In good political news, closer to home, Texas voters approved constitutional amendments..

Prop 1 - Texas State Technical College Funding.

This proposition creates funds for capital needs at Texas State Technical Colleges. It will fund working-class education. In plain English, it invests in classrooms, equipment, and infrastructure that prepare working-class Texans for real, good-paying jobs, such as electricians, welders, mechanics, nurses, and other skilled professionals.

Prop 2 - No Capital Gains Tax.

It bans any future attempt to tax profits from the sale of or gains on investments, as well as the money made by stock traders, hedge fund managers, and retirement accounts.

Texas doesn’t have a capital gains tax now, but enshrining it in the Constitution guarantees that can never be levied.

Prop 3 - Denying Bail For Certain Crimes.

This proposition is a public safety measure to allow judges to deny bail for certain people accused of serious crimes if there’s evidence they’re a flight risk or a danger to others.

Prop 6 – Ban Stock Trade Tax.

It permanently bans Texas from ever taxing securities trades or imposing new fees on financial market operators. That means no transaction taxes on day-trading futures and options, blocking progressive reforms to rein in speculation.

Prop 7 – Property Tax Break for Surviving Spouses of Veterans.

This amendment provides property tax relief for surviving spouses of veterans who died from service-connected conditions. It’s narrow and humane, giving families long-term security after they have experienced an immense sacrifice for their country.

Prop 8 – Ban Estate and Gift Taxes.

Texas doesn’t currently have estate or gift taxes, but this locks in a permanent ban, ensuring that future generations can’t ever be subject to progressive wealth taxes.

Prop 9 – Business Equipment Tax Exemption.

This would exempt up to $250,000 worth of business equipment or tools from property taxes. It helps small businesses, farmers, and self-employed Texans who really do need tax relief.

Prop 10 – Property Tax Relief After Home Fire.

This amendment lets homeowners temporarily avoid property taxes on a house that’s been destroyed by fire.

Prop 11 – Increased School Tax Break for Elderly and Disabled.

This measure increases the school property tax exemption for elderly and disabled Texans from $10,000 to $60,000. That’s direct relief for vulnerable people who are often on fixed incomes.

Prop 12 – Judge Oversight Changes.

This expands and restructures the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, altering the disciplinary process to promote accountability against progressive judges.

Prop 13 – Increased School Tax Break for All Homeowners.

This raises the school homestead exemption from $100,000 to $140,000.

Prop 14 – Dementia Research Institute.

This would create a publicly funded research institute for dementia, Alzheimer’s, and related diseases, with $3 billion in dedicated funding. This could put Texas as the forefront in this important and surely needed medical research. Alzheimer's and Dementia affect nearly every family in the US. Typically, I don't like public funding but this is as important as cancer research.

Prop 15 – “Parental Rights” Amendment.

This amendment would enshrine “parental rights” language in the Constitution, which will be used to prevent teachers, administrators, doctors and others who seek to promote the LGBTQ agenda. Bravo!

Prop 16 – Citizenship Requirement to Vote.

The amendment added noncitizens to the list of persons excluded from voting in the state found in Section 1 of Article 6 of the Texas Constitution. Currently, the list includes persons under the age of 18, those determined by a court to be mentally incompetent, and certain convicted felons.

Although state law requires voters to attest to being a citizen when registering to vote, and it is a second-degree felony for a noncitizen to vote in the state under the law, adding the citizenship requirement to the state constitution makes changing the requirement more difficult in the future by requiring a two-thirds vote in the legislature and voter approval of another constitutional amendment.

Prop 17 – Border Security Tax Exemption.

This would exempt landowners in border counties from property taxes on “border security” infrastructure (i.e., fencing, walls, surveillance, and militarized improvements), so if a property owner improves his property with security measures, he doesn't get dinged by a zealous tax assessor.

Congrats to the Texas Legislature for putting out some well-needed constitutional amendments!