Voters approve all 17 statewide propositions, local propositions see mixed results

Voters approved all 17 statewide propositions, which touched on a range of issues. We've provided a summary of the key propositions related to public education below.

Proposition 13: 79% For | 21% Against
This proposition increased the state mandated exemption for eligible homesteads from $100,000 to $140,0000 for purposes of school district property taxes. During session, the Legislative Budget Board estimated that the annual costs to the state would be around $1.0-$1.4 billion.

There is a hold harmless provided under SB 4 to offset the financial impacts of increasing this exemption, but key questions remain unanswered from TEA regarding specifics on how this will be calculated. Specifically, there is no clarity on how the hold harmless reduction in the bill will be implemented if the agency determines that a school district's state and local revenues to support debt service exceeds its minimum required debt service. The agency last addressed this provision in a To the Administrator Addressed letter in July.
Proposition 11: 79% For | 21% Against
This proposition increases the state mandated homestead exemption for those aged 65+ or disabled from $10,000 to $60,0000. During session, the Legislative Budget Board estimated that the annual costs to the state would be around $0.5-0.6 billion.

Similar hold harmless provisions exist under SB 23 as well, but specifics on how that funding will be calculated have also not yet been provided.
Proposition 9: 65% For | 35% Against
This proposition would, beginning with tax year 2026, increase the business personal property exemption from $2,500 to $125,000. During session, the Legislative Budget Board estimated that the annual costs to the state would be around $0.1-0.2 billion.

There is no hold harmless included under HB 9 to offset the loss of property tax revenues. For most districts, this would be primarily felt on the I&S side, particularly those that do not receive EDA or IFA state aid. We recommend that districts reach out to their CADs now to estimate how much value would be lost if this were in effect during the current tax year.
Proposition 17: 57% For | 43% Against
This proposition would exempt value from border security related improvements made on certain properties located along the Texas-Mexico border. There is no hold harmless included in HB 247, but the impacts are not expected to be significant.
Proposition 10: 89% For | 11% Against
This proposition would allow for homesteads destroyed by fire to receive a temporary property tax exemption. There is no hold harmless included in SB 467, but the impacts are not expected to be significant.
Proposition 15: 70% For | 30% Against
This proposition would add language to article one of the state constitution, which sets out Texas' bill of rights. The proposition states that it is the parent's responsibility "to nurture and protect the parent's child and the corresponding fundamental right to exercise care, custody, and control of the parent's child, including the right to make decisions concerning the child's upbringing."

You can find more information on the other approved propositions from the Texas Tribune.

VOTER-APPROVAL TAX RATE ELECTIONS
30 propositions passed (49%) | 31 propositions failed (51%)

As of today, we are aware of 61 voter-approval tax rate elections that were held across the state, with just under half (30) passing. North Texas districts in particular saw success at the ballot box, with Denton ISD, Carroll ISD, Garland ISD, HEB ISD, Northwest ISD, and Rockwall ISD all passing their VATREs.

You can find our full list of unofficial results here.

BOND ELECTIONS
52 propositions passed (46%) | 61 propositions failed (54%)
$6.7 billion passed (64%) | $3.7 billion propositions failed (36%)

As of today, we are aware of 113 bond elections that were held across the state. While 61% of the propositions failed, voters did approve 64% of the dollars on the ballot ($6.7 billion out of $10.4 billion total).

Voters were again skeptical of athletic related propositions (athletic facilities, stadiums, natatoriums, etc.), voting down 13 out of 17 propositions statewide. Technology related bonds saw nearly 70% passage rates, with 9 out 13 passing statewide. Propositions funding the construction or renovation of school buildings saw just over 50% passage rates.

You can find our full list of unofficial results here and historical results below.