Voters asked to decide on 16 proposed state amendments

The following is the list of propositions - their exact wording followed by brief summaries - before voters in the Constitutional Amendment election to be held Nov. 6. Early voting began Oct. 22.

Proposition 1: The constitutional amendment providing for the continuation of the constitutional appropriation for facilities and other capital items at Angelo State University on a change in the governance of the university.

Summary: Transfers Angelo State University from the Texas State University System to the Texas Tech University System.

Proposition 2: The constitutional amendment providing for the issuance of $500 million in general obligation bonds to finance educational loans to students and authorizing bond enhancement agreements with respect to general obligation bonds issued for that purpose.

Summary: Allows the state to issue $500 million in bonds for education loans to college students.

Proposition 3: The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide that the maximum appraised value of a residence homestead for ad valorem taxation is limited to the lesser of the most recent market value of the residence homestead as determined by the appraisal entity or 110 percent, or a greater percentage, of the appraised value of the residence homestead for the preceding tax year.

Summary: Limit the increase in appraised taxable value of a residence homestead to 10 percent since the property's most recent appraisal.

Proposition 4: The constitutional amendment authorizing the issuance of up to $1 billion in bonds payable from the general revenues of the state for maintenance, improvement, repair, and construction projects and for the purchase of needed equipment.

Summary: Lets the state issue $1 billion in bonds for needed equipment and construction projects for state agencies including Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Youth Commission, and Department of State Health Services.

Proposition 5: The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to permit the voters of a municipality having a population of less than 10,000 to authorize the governing body of the municipality to enter into an agreement with an owner of real property in or adjacent to an area in the municipality that has been approved for funding under certain programs administered by the Texas Department of Agriculture under which the parties agree that all ad valorem taxes imposed on the owner's property may not be increased for the first five tax years after the tax year in which the agreement is entered into.

Summary: Lets the Legislature allow cities under 10,000 in population to hold an election to freeze property taxes in or near areas to be redeveloped under the Downtown Revitalization Program or the Main Street Improvements Program.

Proposition 6: The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation one motor vehicle owned by an individual and used in the course of the owner's occupation or profession and also for personal activities of the owner.

Summary: Lets the Legislature exempt ad valorem taxes on one privately-owned car used in an individual's job and also used for personal activities.

Proposition 7: The constitutional amendment to allow governmental entities to sell property acquired through eminent domain back to the previous owners at the price the entities paid to acquire the property.

Summary: Lets governmental entities sell land acquired by condemnation back to the former owner or successors, at the price paid at the time of acquisition, if the land is no longer needed.

Proposition 8: The constitutional amendment to clarify certain provisions relating to the making of a home equity loan and use of home equity loan proceeds.

Summary: Tightens regulations for those making home equity loans and clarifies what is allowed.

Proposition 9: The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to exempt all or part of the residence homesteads of certain totally disabled veterans from ad valorem taxation and authorizing a change in the manner of determining the amount of the existing exemption from ad valorem taxation to which a disabled veteran is entitled.

Summary: Lets the Legislature exempt disabled veterans' homes from property taxes.

Proposition 10: The constitutional amendment to abolish the constitutional authority for the office of inspector of hides and animals.

Summary: Removes references from the Texas Constitution about the office, which no longer exists.

Proposition 11: The constitutional amendment to require that a record vote be taken by a house of the legislature on final passage of any bill, other than certain local bills, of a resolution proposing or ratifying a constitutional amendment, or of any other non-ceremonial resolution, and to provide for public access on the Internet to those record votes.

Summary: Requires state legislators' votes be made on the record during final passage of a bill or any measure other than ceremonial resolutions. Currently, legislators' votes are anonymous.

Proposition 12: The constitutional amendment providing for the issuance of general obligation bonds by the Texas Transportation Commission in an amount not to exceed $5 billion to provide funding for highway improvement projects.

Summary: Lets the state issue $5 billion in bonds to fund transportation projects.

Proposition 13: The constitutional amendment authorizing the denial of bail to a person who violates certain court orders or conditions of release in a felony or family violence case.

Summary: If a judge thinks a family violence defendant is dangerous to the victim, the judge could deny bail.

Proposition 14: The constitutional amendment permitting a justice or judge who reaches the mandatory retirement age while in office to serve the remainder of the justice's or judge's current term.

Summary: Lets judges who reach the mandatory age of retirement (75) finish their terms.

Proposition 15: The constitutional amendment requiring the creation of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and authorizing the issuance of up to $3 billion in bonds payable from the general revenues of the state for research in Texas to find the causes of and cures for cancer.

Summary: Lets the state issue $3 million in bonds for cancer research.

Proposition 16: The constitutional amendment providing for the issuance of additional general obligation bonds by the Texas Water Development Board in an amount not to exceed $250 million to provide assistance to economically distressed areas.

Summary: Lets the state issue $250 million in bonds for water and wastewater infrastructure in economically distressed areas.