Deep Dive on the 17 TX Constitutional Amendments
We showed up for No Kings together. Now, it’s time to VOTE together.
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The (Texas) Polls Are OPEN!
You can early vote fast & easy until Halloween👻, including on Sat & Sun (October 25 & October 26) this coming weekend. Put your voting plan on your calendar if you haven’t yet. We’re meeting up with friends over the weekend to get some joy/resistance AND vote together.
The more the merrier!
As you study the 17 proposed constitutional amendments (or propositions), you’ll find that our GPL voting endorsements have more No votes recommended than some. This is because at Get Pod Local, we want to vote for legislation that will benefit the majority of Texans. We don’t see tax breaks as beneficial - in this time of crumbling society. At least not by themselves. We are only endorsing the few amendments in which we’re certain the benefit to the people of Texas outweighs the potential GOP grift.
Reminder: These amendments are all proposed by the racist, Christian Nationalist GOP. If intentions were good, why embed these ideas into the constitution versus working transparently through legislation? They had THREE legislative sessions this year.
That said, if you study the ballot, you will also see there are SIX horrible bills that EVERYONE is recommending we vote NO on. We want to focus on that.
Vote NO on propositions 2, 3, 6, 8, 12, and 15
They would harm Texans. So make sure you, and everyone you know, vote against 2, 3, 6, 8, 12, and 15. We will only block these scary measures by voting together.
Read / Watch / Listen on for detail on each of the proposed amendments and our reasoning at GPL — for how we are voting and why. We’ve included links to lots of partners we trust at the bottom, so you are armed with plenty input and can make your own choices.
The 17 Texas Constitutional Props
Proposition 1: Texas State Technical College Funding
Description: Creates a fund dedicated to invest in the Texas State Technical College system’s facilities, infrastructure, and capital needs.
GPL: YES. We believe in expanding opportunities for training, workforce development, and technical skills. Unfortunately, constitutionalizing this removes accountability and future legislative flexibility, so we’d prefer it not be brought forth at all. But the upside is real: training programs statewide should lead to more Texans being paid a livable wage.
Proposition 2: Ban Capital Gains Taxes
Description: Permanently prohibits the state from imposing a tax on capital gains.
GPL: NO. This mostly benefits the wealthy and constrains the legislature’s ability to raise progressive revenue later. We oppose locking in tax policy that removes future options for revenue. Also, Texas doesn’t currently have a capital gains tax — so this is an unnecessary preemption. Editorials agree. San Antonio Express-News
Proposition 3: Mandatory Bail Denial for Certain Crimes
Description: Requires denial of bail for defendants of “certain crimes”, removing judicial discretion.
GPL: HELL NO. This conflicts with due process, presumption of innocence, and hands too much power to prosecutors. Removing judicial discretion is dangerous, especially for the broad definition of “certain crimes.” Bail should never be an absolute set in the constitution — the law should always allow for case-by-case evaluation to ensure due process. DANGER - VOTE NO. *
Proposition 4: Water Infrastructure Fund (Temporary Amendment)
Description: Dedicates a portion of state sales & use tax revenue to a temporary Texas Water Fund for infrastructure.
GPL: NO. We need water investment - yes, we absolutely do. But embedding a fund in the TX Constitution (especially a temporary one) suggests they seek to bypass public input and/or environmental review. If they cared, they could have passed a law in one of the 3 legislative sessions they ran this year. The Sierra Club agrees with us.
Proposition 5: No Tax on Retail Animal Feed
Description: Exempts animal feed held for retail sale from ad valorem tax.
GPL: NO. On the surface, it sounds fair (help farmers, small ag). But the amendment is vague, and large agribusinesses will disproportionately benefit. We see it as a corporate tax dodge disguised as relief for small farmers, because tax is only levied on RETAIL feed being stored more than a year, a practice that only large corporations do...
Proposition 6: Permanently Ban Taxes on Stock Trades / Securities Transactions
Description: Permanently prohibits legislating taxes on securities or transaction-based taxes.
GPL: NO. This removes a potential tool for revenue in future economic crises, and would mostly benefit wealthy traders and financial institutions. A preemptive ban on policy flexibility is dangerous. No more welfare for the wealthy.
Proposition 7: Homestead Exemption for Veterans’ Spouses
Description: Authorizes tax exemptions for surviving spouses of veterans who died from service-related conditions.
GPL: YES. Supporting veterans and their families is just. This seems low risk and morally correct. The state should care for those who sacrifice for us all.
Proposition 8: Estate & Gift Tax Ban
Description: Permanently prohibits the imposition of estate, inheritance, or gift taxes.
GPL: NO. Texas currently doesn’t impose these taxes, so this is a preemptive, symbolic lock-in favoring wealthy families. It removes future flexibility and tilts policy permanently toward wealth preservation, which continues to shift more burden onto working class Texans.
Proposition 9: Exempt Business Equipment from Tax
Description: Exempts up to $125,000 of personal property used to generate income (machinery, equipment) from ad valorem taxes.
GPL: NO. While pitched as small business relief, in actuality larger, wealthier businesses will exploit it more. We continue to lose tax base for schools and communities, all while businesses benefit from an educated populace. And again, this will shift more burden onto working class Texans. The fund have to come from somewhere….
Proposition 10: Property Tax Relief for Fire Victims
Description: Provides temporary exemption from taxes on improvements to homesteads destroyed by fire.
GPL: YES. This is compassionate, direct aid we support. If your home burns, your community wants to help.
Proposition 11: Property Tax Reduction for Senior / Disabled Homeowners
Description: Temporarily increases the school property tax exemption for senior or disabled Texans from $10,000 to $60,000.
GPL: NO. The idea is noble. But making it temporary in a constitutional amendment is suspicious. Why not do it via legislation and make it permanent? Also, it doesn’t help renters and working class families facing a real housing crisis today.
Proposition 12: Judicial Oversight & Politicization
Description: Gives the governor more power over appointments to State Commission on Judicial Conduct, changing how judicial discipline is handled.
GPL: HELL NO. This threatens judicial independence. Rewarding the governor with more oversight over judges is a power grab. It’s dangerous for checks and balances. DANGER - VOTE NO. *
Proposition 13: School Tax Relief for Homeowners
Description: Temporarily increases the homestead exemption for school taxes from $100,000 to $140,000.
GPL: NO. Sounds great for homeowners, but it’s temporary and does nothing for renters or housing affordability. Embedding temporary tax relief into the Constitution is overkill for what should be a legislative matter. But worst of all, yet again, this would shift more burden onto working class Texans.
Proposition 14: Dementia Research Institute
Description: Establishes a state constitutional amendment to create Dementia Prevention & Research funding.
GPL: NO. I personally care deeply, due to my family history, about dementia research funding. But putting a large new fund in the TX Constitution — especially while funding for existing research is being cut by the Maga GOP — is suspect af.
Proposition 15: “Parental Rights” Amendment
Description: Claimed as “parental rights”, it would empower control over classrooms, library content, and children’s healthcare choices — and is clearly tied to the Christian Nationalist GOP’s agenda.
GPL: HELL NO. This is coded control. It puts dangerous power in the Constitution around schooling, censorship, and medical autonomy—especially over marginalized communities and LGBTQ+ youth. DANGER - VOTE NO. *
Proposition 16: Citizenship for Voting
Description: Explicitly bans non-citizens from voting (again).
GPL: NO. The purpose of this proposition is fear-mongering. The law already clearly prohibits non-citizens from voting, and always has. This amendment adds nothing but hostility.
Proposition 17: Permanent Tax Breaks for Border Wall Infrastructure
Description: Permanently exempts border wall and related infrastructure on private land from property taxes.
GPL: NO. This is a subsidy to landowners who cooperate with Abbott’s theatrics. It empowers privatized border infrastructure and drains the tax base. Yet more burden shifted onto working Texans. Also, notice which tax breaks they make permanent and which are temporary…
Again, this is our thinking. If you trust us, please join on the “YES” vote on 1, 7 & 10, and please, please, please vote to block the worst Props with a “NO” on 2, 3, 6, 8, 12, and 15. Some are truly dangerous to the people of Texas.
Here are more guides to refer to while planning your vote:
Official language from SoS - https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/forms/november-2025-ballot-language-17.pdf
Hero Rep Nicole Collier’s endorsements - https://www.house.texas.gov/pdfs/newsletters/95/2025-Constitutional-Amendments-for-November-2025-Ballot-08.18.2025.pdf
TX Progressive Caucus endorsements - https://www.texasprogressivecaucus.org/2025_constitutional_amendments
Check our special edition election podcast with our thoughts on all 17 of the propositions. Listen to the full podcast here, and watch the matching Youtube video (for those of us who are visual learners!) here.
Thanks for early voting, y’all! Peace and high fives,
Joey
Texas Election Dates
First day / BEST day to vote: Monday, October 20th
Early Voting / EASY voting: Monday, October 20 to Friday, October 31
Weekend voting / Vote with friends: Sat, October 25 and Sun, October 26
Last chance to Early Vote: Friday, October 31 - Halloween!
ELECTION DAY / LAST CHANCE to VOTE: Tuesday, November 4th
Shareable, multi-language, nonpartisan election info from League of Women Voters
In Dallas, TX, get info from our local election site DallasCountyVotes.org
It’s Not Just Texas Who’s Voting!
Other Elections Across the Country:
17 statewide propositions will appear on the November ballot. Here’s what Texas voters need to know.
Houston has a special election for their 18th district to finally fill Rep. Sylvester Turners seat.
We do not live in Houston but
Joey Cade and I recommend these two candidates:
Mayoral Races
This is a race to watch as the Incumbent Mayor Aftab Pureval is running against JD Vance’s half-brother, Cory Bowman.
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They are all horrible amendments. The water fund is decided by two former Abbott staffers turned lobbyists. Check out my posts. It’s not too late to tell people to vote against all.