However you vote is up to you. Early voting started today. Actual election day, November 4, 2025.

Below is a plain-language breakdown of the 17 state propositions, rewritten for regular voters who may not be familiar with legal or legislative phrasing. Each summary keeps the intent accurate but removes jargon.

Texas Statewide Propositions

Proposition 1 – Technical Colleges Fund

Creates two funds to help pay for new buildings, labs, and equipment for Texas State Technical Colleges and other workforce education programs.
A “For” vote means you support creating permanent funds for technical and job-training schools.

Proposition 2 – Ban on Capital Gains Tax

Bans any state income tax on profits made from selling assets like stocks, property, or businesses — even if the gains are not yet realized.
A “For” vote means you want to block Texas from ever creating a capital gains tax.

Proposition 3 – Denying Bail for Certain Crimes

Lets judges deny bail for people accused of serious felony crimes in specific situations (for example, repeat violent offenders).
A “For” vote means you support allowing judges to refuse bail for certain felony charges.

Proposition 4 – Water Fund from Sales Tax

Sets aside part of the state’s sales tax revenue to fund long-term water projects (like infrastructure and drought management).
A “For” vote means you support using part of sales tax money to fund Texas water resources.

Proposition 5 – Feed for Sale Tax Exemption

Exempts retail stores from paying property tax on livestock feed they keep in stock for sale.
A “For” vote means you support removing local property taxes from animal feed held for retail sale.

Proposition 6 – No Tax on Securities Transactions

Stops the legislature from creating a “financial transaction tax” on buying or selling stocks or similar investments.
A “For” vote means you want to prevent Texas from taxing stock and investment trades.

Proposition 7 – Property Tax Exemption for Veterans’ Spouses

Lets the surviving spouse of a veteran who died from a service-related condition avoid paying some or all property taxes on their home.
A “For” vote means you support property tax relief for spouses of veterans who died from service-connected causes.

Proposition 8 – Ban on Estate or “Death” Taxes

Prevents the state from ever imposing taxes on inheritances, estates, or gifts.
A “For” vote means you want to keep Texas from having any kind of inheritance or estate tax.

Proposition 9 – Business Property Tax Exemption

Allows a partial property tax exemption for business equipment or other items used to make income.
A “For” vote means you support lowering property taxes on certain business-related personal property.

Proposition 10 – Temporary Tax Break for Fire Damage

Lets homeowners get a temporary property tax break if their house improvements are destroyed by fire.
A “For” vote means you support a temporary tax exemption for homes destroyed by fire.

Proposition 11 – Increased Tax Break for Seniors and Disabled

Raises the school property tax exemption for elderly and disabled homeowners, giving them more relief.
A “For” vote means you support larger school tax exemptions for seniors and people with disabilities.

Proposition 12 – Judicial Misconduct Oversight

Changes how the state monitors and disciplines judges — adds members to the review panels and gives more power to suspend or punish judges for misconduct.
A “For” vote means you support stronger oversight and accountability for Texas judges.

Proposition 13 – Higher Homestead Exemption

Increases the standard school property tax exemption on a primary home from $100,000 to $140,000.
A “For” vote means you want to raise the amount of home value exempt from school property taxes.

Proposition 14 – Dementia & Alzheimer’s Research Institute

Creates a new Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas with $3 billion in funding to study and treat Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and related diseases.
A “For” vote means you support creating a state institute and fund to research dementia-related illnesses.

Proposition 15 – Parental Rights

Adds language to the state constitution affirming that parents are the main decision-makers for their children’s upbringing, education, and healthcare.
A “For” vote means you support declaring parental authority as a constitutional right.

Proposition 16 – Citizenship Requirement to Vote

Clarifies that only U.S. citizens may vote in Texas elections (this is already law but would add it explicitly to the state constitution).
A “For” vote means you support reinforcing the rule that only U.S. citizens can vote.

Proposition 17 – Border Security Property Tax Break

Lets property owners along the Mexican border get a property tax exemption for building or installing border security infrastructure (like fencing, barriers, or cameras).
A “For” vote means you support property tax breaks for landowners who add border security improvements.

Key Takeaway:
Propositions 1–17 cover topics like tax exemptions, veteran and homeowner relief, water and education funding, judicial reform, citizenship rules, and border infrastructure incentives. Most involve creating funds or blocking new taxes.

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Bexar County Proposition A — Coliseum Complex Project (Tax Increase)

Official summary: Approves using higher hotel and rental car taxes to fund improvements to the Freeman Coliseum, Frost Bank Center, and other San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo facilities.

Plain Explanation

This proposition asks whether Bexar County should raise hotel and car rental taxes to pay for renovations and upgrades to the Freeman Coliseum and Frost Bank Center, along with nearby rodeo-related facilities.

• Hotel tax: would go up by 2% (making the total county hotel tax up to 17%).

• Rental car tax: would stay at up to 5% of the rental cost.

• The money goes toward planning, building, renovating, and maintaining the Coliseum Complex area.

A “For” vote means you support raising these tourism-related taxes to fund improvements to the Freeman Coliseum and related venues.
An “Against” vote means you oppose raising taxes for these projects.

Bexar County Proposition B — New Spurs Arena Project (Tax Increase)

Official summary: Approves using higher hotel and rental car taxes to fund construction of a new multipurpose arena, primarily for the San Antonio Spurs, but also for other sports, concerts, and events.

Plain Explanation

This measure asks whether Bexar County should raise the same hotel and car rental taxes (2% and 5%, respectively) to help pay for a new arena.

• The arena would become the home venue for the San Antonio Spurs.

• It could also host college and amateur basketball games, concerts, conventions, and community events.

• The total hotel tax rate in Bexar County would again be up to 17% if approved.

A “For” vote means you support raising hotel and car rental taxes to build a new multipurpose arena for the Spurs and community use.
An “Against” vote means you oppose the tax increase and arena project.