On November 5, 2025, Texas voters made their voices heard in a big way, approving all 17 constitutional amendments that appeared on the statewide ballot—a rare clean sweep that touched almost every corner of public policy, from property taxes and water management to parental rights and voting eligibility. According to reporting by Axios and FOX Local, these amendments passed with wide margins, reflecting a broad consensus among voters despite relatively low turnout typical of off-year elections.
Perhaps the headline grabber among the amendments was Proposition 13, which delivers what’s being called the biggest tax break for Texas homeowners in recent memory. This measure increases the school district homestead exemption from $100,000 to $140,000, a significant jump after the exemption had already been raised from $40,000 to $100,000 just two years prior. The impact? Lower property tax bills for millions of Texans, though the state will have to compensate public schools for the estimated $1.3 billion in lost revenue in 2026. As Axios notes, this is just one of five propositions aimed at codifying or expanding property tax relief, suggesting that tax reform remains front and center for many in the Lone Star State.
Other property tax measures also made the cut. Proposition 9, for instance, raises the exemption on business equipment from a mere $2,500 to a whopping $125,000, easing the burden for small businesses across Texas. Proposition 5 exempts animal feed held as business inventory from property taxes, while Proposition 10 offers a temporary break for homeowners whose properties are destroyed by fire. And in a nod to those who have served, Proposition 7 extends property tax exemptions to the spouses of military veterans whose deaths are connected to their service.
Of course, not all the amendments bring immediate, tangible change. Some simply set guardrails for the future. Proposition 2 prohibits the state from imposing a tax on capital gains, and Proposition 6 outlaws any tax on securities transactions or stock trading. Proposition 8 goes a step further, banning taxes on property or estate transfers after death—an assurance for families worried about inheritance taxes down the road. As Axios points out, these measures don’t alter the current tax code but make it much harder for future legislatures to introduce such taxes.
Water security, a perennial concern in drought-prone Texas, received a massive boost with Proposition 4. This amendment allows the state to allocate $20 billion—effectively $1 billion per year over two decades—to develop new water sources, upgrade aging infrastructure, and repair old pipes. With climate change and population growth putting increasing pressure on Texas’s water systems, this long-term funding commitment is seen by many as both prudent and overdue. FOX Local highlighted that this measure is expected to shore up water reliability for generations to come.
Health and research also found their place in the amendments. Proposition 14 pulls $3 billion from the state’s general revenue to create the Dementia Prevention and Research Fund. This fund will support studies on dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and related disorders. The measure also establishes a state-funded research institute, aiming not just to treat but to prevent these devastating conditions. For families grappling with dementia, this new fund offers a glimmer of hope—and for scientists, a new wellspring of resources.
Meanwhile, Proposition 1 creates an endowment for the Texas State Technical College System, ensuring ongoing investment in technical education—a move that supporters say will help keep Texas’s workforce competitive in a fast-changing economy.
The judiciary wasn’t left out, either. Proposition 3 institutes stricter bail requirements, mandating that judges deny bail in certain felony cases. This is part of a broader push for bail reform, an issue that has sparked debate across the state. Proposition 12 changes the makeup of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, which oversees judicial discipline. Under the new rules, the Texas Supreme Court will appoint six judges or justices to the commission, while the governor’s appointees increase from five to seven citizens. Critics and supporters alike have noted that this gives Governor Greg Abbott more influence over the judiciary—a shift that could have lasting implications for how Texas courts are managed.
Parental rights took center stage with Proposition 15, which enshrines in the Texas Constitution that parents have “the right to make decisions concerning the child’s upbringing.” According to FOX Local, this amendment makes it clear that, at least in Texas, parents are the primary decision makers for their children. Supporters argue this codification protects families from government overreach, while critics worry it could complicate efforts to intervene in cases of abuse or neglect. Still, the measure passed handily, signaling strong support for parental autonomy among Texas voters.
Voting eligibility also got a constitutional update. Proposition 16 adds language specifying that only U.S. citizens may vote in Texas elections, joining existing prohibitions against voting by certain felons and those declared mentally incompetent. As FOX Local reports, noncitizens are already barred from voting in federal elections, but this amendment cements the rule for state and local contests as well. The move comes amid national debates over election integrity and voter eligibility, though critics note that noncitizen voting was already illegal in practice.
Finally, Proposition 17 offers relief to homeowners in counties along the Mexican border, exempting them from increased property taxes due to new border security infrastructure built on their land. This measure addresses concerns that border security projects—often controversial in their own right—should not result in higher tax bills for local residents.
Some of the amendments, like those prohibiting certain taxes or clarifying voting rights, may not have immediate, visible effects. Others, such as the new research fund for dementia or the water infrastructure investment, will likely take years to bear fruit. But together, these 17 amendments reflect a sweeping effort to lock in Texans’ priorities for the foreseeable future—on taxes, rights, infrastructure, and more.
With all 17 propositions approved, Texas has charted a clear course for its fiscal, social, and civic policies, leaving little doubt about the issues that matter most to its voters in 2025.
