Senator Eliot Shapleigh - El Paso, Texas

Voters will be asked to consider changes to the Texas Constitution on the Nov. 3 ballot. Below is the ballot language for each of the 11 proposed constitutional amendments and a brief explanation of the effect of each.

Proposition 1

What it says: The constitutional amendment authorizing the financing, including through tax increment financing, of the acquisition by municipalities and counties of buffer areas or open spaces adjacent to a military installation for the prevention of encroachment or for the construction of roadways, utilities, or other infrastructure to protect or promote the mission of the military installation.

What it means: Would give cities and counties the authority to issue bonds to buy land around military bases as a buffer against encroaching development that could harm a base’s mission.

Proposition 2

What it says: The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for the ad valorem taxation of a residence homestead solely on the basis of the property’s value as a residence homestead.

What it means: Requires a residential homestead to be appraised on its market value as a home rather than for its “highest and best” use. A home in a commercial area currently can be appraised at a commercial property rate, and this amendment would limit that.

Proposition 3

What it says: The constitutional amendment providing for uniform standards and procedures for the appraisal of property for ad valorem tax purposes.

What it means: Requires state oversight for uniform property appraisal practices across Texas. No enabling legislation was passed to describe how this would work.

Proposition 4

What it says: The constitutional amendment establishing the national research university fund to enable emerging research universities in this state to achieve national prominence as major research universities and transferring the balance of the higher education fund to the national research university fund.

What it means: Establishes the National Research University Fund with the goal of turning seven Texas universities — including the University of Houston and the University of Texas at San Antonio — into top Tier 1 research institutions. If passed, $500 million would be transferred into the fund, with distributions to be made by the Legislature.

Proposition 5

What it says: The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to authorize a single board of equalization for two or more adjoining appraisal entities that elect to provide for consolidated equalizations.

What it means: Allows two or more adjoining property appraisal districts to form a consolidated district for greater efficiency in sparsely populated areas.

Proposition 6

What it says: The constitutional amendment authorizing the Veterans’ Land Board to issue general obligation bonds in amounts equal to or less than amounts previously authorized.

What it means: Would give evergreen status to bonds issued by the Veterans Land Board for land and house loans for veterans. Voters previously had approved $4 billion in bonds, some as far back as 60 years ago. This would allow new bonds to be issued without voter approval as the old bonds retire, making the program more perpetual.

Proposition 7

What it says: The constitutional amendment to allow an officer or enlisted member of the Texas State Guard or other state militia or military force to hold other civil offices.

What it means: Would allow volunteers in the Texas State Guard to hold a state civil office by adding an exemption to the prohibition against holding dual offices.

Proposition 8

What it says: The constitutional amendment authorizing the state to contribute money, property, and other resources for the establishment, maintenance, and operation of veterans hospitals in this state.

What it means: Would authorize the state to contribute money, property and other resources to maintain veterans hospitals in Texas. Companion legislation would allow the state to work with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to promote construction of a hospital in the Lower Rio Grande Valley.

Proposition 9

What it says: The constitutional amendment to protect the right of the public, individually and collectively, to access and use the public beaches bordering the seaward shore of the Gulf of Mexico.

What it means: A Texas law passed in 1959 guaranteeing public access to the beaches would be enshrined into the state Constitution by this amendment.

Proposition 10

What it says: The constitutional amendment to provide that elected members of the governing boards of emergency services districts may serve terms not to exceed four years.

What it means: Would increase the terms of emergency service board districts from two years to four under state law.

Proposition 11

What it says: The constitutional amendment to prohibit the taking, damaging, or destroying of private property for public use unless the action is for the ownership, use, and enjoyment of the property by the State, a political subdivision of the State, the public at large, or entities granted the power of eminent domain under law or for the elimination of urban blight on a particular parcel of property, but not for certain economic development or enhancement of tax revenue purposes, and to limit the legislature’s authority to grant the power of eminent domain to an entity.

What it means: Would place a 2005 law into the Constitution to limit government authority to take private property through eminent domain and would not allow the transfer of such property to a private entity for the primary purpose of economic development.