As an electorate with deep stakes in education, taxation, infrastructure and equity, voters across Texas and especially in Harris County turned out on Nov. 4 to decide a sweeping slate of 17 constitutional amendments, along with significant local contests, among them trustee seats for the Houston Independent School District (HISD) and a special election for the Houston City Council At‑Large Position 4.
Odd-year elections typically see low turnout, but this year has been different. According to the Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth’s office, this election cycle saw a record number of voters. More than 212,000 ballots were cast during the two-week early voting period, while 211,670 were cast on Election Day, totaling more than 423,600 votes.
Here’s who won and what it means for Houston’s communities and local power.
Statewide amendments
All 17 proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot passed with voter approval.
Texans were asked to vote “Yes” or “No” on the amendments, covering a wide range of issues: tax exemptions, property and business regulatory changes, parental rights, citizen‑voting requirements, water infrastructure funding, dementia research, judiciary oversight and border/security issues.
Because all amendments require a simple majority to pass, the results will reshape the Texas Constitution in major ways.
Property tax relief
Seven of the 17 amendments address property tax exemptions and relief measures:
- Proposition 5 – HJR 99 would remove property taxes on animal feed sold in stores
- Proposition 7 – HJR 133 offers a full or partial homestead exemption for surviving spouses of veterans who die from service-related conditions
- Proposition 9 – HJR 1 raises the tax-free amount for business equipment and inventory to $125,000
- Proposition 10 – SJR 84 creates a temporary property tax exemption if a home is completely destroyed by fire
- Proposition 11 – SJR 85 increases the school tax break for elderly and disabled homeowners from $10,000 to $60,000
- Proposition 13 – SJR 2 boosts the statewide homestead exemption (what part of a home’s value is not taxed) from $100,000 to $140,000
- Proposition 17 – HJR 34 allows border county residents to avoid taxes on property upgrades used for border security
Banning future taxes
Three amendments, Propositions 2, 6, and 8, would permanently ban future forms of taxation.
- Proposition 2 – SJR 18 bans taxes on capital gain
- Proposition 6 – HJR 4 stops the state from putting new taxes on securities that businesses buy or trade like stocks and bonds
- Proposition 8 – HJR 2 bans estate or inheritance taxes, or taxes people would pay on property or money they inherit from someone who died
Public safety and judicial oversight
Two measures address the state’s justice system, stirring debate about safety and due process.
- Proposition 3 – SJR 5 would allow judges to deny bail to defendants accused of certain felonies based on perceived danger or flight risk
- Proposition 12 – SJR 27 restructures the State Commission on Judicial Conduct by giving the governor a majority of appointments, or seven out of 13 seats
Investments in education, water and health research
Three amendments create new state funds for infrastructure and public programs:
- Proposition 1 – SJR 59 establishes a permanent technical institution infrastructure fund and the available workforce education fund for Texas State Technical Colleges, seeded with $850 million from general revenue
- Proposition 4 – HJR 7 dedicates a share of the state’s sales tax to the state water fund, a long-term $20 billion effort, which launches in 2027
- Proposition 14 – SJR 3 launches a Dementia Prevention and Research Fund, transferring $3 billion from state revenue to study Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and related diseases
Parental rights and citizenship
- Proposition 15 – SJR 34 enshrines parental rights in the Constitution, affirming that “parents are the primary decision-makers for their children”
- Proposition 16 – SJR 37 clarifies that only United States citizens can vote in Texas elections
HISD trustee races
The city’s largest school district, Houston Independent School District, will see new elected trustees, amidst the Texas Education Agency’s state intervention, which keeps them from its day-to-day decision-making.
Five of HISD’s nine trustee seats: Districts I, V, VI, VII and IX were on the Nov. 4, 2025, ballot. Since the TEA took over HISD in June 2023, it has operated under a state-appointed Board of Managers, assuming “all of the powers and authority previously held by the suspended Board of Trustees.” This means that the newly elected trustees will not be able to set policy, adopt budgets, hire or fire the superintendent, or vote on contracts while the intervention continues. They will reclaim decision‑making once the state intervention concludes.
In June this year, Commissioner Mike Morath extended the intervention through June 1, 2027, replacing four managers. For the intervention to end, HISD has to meet three exit criteria.
- For Trustee District V, Maria Benzon secured about 63% of the vote against Robbie McDonough, who received 37%. Benzon is an educator, parent and community leader with more than 25 years in urban public schools and universities.
- For Trustee District VI, Michael McDonough led with about 60% vs Kendall Baker’s 40%. A first-time HISD District 5 candidate, McDonough is a practicing attorney and former oil and gas government relations executive with a background in political science.
- For Trustee District VII, Bridget Wade edged ahead with about 54% against Audrey Nath’s 46%. Wade is the incumbent HISD District VII trustee, a conservative elected in 2021 and a Houston native who attended Briargrove Elementary, Paul Revere Middle School, Wisdom (formerly Robert E. Lee) and Episcopal High School before earning a B.A. from the University of Oklahoma.
Houston City Council At‑Large Position 4
The special election for Houston City Council At‑Large Position 4, which covers Houston citywide seats, also provides insight into local power. This position was on the ballot to fill incumbent Letitia Plummer’s seat, following her automatic resignation under Texas’ “resign-to-run” law when she launched a bid for Harris County Judge earlier this year.
Election numbers show Dwight A. Boykins, a former Houston City Council member, and Alejandra Salinas, an attorney, heading to a runoff election. While Boykins bagged about 20% of the votes, Salinas received 21%.
