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Texas Proposition 7 (2025): H.J.R. 133

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

texasconstitutional-amendment

What does this mean?

Official ballot language

The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of all or part of the market value of the residence homestead of the surviving spouse of a veteran who died as a result of a condition or disease that is presumed under federal law to have been service-connected.

Plain summary

H.J.R. 133, 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, proposes to amend Section 1-b, Article VIII, Texas Constitution, to authorize the legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation all or part of the market value of the residence homestead of the surviving spouse of a veteran of the U.S. armed services who died as a result of a condition or disease that is presumed under federal law to have been service- connected through exposure during military service to toxins like Agent Orange, toxic burn pits, or radiation. Additionally, the proposed amendment authorizes the legislature to provide that the surviving spouse of such a veteran who receives the exemption and subsequently qualifies a different property as the surviving spouse's residence homestead is entitled to an exemption for the new residence homestead in an amount equal to the dollar amount of the exemption the surviving spouse received in the last year the surviving spouse received that exemption on the first homestead. If the surviving spouse remarries, the spouse is no longer eligible for the exemption. The 89th Legislature also enacted H.B. 2508, 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, to implement the proposed exemption if the voters approve the constitutional amendment. H.B. 2508 provides that the exemption applies to the total appraised value of the surviving spouse's residence homestead and may be transferred to a subsequent homestead in the same dollar amount.

Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 47, quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “For” vote

Adds this amendment to the Texas Constitution: the constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of all or part of the market value of the residence homestead of the surviving spouse of a veteran who died as a result of a condition or disease that is presumed under federal law to have been service-connected.

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 authorizing the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of all or part of the market value of the residence homestead of the surviving spouse of a veteran who died as a result of a condition or disease that is presumed under federal law to have been service-connected.

Source: Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 47

AI explanation – may be wrong, check the official text

What This Measure Would Do

This measure would change the Texas Constitution. If it passes, the state legislature can create a rule that allows some or all of the property taxes on the home of a surviving spouse of a veteran to be waived. The veteran must have died from an illness related to their military service.

The exemption would only apply if the veteran's death was caused by something like Agent Orange, toxic burn pits, or radiation exposure during their time in the military. This is based on what federal law says about these conditions being connected to military service.

If the surviving spouse gets this tax break and then moves to a new home, they might be able to take some of that tax exemption with them. However, if they get married again, they would no longer qualify for this exemption.

What a 'For' Vote Means

A "For" vote means you want to add this change to the Texas Constitution. If most voters choose "For", the state legislature will be able to create rules about exempting some or all of the property taxes on the home of a surviving spouse of a veteran from certain conditions.

What a 'Against' Vote Means

A "Against" vote means you don't want this change added to the Texas Constitution. If most voters choose "Against", nothing will be changed in the current laws about property taxes and veterans' benefits.

Words That May Be Confusing, Explained

* Ad valorem taxation: This is a type of tax on property based on its value.

* Residence homestead: This refers to the home where someone lives. In Texas, this can be exempt from certain types of taxes if it meets certain requirements.

* Service-connected: This means that an illness or condition was caused by something related to military service.

* Agent Orange, toxic burn pits, and radiation exposure: These are specific things that some veterans were exposed to during their time in the military.

Written by a computer model (llama3.1:8b, run on our own server) on Tue Nov 3 from the official text and nonpartisan summary only. It is not a source and takes no side. If it differs from the official text, the official text is right.

The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

State law providing a property tax exemption for the surviving spouses of veterans with a 100 percent service-connected disability does not take into account the PACT Act, a 2022 federal law that expanded eligibility for VA health care and benefits for veterans exposed to Agent Orange, burn pits, radiation, and other toxic substances and created new presumptions for certain service-connected conditions. As a result, the surviving spouses of veterans who did not have a 100 percent disability rating at the time of their death from service-connected causes have been excluded from receiving the property tax exemption. The proposed amendment would correct this discrepancy.

Source: Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 47

The proposed amendment ensures that all surviving spouses of veterans who have died due to service-related conditions are treated equally, without arbitrary exclusions based on the date the PACT Act passed.

Source: Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 47

By eliminating property taxes for qualifying surviving spouses, Texas demonstrates its commitment to honoring the service and sacrifice of both veterans and their families.

Source: Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 47

The proposed amendment would apply only to a narrow population of qualifying surviving spouses and is not expected to have a significant fiscal impact to the state or local governments.

Source: Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 47

Arguments against (opponents)

The expansion of property tax exemptions to the spouses of deceased veterans could burden other taxpayers with disproportionately higher tax rates, especially near military bases and surrounding areas where there are larger populations of veteran families who would qualify for such an exemption.

Source: Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 47

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

For2,542,959
Against405,386
Percent for86.25%

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: Turner, Button, Cook, Cortez, Garcia, Linda · Coauthors: Plesa · Sponsors in the other chamber: Hughes

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 (9)
Ad valorem
Latin for "according to value." An ad valorem tax is a percentage of what something is worth. Texas property taxes are ad valorem taxes: they are based on the appraised value of a home, land or business property. Florida property taxes are ad valorem taxes too.
Appraisal
An estimate of what property is worth. In Texas, county appraisal districts set the value that property taxes are based on.
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.
Exemption
A rule that removes certain people, property or activities from a tax or requirement.
Homestead exemption
A homestead is the home you own and live in as your main residence. A homestead exemption removes part of its value from property tax, so tax is charged on a smaller amount. Texas school districts must offer one; other local governments may offer more. In Florida, the Constitution currently sets a homestead exemption of up to $50,000 (the second $25,000 does not apply to school taxes).
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-07 · catalog st-tx-sos-ballot-measures-2025 · updated 2026-11-02 by builder v002