Estimated Time to Read: 2 minutes
Texas voters approved all 17 proposed constitutional amendments on the November ballot, enacting a wide array of changes impacting state infrastructure, higher education, natural resources, and the management of public funds.
While every measure passed, overall voter turnout was low, consistent with historical trends for constitutional amendment elections. The results reveal both the enduring trust Texans place in the amendment process and, simultaneously, a troubling lack of public understanding about what amending the state’s foundational document actually means.
Jeramy Kitchen, President of Texas Policy Research, said:
“Texans made their choices, but too many remain unaware that these votes permanently alter the state’s constitution, often to authorize spending or programs that should be handled through ordinary legislation. The Texas Constitution was never intended to serve as a budget ledger or a policy wish list. Dedicating billions of taxpayer dollars outside the state’s spending limits and long-term oversight runs counter to the principles of limited government and fiscal transparency.”
Key Takeaways
- All 17 propositions passed, including measures creating new constitutionally dedicated funds for water, energy, broadband, and higher education.
- Many amendments move billions of dollars outside the state’s appropriations process, reducing transparency and accountability for taxpayer dollars.
- Low voter turnout underscores limited public participation in decisions that permanently change the state’s constitution.
- The broad approval of these measures reflects a persistent misunderstanding of the constitutional amendment process, which has increasingly been used as a vehicle for spending and policy, not structural reform.
TPR’s Role and Outreach
In the weeks leading up to the election, Texas Policy Research (TPR) conducted an extensive statewide education effort, traveling more than 1,000 miles to meet with civic groups, community leaders, and voters across Texas.
Through this Constitutional Amendment Speaking Tour, TPR explained what each proposition would do, how it aligned with its five guiding liberty principles: Individual Liberty, Personal Responsibility, Free Enterprise, Private Property Rights, and Limited Government, and provided clear vote recommendations through its widely distributed 2025 Ballot Guide.
“Our mission is education first,” Kitchen added. “We want Texans to understand how these measures impact not just their wallets, but the very structure of state government. The Texas Constitution was meant to protect liberty, not to serve as a policy manual or spending ledger.”
About Texas Policy Research
Texas Policy Research is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing liberty through dependable legislative analysis, data-driven research, and policy engagement. By equipping Texans with the information they need, TPR helps citizens and lawmakers better understand the legislative process and its impact on individual freedom, free enterprise, and limited government.
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