Know what you’re voting for in next election

It would be very easy to let voter apathy take over the Nov. 2 election in Gillespie County since there are no local officials or measures on the ballot.

The eight proposed amendments to the state constitution, however, should not be overlooked. Any changes to the state constitution will have a local impact.

In order to make an informed decision when early voting starts on Monday, let’s look at the amendments and determine what they mean.

 

Proposition 1

 “The constitutional amendment authorizing the professional sports team charitable foundations of organizations sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association or the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association to conduct charitable raffles at rodeo venues.”

This allows the charitable arm of sports teams to hold raffles at rodeos. Professional sports teams already do this with popular 50/50 raffles. The raffle winner gets half the pot and the other half goes to the foundation or charitable arm of the team to support community causes.

 

Proposition 2

“The constitutional amendment authorizing a county to finance the development or redevelopment of transportation or infrastructure in unproductive, underdeveloped, or blighted areas in the county.”

This is pretty straightforward. Counties could issue bonds to pay for infrastructure and transportation projects in impoverished or neglected areas. One thing included with this is it would prohibit counties that issue bonds from pledging more than 65% of the increase in ad valorem tax revenues to repay the bonds.

 

Proposition 3

“The constitutional amendment to prohibit this state or a political subdivision of this state from prohibiting or limiting religious services of religious organizations.”

This issue arose in 2020 when churches and other religious institutions were forced to shut down with the rest of the state during the pandemic. This amendment would prohibit the state from suspending or prohibiting religious services, even during a public health crisis.

 

Proposition 4

“The constitutional amendment changing the eligibility requirements for a justice of the supreme court, a judge of the court of criminal appeals, a justice of a court of appeals, and a district judge.”

New requirements for one of the judgeships would include candidates being a resident of Texas and a U.S. citizen. It would also require:

·         Candidates to have 10 years of experience in Texas as a practicing lawyer or judge to be considered for the supreme court, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, or a court of appeals;

·         Candidates to have eight years of experience in Texas as a practicing lawyer or judge to be considered for district court;

·         Candidates who have their license to practice law was revoked or suspended during experience requirement would be disqualified; and

·         The requirements would begin after Jan. 1, 2025.

 

Proposition 5

“The constitutional amendment providing additional powers to the State Commission on Judicial Conduct with respect to candidates for judicial office.”

This would authorize the Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct to investigate complaints against candidates running for state judicial offices. It also balances elections between incumbents and challengers because challengers are not held to the same Code of Judicial Conduct as sitting judges. Challengers would have to meet the same standards as incumbents.

 

Proposition 6

“The constitutional amendment establishing a right for residents of certain facilities to designate an essential caregiver for in-person visitation.”

This allows such facilities to right to designate an essential caregiver for each resident that may not be prohibited from visiting the resident, even during a pandemic.

 

Proposition 7

“The constitutional amendment to allow the surviving spouse of a person who is disabled to receive a limitation on the school district ad valorem taxes on the spouse’s residence homestead if the spouse is 55 years of age or older at the time of the person’s death.”

Disabled people can currently apply for a $10,000 homestead tax exemption and a limit on school district property taxes. This allows the legislature to extend a homestead tax limit for surviving spouses of disabled people as long as the spouse is over 55 years old and resides at the home.

 

Proposition 8

“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 member of the armed services of the United States who is killed or fatally injured in the line of duty.”

Currently, the exemption is only offered to the surviving spouse of a member of the armed services “who is killed in action.” This expands it to include service members who were fatally injured during military training or other military duties.

(This editorial appeared in the Oct. 13, 2021, edition of the Fredericksburg Standard-Radio Post)