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Texas Voters Approve 17 Constitutional Amendments as Bexar County OKs Spurs Arena Taxes

State finances now must absorb school funding backfills as new tax exemptions take effect.

Overview

  • All 17 statewide measures passed, including raising the school‑district homestead exemption to $140,000, tighter bail rules, a parental‑rights amendment, a citizenship clarification for voters, and multiple new or expanded tax exemptions.
  • Voters authorized major investments: up to $1 billion a year dedicated to the Texas Water Fund, a $3 billion transfer to launch a Dementia Prevention and Research Institute, and new permanent funds for the Texas State Technical College System.
  • Bexar County voters approved Propositions A and B to raise hotel and rental‑car venue taxes, generating about $192 million for Frost Bank Center upgrades and up to $311 million toward a proposed downtown Spurs arena, with contract details and timelines to follow.
  • Turnout was modest statewide with more than 1.4 million early ballots cast, while Bexar County reported a late Election Day surge, recording 19.4% turnout and nearly 100,000 in‑person ballots according to elections officials.
  • Special elections advanced to runoffs: in U.S. House District 18, Amanda Edwards and Christian Menefee moved on, and in State Senate District 9, Taylor Rehmet will face Leigh Wambsganss.