The Texas 89th Legislature - and two special sessions - have come to a close with lackluster results for property tax reform. 

It started off promising. During his State of the State address earlier this year, Governor Greg Abbott named property tax relief an emergency legislative item. His proposal included using at least $10 billion from the state’s budget surplus for property tax relief and aimed to increase voter approval thresholds to two-thirds for any local bond or tax rate elections. 

The results fell far short of the goal, and the Texas Legislature once again missed a huge opportunity to effect long-term change.

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On November 4, Texans will vote on Proposition 17, a constitutional amendment allowing the legislature to exempt from property taxes the value added to real property in border counties from the installation of “border security infrastructure”.

The Libertarian Party of Texas supports Proposition 17—not because we endorse the political theater around border security, but because we support any step that reduces the burden of property taxes.

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This November, Texans will vote on Proposition 4, a constitutional amendment dedicating the first $1 billion in sales tax revenue above $46.5 billion each year to the Texas water fund. While politicians present this as a “responsible investment in water,” the truth is simpler: it’s a permanent carve-out of tax revenue that expands government spending without reducing Texans’ overall tax burden.

Instead of giving Texans tax relief or allowing local communities to manage their own water needs, this amendment diverts sales tax dollars into a state run fund overseen by bureaucrats. Worse, it does nothing to reduce spending elsewhere. That means Texans will continue to face the same tax burden—only now with even less flexibility in how their money is used.

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On November 4, Texans will vote on Proposition 14, which would create the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and transfer $3 billion from the state’s general revenue into a new government-controlled research fund. While the amendment sounds compassionate, it comes with a costly catch: it doesn’t reduce any existing state spending.

Instead, this amendment adds billions in new obligations on top of what Texans already fund. That means more government, more bureaucracy, and ultimately, a heavier tax burden in the years ahead. When the state takes $3 billion off the top without offsetting cuts, the Legislature will simply raise taxes elsewhere or pile on more debt. Either way, Texans lose.

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On November 4, Texans will vote on Proposition 3, a constitutional amendment that would require judges to deny bail to people accused of certain felonies. At first glance, this might sound like “getting tough on crime.” But in reality, it strips away the ability of judges, the people closest to the details of each case, to make individualized decisions about who should or should not be released before trial.

The Libertarian Party of Texas opposes Proposition 3 because it replaces judgment with mandates. Our platform is clear: government power should be limited and decisions should be made as close to the individual as possible. By forcing the denial of bail, this amendment treats every accused person the same, regardless of the circumstances, and ignores the presumption of innocence.

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This November, Texans will be asked to vote on Proposition 1, adopted in the Texas Legislature as SJR 59, a constitutional amendment creating two permanent funds to finance capital projects and equipment for the Texas State Technical College System. While framed as “support for workforce education,” this measure entrenches yet another taxpayer-funded bureaucracy.

The Libertarian Party of Texas opposes Proposition 1 because it expands government spending and control instead of reducing it. Our platform is clear: “taxes are inherently oppressive and destined to be misused and misappropriated. LPTexas calls for an end to all taxation. Where taxes cannot be eliminated, they should be minimized or replaced with user fees.”

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Sometimes the Texas Legislature treats the Constitution like a group project where nobody bothered to read the first page before suggesting edits. Case in point: SJR 37, by Senators Birdwell and Middleton, which proposes a constitutional amendment to “clarify” that only U.S. citizens may vote in Texas elections.

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We've pored over all of the amendments to the Texas Constitution up for a vote November 4, 2025 so you don't have to. First up you'll find our recommendations for all of the bills and then below that an explanation of what you'll see on your ballot, what it means, and why we take the position we do.

Prop 1: SJR 59 - Oppose	Prop 10: SJR 84 - Support
Prop 2: SJR 18 - Support	Prop 11: SJR 85 - Support
Prop 3: SJR 5 - Oppose	Prop 12: SJR 27 - Support
Prop 4: HJR 7 - Oppose	Prop 13: SJR 2 - Support
Prop 5: HJR 99 - Support	Prop 14: SJR 3 - Oppose
Prop 6: HJR 4 - Support	Prop 15: SJR 34 - Support
Prop 7: HJR 133 - Support	Prop 16: SJR 37 - Oppose
Prop 8: HJR 2 - Support	Prop 17: HJR 34 - Support
Prop 9: HJR 1 - Support

 

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The Libertarian Party of Texas (LPTexas) proudly supports House Bill 4309, a vital measure that amends the Texas Election Code to redirect candidate filing fees from the State to the nominating party. This reform aligns with our principles of economic liberty, electoral fairness, and voluntary association.

 

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