Early voting for the Nov. 7 Election starts on October 23. Here is a little background on the last four Proposed constitutional amendments.
Prop 11
SJR 32 “The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to permit conservation and reclamation districts in El Paso County to issue bonds supported by ad valorem taxes to fund the developmentandmaintenance of parks and recreational facilities.”
From the El Paso Times: “Elevencounties’conservation and reclamation districts are currently permitted to issue bonds supported by property taxes to fund recreational development and improvement. This proposed amendment would add El Paso County to the list. Conservation and reclamation districts aid in managing stormwater storage, land irrigationandtheconservation and development of forests within their designated boundaries.”
From the legislative analysis of SJR 32: “In 2003, the Texas Constitution was amended, giving conservation and reclamation districts in certain counties across the state the ability to issue bonds to fund the development and maintenance of parks and recreation facilities. El Paso County was left out of this constitutional amendment and currently does not have this authority, resulting in an underfunded parks system across the county.
El Paso County should be included on the list of Texas counties that allow their conservation and reclamation districts to issue bonds to develop recreational facilities. Allowing bonds to be issued for recreational purposes will benefit the health and wellness of El Paso County residents and encourage further economic development and growth for the region.”
Prop 12
HJR134 “Theconstitutional amendment providing for the abolition of the office of county treasurer in Galveston County.”
The current Treasurer of Galveston County ran against the previous treasurer on the notion he would abolish the office if elected. Galveston County elected him by a large margin of the vote, and is now asking to put the question to a formal vote.
This amendment abolishes the office of County Treasurer in Galveston County. The amendment would authorize the Galveston County Commissioners Court to employ or contract with a qualified person or designate another county officer to perform any functions that would have been performed by the County Treasurer. The proposed amendment would take effect only if a majority of the voters of Galveston County voting on the proposition favor the amendment—and if the rest of us allow.
In Texas, currently nine counties have abolished the office of treasurer. Reports have not surfaced of misgivings. However, a former Galveston County official is against the move to abolish the office. He says the movement is just due to a mistake by the prior treasurer (large payment to a fraudulent vendor), a mistake that others in the county offices also had a part in. Also, he and other voices opposing the amendment state that removing the office removes an important part of checks and balances: the Treasurer, as elected independently, is not beholden to the county court. Why throw the baby out with the bathwater? The work does not go away.
Prop 13
“The constitutional amendment to increase the mandatory age of retirement for state justices and judges.”
HJR 107 proposes a constitutional amendment to increase the mandatory retirement age for state justices and judges. Currently, the Texas Constitution establishes that justices and judges of the appellate courts, district courts, and criminal district courts must retire on the expiration of the term during which they reach the age of 75 years. The proposed amendment would change the mandatory retirement age for justices and judges of the appellate courts, district courts, and criminal district courts to 79 years or an earlier age, not less than 75 years, as the legislature may prescribe. The proposed amendment also would remove the provision stating that justices and judges may only serve until December 31 of their fourth year in office if they reach the age of 75 years in the first four years of a sixyear term. The author of HJR 107 made reference to our increased longevity only. I know seniors older than I am who have better hearing and mental acuity. I hope the others know when to bow out.
Ballotpedia: Thirty-one states and the District of Columbia have set mandatory retirement ages. Seventeen states set their retirement age at 70 years old, four states set their age at 72, one state set it at 73, eight states set it at 75, and one state set it at 90.
Nine organizations registered support for this amendment, including Texans for Lawsuit Reform, Texas Association of Retired, Senior, and Former Judges, Texas Trial Lawyers Association, and Texas Trucking Association.
Prop 14
SJR 74 “The constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the centennial parks conservation fund to be used for the creation and improvement of state parks.”
This proposed amendment establishes the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund as a trust fund outside the state treasury. The fund could be used, in accordance with general law, only for the creation and improvement of state parks. The fund would consist of funds provided by legislation, gifts, grants and donations, and investment earnings. The fund could be used by TPWD for the creation and improvement of state parks.
Enabling legislation, SB 1648, has already been passed and signed. According to Ballotpedia, the legislature authorized $1 billion in the state budget bill, for the 20242025 fiscal year for state park acquisitions,if theamendment is approved.
From Senate Research Center analysis: Currently, Texas Parks and Wildlife leases (or partially leases) land from private corporations to create some state parks. As a result, there have been incidents where land leased by the state for a park was sold to a private entity, shutting down the park in the process. If the state had a dedicated fund to use for purchasing new land, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) would have the ability to make sustainable investments in new parks.
Ballotpedia: Luke Metzger, executive director of Environment Texas, said in a statement,”This historic legislation would create a new golden age for our state parks. 2023 marks the centennial of the Texas state parks system and we have a lot to celebrate. What a great birthday present to give all Texans for the state parks system’s 100th.”