Seven propositions on state-wide ballot today

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Election Day is today, Tuesday, November 7. Seven propositions are on the state-wide ballot.
Voting times are 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Some precincts have consolidated for this election. Voting locations are:

  • Gonzales County Courthouse – 414 St. Joseph Street – is the voting location for Pct. 1, Pct. 14 and Pct. 15. Voters who would typically vote in Cheapside or Cost will join Pct. 1 voters at the courthouse.
  • Gonzales Master Gardeners Building – 623 N. Fair St. – is the voting location for Pct. 2 and Pct. 11. Voters who would typically vote at Peach Valley camp, om County Road 357, will consolidate with Pct. 2 voters and place their ballots at the Pct. 2 voting location.
  • City of Gonzales – 820 St. Joseph Street – is the voting location for Pct.3, Pct. 5, Pct. 7 and Pct. 8. Voters who would typically vote at Belmont Community Center, Elk's Hospital at Ottine, or Harwood Community Center will join Pct. 3 voters at the Pct. 3 location.
  • Gonzales County Nixon Annex – 603 E. Central – Pct. 4 and Pct. 6., Pct. 10 and Pct. 13. Voters who usually vote at Smiley Fire Department or the Leesville Cemetery Association Building, will consolidate and vote at the Nixon Annex.
  • Waelder Community Center – 311 Hwy 90 W. – is the voting location for Pct. 9 voters.
  • JB Wells – 23015 CR 197 – is the voting location for Pct. 12 voters.

On the ballot are these propositions:
Proposition 1: Homestead exemption for partially donated homes of disabled veterans:
Prop. 1 would expand tax laws to extend partially disabled veterans a partial property tax exemption for a homestead that was donated at some cost to the veteran, as long as the veteran’s cost was no more than 50 percent of the estimated market value of the home. The veteran would be entitled to an exemption from taxation on a percentage of the market value of the home equal to the veteran’s disability rating.
Proposition 2: Revising home equity loan provisions
The proposed amendment would lower the cap on fees charged to borrowers and revise the type of fees that count toward a cap and would allow home equity loans to be refinanced as non-home equity loans – secured with a lien against a home if certain conditions were met. The proposed amendment also would repeal a prohibition on home equity loans for homesteads designated for agricultural use.
Proposition 3: Limiting terms for certain appointees of the governor
The governor makes certain appointments to state boards, commissions and councils. The governor also names members of task forces that advise the governor or executive agencies. Currently members of most boards and commissions serve six-year, staggered terms, with one-third of the terms expiring every two years and most terms expiring in odd-numbered years.
Proposition 4: Court notice to attorney general of constitutional challenge to state laws
Prop. 4 would amend the Texas Constitution authorizing the Legislature to require courts to notify the attorney general when a party to litigation filed a petition, motion, or other pleading challenging the constitutionality of a state statute if the party notified the court of the challenge. The proposition also would authorize the Legislature to establish a period of up to 45 days after a court gave the required notice during which the court could not enter a judgment holding the statute unconstitutional.
Proposition 5: Amending eligibility requirements for sports team charitable raffles
Texas Constitution requires the Legislature to prohibit lotteries and gift enterprises in the state, with certain exceptions such as the state lottery, charitable bingo games, and charitable raffles conducted by various nonprofit or religious organizations. Prop. 5 would amend Art. 3, sec. 47(d-1) to expand the number of professional sports team charitable foundations eligible to conduct charitable raffles.
Proposition 6: Homestead exemption for surviving spouses of certain first responders
Prop. 6 would amend Texas Constitution to allow Legislature to give a partial or total homestead exemption to the surviving spouse of a first responder who was killed or fatally injured in the line of duty, provided that the spouse had not remarried since the first responder’s death. If the surviving spouse moved to a new homestead after receiving an exemption, the Legislature could entitle the spouse to an exemption on the new homestead equal to the dollar amount of the exemption for the previous homestead in the last year in which it was received.
Proposition 7: Authorizing Legislature to allow banks to hold raffles promoting savings
Texas Constitution, Art. 3, sec. 47 requires the Legislature to prohibit lotteries and gift enterprises in the state, with certain exceptions, including the state lottery, charitable bingo games, and charitable raffles conducted by various nonprofit or religious organizations. Prop. 7 would amend Art. 3, sec. 47 of the Texas Constitution to allow the Legislature to permit credit unions and other financial institutions to conduct promotional activities to encourage savings. Prizes could be awarded to one or more of the institution’s depositors selected by lot.

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