Before you vote › Texas › Ballot measures
Texas Proposition 17 (2025): H.J.R. 34
Texas constitutional amendment · voted on 2025-11-04 · Result: Passed
texasconstitutional-amendment
Official ballot language
The constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of the amount of the market value of real property located in a county that borders the United Mexican States that arises from the installation or construction on the property of border security infrastructure and related improvements.
Plain summary
H.J.R. 34, 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, proposes to amend Article VIII, Texas Constitution, by adding Section 1-y to authorize the legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation the amount of the market value of real property located in a county that borders the United Mexican States that arises from the installation or construction on the property of border security infrastructure, such as a border wall, and related improvements. Section 1-y also authorizes the legislature to define "border security infrastructure" and provide additional eligibility requirements for the exemption. The 89th Legislature also enacted H.B. 247, Regular Session, 2025, to implement the proposed exemption if the voters approve the constitutional amendment. H.B. 247 limits the exemption to border security improvements made under an agreement with the state or federal government or on an easement granted for border security use to the state or federal government.
Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 103, quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.
What a vote does
A “For” vote
Adds this amendment to the Texas Constitution: the constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of the amount of the market value of real property located in a county that borders the United Mexican States that arises from the installation or construction on the property of border security infrastructure and related improvements.
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 to authorize the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of the amount of the market value of real property located in a county that borders the United Mexican States that arises from the installation or construction on the property of border security infrastructure and related improvements.
Source: Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 103
AI explanation – may be wrong, check the official text
What this measure would do
This measure proposes to change a part of the Texas Constitution. If it passes, the state legislature will be allowed to give an exemption from paying taxes on certain properties in counties that share a border with Mexico. This exemption is for the value added to those properties by installing or building things like a border wall and other security improvements.
What a 'For' vote means and what a 'Against' vote means
If you vote "For" this measure, it will be added to the Texas Constitution. This means that the state legislature can create an exemption from paying taxes on certain properties in counties near Mexico's border. If you vote "Against", nothing will change in the current laws about property taxes.
Words that may be confusing, explained
* Ad valorem taxation: This is a type of tax based on the value of something (like a piece of land).
* Market value: The amount of money something would sell for if it were sold.
* Border security infrastructure: This refers to things like a border wall and other improvements made to secure the border between Texas and Mexico.
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)
As a result of state and federal initiatives to stop illegal border crossings and other border crime, infrastructure such as walls, roads, and surveillance systems has been built to enhance security and enforcement. While these projects are critical to the state's security, they should not place an unexpected and unfair tax burden on Texans who own the land on which the infrastructure is built. The proposed amendment ensures that any increase in a property's appraised value due to the border security infrastructure will not result in higher property taxes.
Source: Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 103
The proposed amendment would incentivize property owners to volunteer their property for border security enhancements. Some landowners may hesitate to install border security measures on their property due to potential increases in taxable property value, but providing for an exemption for the assessed value of the property associated with the border security infrastructure would encourage private property owners to support border security efforts without facing increased tax burdens.
Source: Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 103
Individuals who volunteer to help establish and maintain border security infrastructure on their property should not be punished through higher taxes on their property but should be rewarded for contributing to the government's efforts to secure the southern border.
Source: Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 103
The tax exemption would be provided for the value of the infrastructure installed on the property and any increase in property value from the improvements. It would not reduce the appraised value of the existing property.
Source: Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 103
The proposed amendment would not require a property owner to install border security infrastructure and would only apply to property in counties along the Texas-Mexico border.
Source: Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 103
Arguments against (opponents)
The state should not provide tax exemptions that incentivize further border security infrastructure construction on private land, especially state-supported construction of walls or the installation of surveillance equipment.
Source: Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 103
The proposed amendment would narrow the tax base and could shift the tax burden onto other property owners by removing property value from the tax rolls.
Source: Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 103
The Texas Legislature should focus on providing broad-based tax relief rather than carving out certain limited exemptions.
Source: Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 103
Local governments might have to adopt higher tax rates to offset the potential losses from the exemption.
Source: Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 103
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 | 1,668,285 |
|---|---|
| Against | 1,237,102 |
| Percent for | 57.42% |
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: Guillen · Sponsors in the other chamber: Middleton
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.
- 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.
- Securities
- Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.
Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.
Sources
- Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 103
- Texas Legislature Online: H.J.R. 34
- Data: Texas Legislative Council, Analyses of Proposed Constitutional Amendments (Aug 2025), p. 103 <https://www.tlc.texas.gov/docs/amendments/analyses25.pdf>; Texas Legislature Online bill history <https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HJR34>; fetched 2026-11-03T04:00:01Z
- Ballotpedia (link only)
Record st-tx-2025-prop-17 · catalog st-tx-sos-ballot-measures-2025 · updated 2026-11-02 by builder v002