FrankGoortani/open-us-law huggingface dataset:
Tex. Const. art. 1, § 17 — Article 1 / Section 17
Texas Constitution Article 1, Section 17
Status: in_force

TAKING PROPERTY FOR PUBLIC USE; SPECIAL PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES; CONTROL OF PRIVILEGES AND FRANCHISES. (a) No person's property shall be taken, damaged, or destroyed for or applied to public use without adequate compensation being made, unless by the consent of such person, and only if the taking, damage, or destruction is for: (1) the ownership, use, and enjoyment of the property, notwithstanding an incidental use, by: (A) the State, a political subdivision of the State, or the public at large; or (B) an entity granted the power of eminent domain under law; or (2) the elimination of urban blight on a particular parcel of property. (b) In this section, "public use" does not include the taking of property under Subsection (a) of this section for transfer to a private entity for the primary purpose of economic development or enhancement of tax revenues. (c) On or after January 1, 2010, the legislature may enact a general, local, or special law granting the power of eminent domain to an entity only on a two-thirds vote of all the members elected to each house. (d) When a person's property is taken under Subsection (a) of this section, except for the use of the State, compensation as described by Subsection (a) shall be first made, or secured by a deposit of money; and no irrevocable or uncontrollable grant of special privileges or immunities shall be made; but all privileges and franchises granted by the Legislature, or created under its authority, shall be subject to the control thereof. (Feb. 15, 1876. Amended Nov. 3, 2009.)
Tex. Const. art. 16, § 24 — Article 16 / Section 24
Texas Constitution Article 16, Section 24
Status: in_force

ROADS AND BRIDGES. The Legislature shall make provision for laying out and working public roads, for the building of bridges, and for utilizing fines, forfeitures, and convict labor to all these purposes. (Feb. 15, 1876.)
Tex. Const. art. 1, § 22 — Article 1 / Section 22
Texas Constitution Article 1, Section 22
Status: in_force

TREASON AGAINST STATE. Treason against the State shall consist only in levying war against it, or adhering to its enemies, giving them aid and comfort; and no person shall be convicted of treason except on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open court. (Feb. 15, 1876.)
Tex. Const. art. 1, § 11d — Article 1 / Section 11d
Texas Constitution Article 1, Section 11d
Status: in_force

DENIAL OF BAIL TO PREVENT DEFENDANTâS NONAPPEARANCE AND ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY. (a) This section applies only to a person accused of committing one or more of the following offenses: (1) murder; (2) capital murder; (3) aggravated assault if the person: (A) caused serious bodily injury, as that term is defined by general law, to another; or (B) used a firearm, club, knife, or explosive weapon, as those terms are defined by general law, during the commission of the assault; (4) aggravated kidnapping; (5) aggravated robbery; (6) aggravated sexual assault; (7) indecency with a child; (8) trafficking of persons; or (9) continuous trafficking of persons. (b) A person to whom this section applies shall be denied bail pending trial if the attorney representing the state demonstrates: (1) by a preponderance of the evidence after a hearing that the granting of bail is insufficient to reasonably prevent the person's wilful nonappearance in court; or (2) by clear and convincing evidence after a hearing that the granting of bail is insufficient to reasonably ensure the safety of the community, law enforcement, and the victim of the alleged offense. (c) A judge or magistrate who grants a person bail in accordance with this section shall: (1) set bail and impose conditions of release necessary only to reasonably: (A) prevent the person's wilful nonappearance in court; and (B) ensure the safety of the community, law enforcement, and the victim of the alleged offense; and (2) prepare a written order that includes findings of fact and a statement explaining the judge's or magistrate's justification for the grant and the determinations required by this section. (d) This section may not be construed to: (1) limit any right a person has under other law to contest a denial of bail or to contest the amount of bail set by a judge or magistrate; or (2) require any testimonial evidence before a judge or magistrate makes a bail decision with respect to a person to whom this section applies. (e) For purposes of determining whether a preponderance of the evidence or clear and convincing evidence, as applicable, exists as described by this section, a judge or magistrate shall consider: (1) the likelihood of the person's wilful nonappearance in court; (2) the nature and circumstances of the alleged offense; (3) the safety of the community, law enforcement, and the victim of the alleged offense; and (4) the criminal history of the person. (f) At a hearing described by this section, a person is entitled to be represented by counsel. (Added Nov. 4, 2025.)
Tex. Const. art. 3, § 48b — Article 3 / Section 48b
Texas Constitution Article 3, Section 48b
Status: in_force

(Repealed April 22, 1975.)
Tex. Const. art. 6, § 2 — Article 6 / Section 2
Texas Constitution Article 6, Section 2
Status: in_force

QUALIFIED VOTER; REGISTRATION; ABSENTEE VOTING. (a) Every person subject to none of the disqualifications provided by Section 1 of this article or by a law enacted under that section who is a citizen of the United States and who is a resident of this state shall be deemed a qualified voter; provided, however, that before offering to vote at an election a voter shall have registered, but such requirement for registration shall not be considered a qualification of a voter within the meaning of the term "qualified voter" as used in any other Article of this Constitution in respect to any matter except qualification and eligibility to vote at an election. (b) The Legislature may authorize absentee voting. (c) The privilege of free suffrage shall be protected by laws regulating elections and prohibiting under adequate penalties all undue influence in elections from power, bribery, tumult, or other improper practice. (Feb. 15, 1876. Amended Nov. 3, 1896, Nov. 4, 1902, July 23, 1921, Nov. 2, 1954, Nov. 8, 1966, Nov. 4, 1997, Nov. 2, 1999, and Nov. 6, 2001.) (TEMPORARY TRANSITION PROVISIONS for Sec. 2: See Appendix, Notes 1 and 3.)
Tex. Const. art. 3, § 23a — Article 3 / Section 23a
Texas Constitution Article 3, Section 23a
Status: in_force

(Repealed Nov. 4, 1997.)
Tex. Const. art. 16, § 7 — Article 16 / Section 7
Texas Constitution Article 16, Section 7
Status: in_force

(Repealed Aug. 5, 1969.)
Tex. Const. art. 7, § 6a — Article 7 / Section 6a
Texas Constitution Article 7, Section 6a
Status: in_force

COUNTY AGRICULTURAL OR GRAZING SCHOOL LAND SUBJECT TO TAX. All agriculture or grazing school land mentioned in Section 6 of this article owned by any county shall be subject to taxation except for State purposes to the same extent as lands privately owned. (Added Nov. 2, 1926.)
Tex. Const. art. 5, § 16 — Article 5 / Section 16
Texas Constitution Article 5, Section 16
Status: in_force

COUNTY COURTS: JURISDICTION; COUNTY JUDGE POWERS; DISQUALIFICATION OF COUNTY JUDGE. The County Court has jurisdiction as provided by law. The County Judge is the presiding officer of the County Court and has judicial functions as provided by law. County court judges shall have the power to issue writs necessary to enforce their jurisdiction. County Courts in existence on the effective date of this amendment are continued unless otherwise provided by law. When the judge of the County Court is disqualified in any case pending in the County Court the parties interested may, by consent, appoint a proper person to try said case, or upon their failing to do so a competent person may be appointed to try the same in the county where it is pending in such manner as may be prescribed by law. (Feb. 15, 1876. Amended Aug. 11, 1891, Nov. 7, 1978, Nov. 4, 1980, and Nov. 5, 1985.)
Tex. Const. art. 1, § 11c — Article 1 / Section 11c
Texas Constitution Article 1, Section 11c
Status: in_force

DENIAL OF BAIL FOR VIOLATION OF PROTECTIVE ORDER INVOLVING FAMILY VIOLENCE. The legislature by general law may provide that any person who violates an order for emergency protection issued by a judge or magistrate after an arrest for an offense involving family violence or who violates an active protective order rendered by a court in a family violence case, including a temporary ex parte order that has been served on the person, or who engages in conduct that constitutes an offense involving the violation of an order described by this section may be taken into custody and, pending trial or other court proceedings, denied release on bail if following a hearing a judge or magistrate in this state determines by a preponderance of the evidence that the person violated the order or engaged in the conduct constituting the offense. (Added Nov. 6, 2007.)
Tex. Const. art. 5, § 27 — Article 5 / Section 27
Texas Constitution Article 5, Section 27
Status: in_force

(Repealed Nov. 6, 2001.) (TEMPORARY TRANSITION PROVISION for Sec. 27: See Appendix, Note 3.)
Tex. Const. art. 8, § 3 — Article 8 / Section 3
Texas Constitution Article 8, Section 3
Status: in_force

TAXATION BY GENERAL LAW FOR PUBLIC PURPOSES. Taxes shall be levied and collected by general laws and for public purposes only. (Feb. 15, 1876.)
Tex. Const. art. 16, § 72 — Article 16 / Section 72
Texas Constitution Article 16, Section 72
Status: in_force

TEMPORARY REPLACEMENT OF PUBLIC OFFICER ON ACTIVE MILITARY DUTY. (a) An elected or appointed officer of the state or of any political subdivision who enters active duty in the armed forces of the United States as a result of being called to duty, drafted, or activated does not vacate the office held, but the appropriate authority may appoint a replacement to serve as temporary acting officer as provided by this section if the elected or appointed officer will be on active duty for longer than 30 days. (b) For an officer other than a member of the legislature, the authority who has the power to appoint a person to fill a vacancy in that office may appoint a temporary acting officer. If a vacancy would normally be filled by special election, the governor may appoint the temporary acting officer for a state or district office, and the governing body of a political subdivision may appoint the temporary acting officer for an office of that political subdivision. (c) For an officer who is a member of the legislature, the member of the legislature shall select a person to serve as the temporary acting representative or senator, subject to approval of the selection by a majority vote of the appropriate house of the legislature. The temporary acting representative or senator must be: (1) a member of the same political party as the member being temporarily replaced; and (2) qualified for office under Section 6 , Article III, of this constitution for a senator, or Section 7 , Article III, of this constitution for a representative. (d) The officer who is temporarily replaced under this section may recommend to the appropriate appointing authority the name of a person to temporarily fill the office. (e) The appropriate authority shall appoint the temporary acting officer to begin service on the date specified in writing by the officer being temporarily replaced as the date the officer will enter active military service. (f) A temporary acting officer has all the powers, privileges, and duties of the office and is entitled to the same compensation, payable in the same manner and from the same source, as the officer who is temporarily replaced. (g) A temporary acting officer appointed under this section shall perform the duties of office for the shorter period of: (1) the term of the active military service of the officer who is temporarily replaced; or (2) the term of office of the officer who is temporarily replaced. (h) In this section, "armed forces of the United States" means the United States Army, the United States Navy, the United States Air Force, the United States Marine Corps, the United States Coast Guard, any reserve or auxiliary component of any of those services, or the National Guard. (Added Sept. 13, 2003.)
Tex. Const. art. 3, § 18 — Article 3 / Section 18
Texas Constitution Article 3, Section 18
Status: in_force

INELIGIBILITY FOR OTHER OFFICES; VOTING FOR OTHER MEMBERS; INTEREST IN STATE OR COUNTY CONTRACTS. No Senator or Representative shall, during the term for which he was elected, be eligible to (1) any civil office of profit under this State which shall have been created, or the emoluments of which may have been increased, during such term, or (2) any office or place, the appointment to which may be made, in whole or in part, by either branch of the Legislature; provided, however, the fact that the term of office of Senators and Representatives does not end precisely on the last day of December but extends a few days into January of the succeeding year shall be considered as de minimis, and the ineligibility herein created shall terminate on the last day in December of the last full calendar year of the term for which he was elected. No member of either House shall vote for any other member for any office whatever, which may be filled by a vote of the Legislature, except in such cases as are in this Constitution provided, nor shall any member of the Legislature be interested, either directly or indirectly, in any contract with the State, or any county thereof, authorized by any law passed during the term for which he was elected. (Feb. 15, 1876. Amended Nov. 5, 1968.)
Tex. Const. art. 16, § 8 — Article 16 / Section 8
Texas Constitution Article 16, Section 8
Status: in_force

(Redesignated as Sec. 14, Art. IX, Nov. 6, 2001.) (TEMPORARY TRANSITION PROVISION for Sec. 8: See Appendix, Note 3.)
Tex. Const. art. 16, § 9 — Article 16 / Section 9
Texas Constitution Article 16, Section 9
Status: in_force

NO FORFEITURE OF RESIDENCE BY ABSENCE ON PUBLIC BUSINESS. Absence on business of the State, or of the United States, shall not forfeit a residence once obtained, so as to deprive any one of the right of suffrage, or of being elected or appointed to any office under the exceptions contained in this Constitution. (Feb. 15, 1876.)
Tex. Const. art. 6, § 5 — Article 6 / Section 5
Texas Constitution Article 6, Section 5
Status: in_force

VOTERS PRIVILEGED FROM ARREST. Voters shall, in all cases, except treason, felony or breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance at elections, and in going to and returning therefrom. (Feb. 15, 1876.)
Tex. Const. art. 3, § 13 — Article 3 / Section 13
Texas Constitution Article 3, Section 13
Status: in_force

VACANCY IN LEGISLATURE. (a) When vacancies occur in either House, the Governor, or the person exercising the power of the Governor, shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies; and should the Governor fail to issue a writ of election to fill any such vacancy within twenty days after it occurs, the returning officer of the district in which such vacancy may have happened, shall be authorized to order an election for that purpose. (b) The legislature may provide by general law for the filling of a vacancy in the legislature without an election if only one person qualifies and declares a candidacy in an election to fill the vacancy. (Feb. 15, 1876. Amended Nov. 6, 2001.)
Tex. Const. art. 15, § 5 — Article 15 / Section 5
Texas Constitution Article 15, Section 5
Status: in_force

SUSPENSION PENDING IMPEACHMENT; PROVISIONAL APPOINTMENT. All officers against whom articles of impeachment may be preferred shall be suspended from the exercise of the duties of their office, during the pendency of such impeachment. The Governor may make a provisional appointment to fill the vacancy,â occasioned by the suspension of an officer until the decision on the impeachment. (Feb. 15, 1876.) â The language of this provision is identical to the language of the official legislative measure that originally proposed the provision. A digital image of the original text of the official enrolled measure can be found here .
Tex. Const. art. 11, § 6 — Article 11 / Section 6
Texas Constitution Article 11, Section 6
Status: in_force

(Repealed Nov. 2, 1999.) (TEMPORARY TRANSITION PROVISIONS for Sec. 6: See Appendix, Note 1.)
Tex. Const. art. 9, § 13 — Article 9 / Section 13
Texas Constitution Article 9, Section 13
Status: in_force

PARTICIPATION OF MUNICIPALITIES AND OTHER POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS IN ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION OF MENTAL HEALTH, MENTAL RETARDATION, OR PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES. Notwithstanding any other section of this article, the Legislature in providing for the creation, establishment, maintenance, and operation of a hospital district, shall not be required to provide that such district shall assume full responsibility for the establishment, maintenance, support, or operation of mental health services or mental retardation services including the operation of any community mental health centers, community mental retardation centers or community mental health and mental retardation centers which may exist or be thereafter established within the boundaries of such district, nor shall the Legislature be required to provide that such district shall assume full responsibility of public health department units and clinics and related public health activities or services, and the Legislature shall not be required to restrict the power of any municipality or political subdivision to levy taxes or issue bonds or other obligations or to expend public moneys for the establishment, maintenance, support, or operation of mental health services, mental retardation services, public health units or clinics or related public health activities or services or the operation of such community mental health or mental retardation centers within the boundaries of the hospital districts; and unless a statute creating a hospital district shall expressly prohibit participation by any entity other than the hospital district in the establishment, maintenance, or support of mental health services, mental retardation services, public health units or clinics or related public health activities within or partly within the boundaries of any hospital district, any municipality or any other political subdivision or state-supported entity within the hospital district may participate in the establishment, maintenance, and support of mental health services, mental retardation services, public health units and clinics and related public health activities and may levy taxes, issue bonds or other obligations, and expend public moneys for such purposes as provided by law. (Added Nov. 11, 1967.)
Tex. Const. art. 5, § 8 — Article 5 / Section 8
Texas Constitution Article 5, Section 8
Status: in_force

JURISDICTION OF DISTRICT COURTS. District Court jurisdiction consists of exclusive, appellate, and original jurisdiction of all actions, proceedings, and remedies, except in cases where exclusive, appellate, or original jurisdiction may be conferred by this Constitution or other law on some other court, tribunal, or administrative body. District Court judges shall have the power to issue writs necessary to enforce their jurisdiction. The District Court shall have appellate jurisdiction and general supervisory control over the County Commissioners Court, with such exceptions and under such regulations as may be prescribed by law. (Feb. 15, 1876. Amended Aug. 11, 1891, Nov. 6, 1973, and Nov. 5, 1985.)
Tex. Const. art. 4, § 14 — Article 4 / Section 14
Texas Constitution Article 4, Section 14
Status: in_force

APPROVAL OR VETO OF BILLS; RETURN AND RECONSIDERATION; FAILURE TO RETURN; VETO OF ITEMS OF APPROPRIATION. Every bill which shall have passed both houses of the Legislature shall be presented to the Governor for his approval. If he approve he shall sign it; but if he disapprove it, he shall return it, with his objections, to the House in which it originated, which House shall enter the objections at large upon its journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such reconsideration, two-thirds of the members present agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent, with the objections, to the other House, by which likewise it shall be reconsidered; and, if approved by two-thirds of the members of that House, it shall become a law; but in such cases the votes of both Houses shall be determined by yeas and nays, and the names of the members voting for and against the bill shall be entered on the journal of each House respectively. If any bill shall not be returned by the Governor with his objections within ten days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the same shall be a law, in like manner as if he had signed it, unless the Legislature, by its adjournment, prevent its return, in which case it shall be a law, unless he shall file the same, with his objections, in the office of the Secretary of State and give notice thereof by public proclamation within twenty days after such adjournment. If any bill presented to the Governor contains several items of appropriation he may object to one or more of such items, and approve the other portion of the bill. In such case he shall append to the Bill, at the time of signing it, a statement of the items to which he objects, and no item so objected to shall take effect. If the Legislature be in session, he shall transmit to the House in which the bill originated a copy of such statement and the items objected to shall be separately considered. If, on reconsideration, one or more of such items be approved by two-thirds of the members present of each House, the same shall be part of the law, notwithstanding the objections of the Governor. If any such bill, containing several items of appropriation, not having been presented to the Governor ten days (Sundays excepted) prior to adjournment, be in the hands of the Governor at the time of adjournment, he shall have twenty days from such adjournment within which to file objections to any items thereof and make proclamation of the same, and such item or items shall not take effect. (Feb. 15, 1876.)
Tex. Const. art. 8, § 21 — Article 8 / Section 21
Texas Constitution Article 8, Section 21
Status: in_force

INCREASE IN TOTAL AMOUNT OF PROPERTY TAXES IMPOSED PROHIBITED WITHOUT NOTICE AND HEARING; CALCULATION AND NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNERS. (a) Subject to any exceptions prescribed by general law, the total amount of property taxes imposed by a political subdivision in any year may not exceed the total amount of property taxes imposed by that subdivision in the preceding year unless the governing body of the subdivision gives notice of its intent to consider an increase in taxes and holds a public hearing on the proposed increase before it increases those total taxes. The legislature shall prescribe by law the form, content, timing, and methods of giving the notice and the rules for the conduct of the hearing. (b) In calculating the total amount of taxes imposed in the current year for the purposes of Subsection (a) of this section, the taxes on property in territory added to the political subdivision since the preceding year and on new improvements that were not taxable in the preceding year are excluded. In calculating the total amount of taxes imposed in the preceding year for the purposes of Subsection (a) of this section, the taxes imposed on real property that is not taxable by the subdivision in the current year are excluded. (c) The legislature by general law shall require that, subject to reasonable exceptions, a property owner be given notice of a revaluation of his property and a reasonable estimate of the amount of taxes that would be imposed on his property if the total amount of property taxes for the subdivision were not increased according to any law enacted pursuant to Subsection (a) of this section. The notice must be given before the procedures required in Subsection (a) are instituted. (Added Nov. 7, 1978; Subsec. (c) amended Nov. 3, 1981.)