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Texas Proposition 1 (2025): S.J.R. 59

Texas constitutional amendment · voted on 2025-11-04 · Result: Passed

texasconstitutional-amendment

What does this mean?

Official ballot language

The constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the permanent technical institution infrastructure fund and the available workforce education fund to support the capital needs of educational programs offered by the Texas State Technical College System.

Plain summary

S.J.R. 59, 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, proposes an amendment to the Texas Constitution creating the permanent technical institution infrastructure fund and the available workforce education fund to provide a dedicated source of funding for capital projects and equipment purchases related to educational programs offered by the Texas State Technical College System, the statewide system of campuses that provide advanced technical vocational education. Income from the permanent technical institution infrastructure fund would be available each year, within specified limits, for transfer to the available workforce education fund and appropriation to the TSTC campuses.

Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 9, quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “For” vote

Adds this amendment to the Texas Constitution: the constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the permanent technical institution infrastructure fund and the available workforce education fund to support the capital needs of educational programs offered by the Texas State Technical College System.

A “Against” vote

The Texas Constitution is not changed by this proposition; current provisions stay as they are.

Ballot language as certified (Texas Legislative Council analysis). A constitutional amendment takes effect only if a majority of voters approve it.

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

The constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the permanent technical institution infrastructure fund and the available workforce education fund to support the capital needs of educational programs offered by the Texas State Technical College System.

Source: Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 9

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

The proposed amendment would invest in the state's need for a skilled workforce by providing dedicated endowment funding for the expansion of Texas State Technical College (TSTC) programs and facilities. TSTC provides technical training for high demand industries across Texas and ensures that students graduate with skills that are aligned to industry needs. The endowment would be a major step in TSTC's ability to secure capital funds needed to expand capacity, which would improve access to technical education, build a stronger workforce pipeline, and increase economic development opportunities for the state.

Source: Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 9

Under the current funding model, TSTC receives only limited funding from the Higher Education Fund and has no ability to collect property taxes, which limits its ability to expand its programs. This makes it difficult for TSTC to meet the demand for skilled workers in Texas. With a greater investment, more students would be able to access advanced education and training for high-quality jobs.

Source: Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 9

The legislature has added five new campuses to TSTC since 2012 in areas of the state facing increased demand for an industrial workforce, but TSTC has not been able to develop and grow these campuses to adequately address these local workforce demands. Providing this additional source of funding would better allow TSTC to fulfill these needs and fully develop these campuses.

Source: Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 9

Arguments against (opponents)

The proposed amendment would increase government spending where it might not be needed.

Source: Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 9

Amending the constitution to create a perpetual source of funding outside the regular appropriation process will remove the discretion of future legislatures to determine proper funding levels.

Source: Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 9

Summary of comments made in committee, floor debate, or the House Research Organization analysis, as published by the Texas Legislative Council. Shown in the order published, not ranked by us.

Alternatives

Needs sources: no published alternatives yet (for example a different bill, a law instead of an amendment, or keeping current law). We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Result

For2,041,859
Against916,217
Percent for69.03%

Source: Texas Secretary of State results as reported by Texas Policy Research (confirm at the SOS results site) · official canvass: Texas SOS results

Officials and money

Authors: Birdwell · Coauthors: Hinojosa, Adam, Hinojosa, Juan "Chuy" · Sponsors in the other chamber: Lambert, Wilson, Curry, Harris Davila, Spiller

Texas legislators are not yet linked to official pages. Bill history and votes on Texas Legislature Online.

Money: Legislative Budget Board fiscal note No linked contracts or vendors yet.

Words on this page, explained (7)
Appropriation
Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
Constitutional amendment
A change to a constitution. In Texas the Legislature proposes an amendment with a joint resolution passed by two-thirds of the members of each chamber. It takes effect only if a majority of the people voting on it approve it. In Florida, an amendment needs at least 60% of the votes cast on it to pass.
Endowment
A fund that is invested so its earnings pay for a purpose over time, while the main amount is kept.
Joint resolution
In Texas, the type of measure the Legislature uses to propose a constitutional amendment (marked HJR or SJR). The governor does not sign or veto it; the voters decide. In Congress a joint resolution can also be used like a bill. In Florida, a joint resolution passed by three-fifths of the members of each chamber puts a constitutional amendment on the ballot.
Legislature
The elected body that makes laws. In Texas it has a House of Representatives (150 members) and a Senate (31 members). In Florida it has a House of Representatives (120 members) and a Senate (40 members).
Property tax
A tax on land, buildings and some business property, based on its value. In Texas it is set and collected by local governments (cities, counties, school districts and special districts), not by the state.
Proposition
The name for a measure on a Texas ballot, numbered Proposition 1, 2, and so on. A "For" vote supports the measure; an "Against" vote opposes it.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record st-tx-2025-prop-01 · catalog st-tx-sos-ballot-measures-2025 · updated 2026-11-02 by builder v002