The proposals are among 17 constitutional amendments on the ballot, including measures aimed at funding water supply projects, tightening bail rules and creating a state dementia research institute.
Early voting in the Nov. 4 election began Oct. 20 and runs through Oct. 31. For more information about the propositions and candidates on your local ballot, visit www.communityimpact.com/voter-guide.
What you need to know
Proposition 13 would raise the property tax exemption on a Texas homeowner’s main residence, known as a homestead exemption, from $100,000 to $140,000. Proposition 11 would give homeowners who are over 65 years old or have a disability a $200,000 exemption.
The exemptions would apply only to taxes charged by public schools, which make up the majority of an average homeowner’s property tax bill, according to previous Community Impact reporting.
“You’ve paid a lifetime of taxes already,” Sen. Paul Bettencourt, the Houston Republican who authored the legislation, said in June. “The state of Texas makes a massive commitment to make sure that you can stay in your home for as long as you want to, because these exemptions, once you vote for them in November, will be there for as long as you own the home.”
Bettencourt’s office estimated in June that the average Texas homeowner would see about $484 in annual savings if the tax cuts are approved by voters, with roughly $950 in savings for seniors and people with disabilities. These estimates do not account for potential tax rate increases by local governments.
State lawmakers considered tightening limits on local property tax growth during special legislative sessions this summer, but that proposal did not become law.
The context
The proposals passed the Texas Legislature with nearly unanimous support this spring. Property tax exemptions are enshrined in the state Constitution, meaning voters have the final say.
If voters approve the two ballot measures, the cuts will take effect for the current tax year and appear on homeowners’ upcoming tax bills, according to the Texas House Research Organization.
In 2023, 83% of Texas voters approved a constitutional amendment raising the statewide homestead exemption to $100,000 for most homeowners and $110,000 for seniors and people with disabilities.
More details
Also on the ballot is Proposition 9, which would raise a property tax exemption for Texas businesses from $2,500 to $125,000.
If voters approve the three propositions, the state will give school districts $10 billion to ensure they do not lose revenue as a result of the lower taxes. In total, Texas lawmakers agreed to spend $51 billion, or 15% of the 2026-27 state budget, to maintain existing property tax relief and fund the expanded exemptions over the next two years, Community Impact previously reported.
Gov. Greg Abbott told reporters in June that he believes Texas can afford to spend $51 billion on tax relief because of the state’s “robust economy,” citing the nearly $24 billion budget surplus that was available this legislative session.
“Texas has the largest budget surplus as of any state, [but] we've been cautious with our approach to our budget, knowing there could be an economic downturn, there could be a recession,” Abbott said. “We have some other reserve money to make sure that we will be able to continue to maintain the property tax relief in the future that we provide today.”
Also of note
Four other tax-related propositions are on Texas voters’ ballots:
- Proposition 5 would create a property tax exemption for stores that sell animal feed.
- Proposition 7 would establish a tax exemption for the surviving spouse of a veteran who died from an illness related to their military service.
- Proposition 10 would allow a future state legislature to create a tax exemption for someone rebuilding a home after it is completely destroyed in a fire.
- Proposition 17 would exempt increases in a property’s value from taxation if the land is located along the Texas-Mexico border and the added value is due to the installation of barriers or other border security infrastructure created by the government.
