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Texas Proposition 11 (2025): S.J.R. 85
Texas constitutional amendment · voted on 2025-11-04 · Result: Passed
texasconstitutional-amendment
Official ballot language
The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to increase the amount of the exemption from ad valorem taxation by a school district of the market value of the residence homestead of a person who is elderly or disabled.
Plain summary
The constitutional amendment proposed by S.J.R. 85 amends the Texas Constitution to authorize the legislature to increase the amount of the exemption from ad valorem taxation by a school district of the market value of the residence homestead of a person who is elderly or disabled from an amount not to exceed $10,000 to an amount not to exceed $60,000.
Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 65, 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 increase the amount of the exemption from ad valorem taxation by a school district of the market value of the residence homestead of a person who is elderly or disabled.
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 increase the amount of the exemption from ad valorem taxation by a school district of the market value of the residence homestead of a person who is elderly or disabled.
Source: Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 65
AI explanation – may be wrong, check the official text
What This Measure Would Do
This measure would change the Texas Constitution. It would allow the state legislature to increase the amount of money that some people don't have to pay in taxes on their homes. These people must be elderly or disabled, and their home is considered a "homestead." The current limit for this tax exemption is $10,000, but this measure would let the legislature raise it up to $60,000.
What a 'For' Vote Means
If you vote "For" this measure, it will become part of the Texas Constitution. This means that the state legislature can increase the amount of money that elderly or disabled people don't have to pay in taxes on their homes, as long as they follow certain rules.
What a 'Against' Vote Means
If you vote "Against" this measure, nothing will change. The current rules about tax exemptions for elderly and disabled people will stay the same. The Texas Constitution won't be changed by this proposition.
Words That May Be Confusing, Explained
* Ad valorem taxation: This is a type of tax that is based on the value of something (in this case, a home).
* Market value of the residence homestead: This refers to the current worth of someone's home.
* Elderly or disabled person: This means someone who is 65 years old or older, or someone with a disability.
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)
Increasing the residence homestead property tax exemption for individuals who are elderly and disabled would increase housing affordability and provide protection for a vulnerable population. Many individuals who qualify for this exemption live on a fixed income and face rising medical insurance costs. Individuals who are elderly and disabled also often have to make expensive modifications to their homes, such as adding ramps or accessibility features to accommodate walkers, wheelchairs, and other medical devices. The increase would help them to stay in their homes and their neighborhoods. Keeping seniors in the homes they have lived in for decades is especially valuable, as it contributes to continuity and stability in the community.
Source: Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 65
The proposed amendment would provide visible and understandable tax relief to a large segment of the state's population. Homestead exemptions are a particularly beneficial form of tax relief because the affected taxpayers can clearly see the reduction in their tax bill, which encourages support for the tax system overall.
Source: Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 65
School districts would not experience a reduction in funding because the state would make up for losses caused by the tax reductions attributable to the increased homestead exemption.
Source: Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 65
Arguments against (opponents)
This additional tax cut is unnecessary because the legislature has already cut property taxes repeatedly in recent years. Spending more state money on tax cuts would reduce state funds available for public services such as school funding, health care, and infrastructure needs.
Source: Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 65
The state should not rely too heavily on the temporary surplus in state revenue, which may not be available in the future if there is an economic downturn.
Source: Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 65
If the legislature wants to provide more tax relief, it should do so in a way that benefits people other than just homeowners. An increase in a residence homestead exemption does not benefit renters, who constitute a significant portion of the state's population. Also, tying the increased exemption to individuals over 65 is not necessarily a good proxy for helping low-income individuals, since not all seniors live on low or fixed incomes.
Source: Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 65
Mechanisms already exist for an individual over 65 to remain in their home in the event that the individual is unable to pay property taxes, including deferring those taxes to the individual's estate until the death of the individual or obtaining a reverse mortgage.
Source: Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 65
The increased exemption will create a recurring financial obligation for the state. If the state does not have sufficient revenue in future years, other budgetary needs may be negatively impacted.
Source: Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 65
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
| For | 2,294,314 |
|---|---|
| Against | 659,066 |
| Percent for | 77.68% |
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: Bettencourt · Coauthors: Alvarado, Birdwell, Blanco, Campbell, Cook, Creighton, Flores, Gutierrez, Hagenbuch, Hall, Hancock, Hinojosa, Adam, Hinojosa, Juan "Chuy", Huffman, Hughes, King, Kolkhorst, Menéndez, Middleton, Miles, Nichols, Parker, Paxton, Perry, Schwertner, Sparks, West, Zaffirini · Sponsors in the other chamber: Meyer, Martinez Fischer, Bonnen, Hunter, Bernal
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.
- Bill
- A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
- 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
- Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 65
- Texas Legislature Online: S.J.R. 85
- Data: Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 65 <https://www.tlc.texas.gov/docs/amendments/analyses25.pdf>; Texas Legislature Online bill history <https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=SJR85>; fetched 2026-11-03T04:00:01Z
- Ballotpedia (link only)
Record st-tx-2025-prop-11 · catalog st-tx-sos-ballot-measures-2025 · updated 2026-11-02 by builder v002