-mostly a neutral topic
-major concerns; better controls over management of the fund
*Moumin Quazi (recommends FOR):
-long overdue
-would give cost of living raise to retired staff, teachers, and administrators, as well
*Bexar County Democrats recommended For
Proposition 10: Tax Exemption on Medical Equipment and Inventory Amendment
Dave Washam:
-$207 million in lost revenue
-TX Legislature can raise taxes to compensate for the lost revenue
*Bexar County Democrats recommended Against
Proposition 11: Authorize Bond Issues in Conservation and Reclamation Districts in El Paso County Amendment
Dave Washam:
-this is good
Pat Schipper:
-this is a good program
*Bexar County Democrats recommended For
Proposition 12: Abolish Galveston County Treasurer Amendment
Moumin Quazi:
-not our business; let Galveston choose (if voters approve, Galveston has a choice)
Dave Washam:
-not our business, although they would not recommend it
Proposition 13: Increase Mandatory Retirement Age for State Judges Amendment
Moumin Quazi:
-maximum retirement from 75 to 79
-minimum retirement age is raised to 75
Dave Washam:
-mostly neutral
-concerns about capability playing a role in decisions to retire
Proposition 14: Creation of the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund Amendment
Moumin Quazi:
-a trust fund outside of the state treasury
-no real objections
Dave Washam:
-no objections
*Bexar County Democrats recommended For
Thanks to the Erath County Democrats for sharing this voting guide with us.