FrankGoortani/open-us-law huggingface dataset:
Tex. Const. art. 1, § 33 — Article 1 / Section 33
Texas Constitution Article 1, Section 33
Status: in_force

PUBLIC ACCESS TO AND USE OF PUBLIC BEACHES. (a) In this section, "public beach" means a state-owned beach bordering on the seaward shore of the Gulf of Mexico, extending from mean low tide to the landward boundary of state-owned submerged land, and any larger area extending from the line of mean low tide to the line of vegetation bordering on the Gulf of Mexico to which the public has acquired a right of use or easement to or over the area by prescription or dedication or has established and retained a right by virtue of continuous right in the public under Texas common law. (b) The public, individually and collectively, has an unrestricted right to use and a right of ingress to and egress from a public beach. The right granted by this subsection is dedicated as a permanent easement in favor of the public. (c) The legislature may enact laws to protect the right of the public to access and use a public beach and to protect the public beach easement from interference and encroachments. (d) This section does not create a private right of enforcement. (Added Nov. 3, 2009.)
Tex. Const. art. 8, § 4 — Article 8 / Section 4
Texas Constitution Article 8, Section 4
Status: in_force

SURRENDER OR SUSPENSION OF TAXING POWER PROHIBITED. The power to tax corporations and corporate property shall not be surrendered or suspended by act of the Legislature, by any contract or grant to which the State shall be a party. (Feb. 15, 1876.)
Tex. Const. art. 3, § 4 — Article 3 / Section 4
Texas Constitution Article 3, Section 4
Status: in_force

ELECTION AND TERM OF MEMBERS OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The Members of the House of Representatives shall be chosen by the qualified voters for the term of two years. Representatives shall take office following their election, on the day set by law for the convening of the Regular Session of the Legislature, and shall serve thereafter for the full term of years to which elected. (Feb. 15, 1876. Amended Nov. 8, 1966, and Nov. 2, 1999.) (TEMPORARY TRANSITION PROVISIONS for Sec. 4: See Appendix, Note 1.)
Tex. Const. art. 3, § 23 — Article 3 / Section 23
Texas Constitution Article 3, Section 23
Status: in_force

VACANCY FOLLOWING REMOVAL FROM DISTRICT OR COUNTY FROM WHICH ELECTED. If any Senator or Representative remove his residence from the district or county for which he was elected, his office shall thereby become vacant, and the vacancy shall be filled as provided in section 13 of this article. (Feb. 15, 1876.)
Tex. Const. art. 5, § 16a — Article 5 / Section 16a
Texas Constitution Article 5, Section 16a
Status: in_force

(Repealed Nov. 5, 1985.)
Tex. Const. art. 3, § 52i — Article 3 / Section 52i
Texas Constitution Article 3, Section 52i
Status: in_force

DONATIONS BY MUNICIPALITIES OF SURPLUS FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT FOR RURAL FIRE PROTECTION. (a) A municipality may donate surplus equipment, supplies, or other materials used in fighting fires to the Texas Forest Service or to a successor agency authorized to cooperate in the development of rural fire protection plans. (b) The Texas Forest Service or the successor agency may, based on need, redistribute to rural volunteer fire departments the equipment, supplies, or materials donated under Subsection (a). (Added Sept. 13, 2003.)
Tex. Const. art. 3, § 6 — Article 3 / Section 6
Texas Constitution Article 3, Section 6
Status: in_force

QUALIFICATIONS OF SENATORS. No person shall be a Senator, unless he be a citizen of the United States, and, at the time of his election a qualified voter of this State, and shall have been a resident of this State five years next preceding his election, and the last year thereof a resident of the district for which he shall be chosen, and shall have attained the age of twenty-six years. (Feb. 15, 1876. Amended Nov. 2, 1999.) (TEMPORARY TRANSITION PROVISIONS for Sec. 6: See Appendix, Note 1.)
Tex. Const. art. 3, § 52l — Article 3 / Section 52l
Texas Constitution Article 3, Section 52l
Status: in_force

DONATION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT ANIMAL. The legislature may authorize a state agency or a county, a municipality, or other political subdivision to transfer a law enforcement dog, horse, or other animal to the animal's handler or another qualified caretaker for no consideration on the animal's retirement or at another time if the transfer is in the animal's best interest. (Added Nov. 5, 2019.)
Tex. Const. art. 5, § 21 — Article 5 / Section 21
Texas Constitution Article 5, Section 21
Status: in_force

COUNTY ATTORNEYS; DISTRICT ATTORNEYS. A County Attorney, for counties in which there is not a resident Criminal District Attorney, shall be elected by the qualified voters of each county, who shall be commissioned by the Governor, and hold his office for the term of four years. In case of vacancy the Commissioners Court of the county shall have the power to appoint a County Attorney until the next general election. The County Attorneys shall represent the State in all cases in the District and inferior courts in their respective counties; but if any county shall be included in a district in which there shall be a District Attorney, the respective duties of District Attorneys and County Attorneys shall in such counties be regulated by the Legislature. The Legislature may provide for the election of District Attorneys in such districts, as may be deemed necessary, and make provision for the compensation of District Attorneys and County Attorneys. District Attorneys shall hold office for a term of four years, and until their successors have qualified. (Feb. 15, 1876. Amended Nov. 2, 1954.)
Tex. Const. art. 6, § 1 — Article 6 / Section 1
Texas Constitution Article 6, Section 1
Status: in_force

CLASSES OF PERSONS NOT ALLOWED TO VOTE. (a) The following classes of persons shall not be allowed to vote in this State: (1) persons under 18 years of age; (2) persons who have been determined mentally incompetent by a court, subject to such exceptions as the Legislature may make; (3) persons convicted of any felony, subject to such exceptions as the Legislature may make; and (4) persons who are not citizens of the United States. (b) The legislature shall enact laws to exclude from the right of suffrage persons who have been convicted of bribery, perjury, forgery, or other high crimes. (Feb. 15, 1876. Amended Nov. 8, 1932, Nov. 2, 1954, Nov. 4, 1997, and Nov. 6, 2001; Subsec. (a) amended Nov. 4, 2025.) (TEMPORARY TRANSITION PROVISION for Sec. 1: See Appendix, Note 3.)
Tex. Const. art. 16, § 38 — Article 16 / Section 38
Texas Constitution Article 16, Section 38
Status: in_force

(Repealed Aug. 5, 1969.)
Tex. Const. art. 3, § 58 — Article 3 / Section 58
Texas Constitution Article 3, Section 58
Status: in_force

SEAT OF GOVERNMENT. The Legislature shall hold its sessions at the City of Austin, which is hereby declared to be the seat of government. (Feb. 15, 1876.)
Tex. Const. art. 11, § 9 — Article 11 / Section 9
Texas Constitution Article 11, Section 9
Status: in_force

COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL PROPERTY HELD FOR PUBLIC PURPOSE EXEMPT FROM FORCED SALE AND TAXATION. The property of counties, cities and towns, owned and held only for public purposes, such as public buildings and the sites therefor, Fire engines and the furniture thereof, and all property used, or intended for extinguishing fires, public grounds and all other property devoted exclusively to the use and benifitâ of the public shall be exempt from forced sale and from taxation, provided, nothing herein shall prevent the enforcement of the vendors lien, the mechanics or builders lien, or other liens now existing. (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. 16, § 57 — Article 16 / Section 57
Texas Constitution Article 16, Section 57
Status: in_force

(Repealed Aug. 5, 1969.)
Tex. Const. art. 4, § 22 — Article 4 / Section 22
Texas Constitution Article 4, Section 22
Status: in_force

ATTORNEY GENERAL. The Attorney General shall represent the State in all suits and pleas in the Supreme Court of the State in which the State may be a party, and shall especially inquire into the charter rights of all private corporations, and from time to time, in the name of the State, take such action in the courts as may be proper and necessary to prevent any private corporation from exercising any power or demanding or collecting any species of taxes, tolls, freight or wharfage not authorized by law. He shall, whenever sufficient cause exists, seek a judicial forfeiture of such charters, unless otherwise expressly directed by law, and give legal advice in writing to the Governor and other executive officers, when requested by them, and perform such other duties as may be required by law. (Feb. 15, 1876. Amended Nov. 3, 1936, Nov. 2, 1954, Nov. 7, 1972, and Nov. 2, 1999.) (TEMPORARY TRANSITION PROVISIONS for Sec. 22: See Appendix, Note 1.)
Tex. Const. art. 9, § 6 — Article 9 / Section 6
Texas Constitution Article 9, Section 6
Status: in_force

(Repealed Nov. 2, 1999.) (TEMPORARY TRANSITION PROVISIONS for Sec. 6: See Appendix, Note 1.)
Tex. Const. art. 7, § 3a — Article 7 / Section 3a
Texas Constitution Article 7, Section 3a
Status: in_force

(Repealed Aug. 5, 1969.) Sec. 3-b. INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT AND JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT TAXES AND BONDS NOT AFFECTED BY CHANGES IN BOUNDARIES. No tax for the maintenance of public free schools voted in any independent school district and no tax for the maintenance of a junior college voted by a junior college district, nor any bonds voted in any such district, but unissued, shall be abrogated, cancelled or invalidated by change of any kind in the boundaries thereof. After any change in boundaries, the governing body of any such district, without the necessity of an additional election, shall have the power to assess, levy and collect ad valorem taxes on all taxable property within the boundaries of the district as changed, for the purposes of the maintenance of public free schools or the maintenance of a junior college, as the case may be, and the payment of principal of and interest on all bonded indebtedness outstanding against, or attributable, adjusted or allocated to, such district or any territory therein, in the amount, at the rate, or not to exceed the rate, and in the manner authorized in the district prior to the change in its boundaries, and further in accordance with the laws under which all such bonds, respectively, were voted; and such governing body also shall have the power, without the necessity of an additional election, to sell and deliver any unissued bonds voted in the district prior to any such change in boundaries, and to assess, levy and collect ad valorem taxes on all taxable property in the district as changed, for the payment of principal of and interest on such bonds in the manner permitted by the laws under which such bonds were voted. In those instances where the boundaries of any such independent school district are changed by the annexation of, or consolidation with, one or more whole school districts, the taxes to be levied for the purposes hereinabove authorized may be in the amount or at not to exceed the rate theretofore voted in the district having at the time of such change the greatest scholastic population according to the latest scholastic census and only the unissued bonds of such district voted prior to such change, may be subsequently sold and delivered and any voted, but unissued, bonds of other school districts involved in such annexation or consolidation shall not thereafter be issued. (Added Nov. 6, 1962; amended Nov. 8, 1966.)
Tex. Const. art. 8, § 11 — Article 8 / Section 11
Texas Constitution Article 8, Section 11
Status: in_force

PLACE OF ASSESSMENT OF PROPERTY FOR TAXATION; VALUE OF PROPERTY NOT RENDERED BY OWNER FOR TAXATION. All property, whether owned by persons or corporations shall be assessed for taxation, and the taxes paid in the county where situated, but the Legislature may, by a two-thirds vote, authorize the payment of taxes of non-residents of counties to be made at the office of the Comptroller of Public Accounts. And all lands and other property not rendered for taxation by the owner thereof shall be assessed at its fair value by the proper officer. (Feb. 15, 1876.)
Tex. Const. art. 3, § 19 — Article 3 / Section 19
Texas Constitution Article 3, Section 19
Status: in_force

INELIGIBILITY OF PERSONS HOLDING OTHER OFFICES. No judge of any Court, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Clerk of any Court of Record, or any person holding a lucrative office under the United States, or this State, or any foreign government shall during the term for which he is elected or appointed, be eligible to the Legislature. (Feb. 15, 1876.)
Tex. Const. art. 15, § 9 — Article 15 / Section 9
Texas Constitution Article 15, Section 9
Status: in_force

REMOVAL OF PUBLIC OFFICER BY APPOINTING GOVERNOR WITH ADVICE AND CONSENT OF SENATE. (a) In addition to the other procedures provided by law for removal of public officers, the governor who appoints an officer may remove the officer with the advice and consent of two-thirds of the members of the senate present. (b) If the legislature is not in session when the governor desires to remove an officer, the governor shall call a special session of the senate for consideration of the proposed removal. The session may not exceed two days in duration. (Added Nov. 4, 1980.)
Tex. Const. art. 8, § 14 — Article 8 / Section 14
Texas Constitution Article 8, Section 14
Status: in_force

ASSESSOR AND COLLECTOR OF TAXES. (a) The qualified voters of each county shall elect an assessor-collector of taxes for the county, except as otherwise provided by this section. (b) In any county having a population of less than 10,000 inhabitants, as determined by the most recent decennial census of the United States, the sheriff of the county, in addition to that officer's other duties, shall be the assessor-collector of taxes, except that the commissioners court of such a county may submit to the qualified voters of the county at an election the question of electing an assessor-collector of taxes as a county officer separate from the office of sheriff. If a majority of the voters voting in such an election approve of electing an assessor-collector of taxes for the county, then such official shall be elected at the next general election for the constitutional term of office as is provided for other tax assessor-collectors in this state. (c) An assessor-collector of taxes shall hold office for four years; and shall perform all the duties with respect to assessing property for the purpose of taxation and of collecting taxes, as may be prescribed by the Legislature. (Feb. 15, 1876. Amended Nov. 8, 1932, Nov. 2, 1954, and Nov. 6, 2001.) (TEMPORARY TRANSITION PROVISION for Sec. 14: See Appendix, Note 3.)
Tex. Const. art. 14, § 2 — Article 14 / Section 2
Texas Constitution Article 14, Section 2
Status: in_force

(Repealed Aug. 5, 1969.)
Tex. Const. art. 3, § 31 — Article 3 / Section 31
Texas Constitution Article 3, Section 31
Status: in_force

ORIGINATION IN EITHER HOUSE; AMENDMENT. Bills may originate in either House, and, when passed by such House, may be amended, altered or rejected by the other. (Feb. 15, 1876.)
Tex. Const. art. 10, § 2 — Article 10 / Section 2
Texas Constitution Article 10, Section 2
Status: in_force

RAILROADS AS PUBLIC HIGHWAYS AND COMMON CARRIERS; REGULATION. Railroads heretofore constructed or which may hereafter be constructed in this state are hereby declared public highways, and railroad companies, common carriers. The Legislature shall pass laws to regulate railroad, freight and passenger tariffs, to correct abuses and prevent unjust discrimination and extortion in the rates of freight and passenger tariffs on the different railroads in this state, and enforce the same by adequate penalties; and to the further accomplishment of these objects and purposes, may provide and establish all requisite means and agencies invested with such powers as may be deemed adequate and advisable. (Feb. 15, 1876. Amended Nov. 4, 1890.)
Tex. Const. art. 8, § 12 — Article 8 / Section 12
Texas Constitution Article 8, Section 12
Status: in_force

(Repealed Aug. 5, 1969.)
Tex. Const. art. 1, § 7 — Article 1 / Section 7
Texas Constitution Article 1, Section 7
Status: in_force

APPROPRIATIONS FOR SECTARIAN PURPOSES. No money shall be appropriated, or drawn from the Treasury for the benefit of any sect, or religious society, theological or religious seminary; nor shall property belonging to the State be appropriated for any such purposes. (Feb. 15, 1876.)
Tex. Const. art. 16, § 42 — Article 16 / Section 42
Texas Constitution Article 16, Section 42
Status: in_force

(Repealed Aug. 5, 1969.)
Tex. Const. art. 3, § 30 — Article 3 / Section 30
Texas Constitution Article 3, Section 30
Status: in_force

LAWS PASSED BY BILL; AMENDMENTS CHANGING PURPOSE PROHIBITED. No law shall be passed, except by bill, and no bill shall be so amended in its passage through either House, as to change its original purpose. (Feb. 15, 1876.)
Tex. Const. art. 11, § 5 — Article 11 / Section 5
Texas Constitution Article 11, Section 5
Status: in_force

CITIES OF MORE THAN 5,000 POPULATION: ADOPTION OR AMENDMENT OF CHARTERS; TAXES; DEBT RESTRICTIONS. (a) Cities having more than five thousand (5000) inhabitants may, by a majority vote of the qualified voters of said city, at an election held for that purpose, adopt or amend their charters. If the number of inhabitants of cities that have adopted or amended their charters under this section is reduced to five thousand (5000) or fewer, the cities still may amend their charters by a majority vote of the qualified voters of said city at an election held for that purpose. The adoption or amendment of charters is subject to such limitations as may be prescribed by the Legislature, and no charter or any ordinance passed under said charter shall contain any provision inconsistent with the Constitution of the State, or of the general laws enacted by the Legislature of this State. Said cities may levy, assess and collect such taxes as may be authorized by law or by their charters; but no tax for any purpose shall ever be lawful for any one year, which shall exceed two and one-half per cent. of the taxable property of such city, and no debt shall ever be created by any city, unless at the same time provision be made to assess and collect annually a sufficient sum to pay the interest thereon and creating a sinking fund of at least two per cent. thereon, except as provided by Subsection (b). Furthermore, no city charter shall be altered, amended or repealed oftener than every two years. (b) To increase efficiency and effectiveness to the greatest extent possible, the legislature may by general law authorize cities to enter into interlocal contracts with other cities or counties without meeting the assessment and sinking fund requirements under Subsection (a). (Feb. 15, 1876. Amended Aug. 3, 1909, Nov. 5, 1912, Nov. 5, 1991, and Nov. 8, 2011.)
Tex. Const. art. 16, § 23 — Article 16 / Section 23
Texas Constitution Article 16, Section 23
Status: in_force

REGULATION OF LIVESTOCK; PROTECTION OF STOCK RAISERS; INSPECTIONS; BRANDS. The Legislature may pass laws for the regulation of live stock and the protection of stock raisers in the stock raising portion of the State, and exempt from the operation of such laws other portions, sections, or counties; and shall have power to pass general and special laws for the inspection of cattle, stock and hides and for the regulation of brands; provided, that any local law thus passed shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the section to be affected thereby, and approved by them, before it shall go into effect. (Feb. 15, 1876. Amended Nov. 6, 2001.) (TEMPORARY TRANSITION PROVISION for Sec. 23: See Appendix, Note 3.)
Tex. Const. art. 16, § 37 — Article 16 / Section 37
Texas Constitution Article 16, Section 37
Status: in_force

LIENS OF MECHANICS, ARTISANS, AND MATERIAL MEN. Mechanics, artisans and material men, of every class, shall have a lien upon the buildings and articles made or repaired by them for the value of their labor done thereon, or material furnished therefor; and the Legislature shall provide by law for the speedy and efficient enforcement of said liens. (Feb. 15, 1876.)
Tex. Const. art. 16, § 68 — Article 16 / Section 68
Texas Constitution Article 16, Section 68
Status: in_force

ASSESSMENTS ON PRODUCT SALES BY ASSOCIATIONS OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS. The legislature may provide for the advancement of food and fiber in this state by providing representative associations of agricultural producers with authority to collect such refundable assessments on their product sales as may be approved by referenda of producers. All revenue collected shall be used solely to finance programs of marketing, promotion, research, and education relating to that commodity. (Added Nov. 8, 1983.)
Tex. Const. art. 3, § 46 — Article 3 / Section 46
Texas Constitution Article 3, Section 46
Status: in_force

UNIFORMITY IN COLLECTION OF FEES. (a) In this section, "fee" means a fee in a criminal or civil matter all or a portion of which is required to be collected by local officers, clerks, or other local personnel and remitted to the comptroller of public accounts for deposit in the manner provided for in the law imposing the fee. (b) This section applies only if the legislature enacts by law a program to consolidate and standardize the collection, deposit, reporting, and remitting of fees. (c) A fee imposed by the legislature after the enactment of the program described by Subsection (b) of this section is valid only if the requirements relating to its collection, deposit, reporting, and remitting conform to the program. (d) A fee to which this section applies may take effect on a date before the next January 1 after the regular session at which the bill adopting the fee was enacted only if the bill is passed by a record vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house of the legislature on final consideration in each house. (Former Sec. 46 repealed Aug. 5, 1969; current Sec. 46 added Nov. 6, 2001.)
Tex. Const. art. 3, § 48 — Article 3 / Section 48
Texas Constitution Article 3, Section 48
Status: in_force

(Repealed Aug. 5, 1969.)
Tex. Const. art. 8, § 22 — Article 8 / Section 22
Texas Constitution Article 8, Section 22
Status: in_force

RESTRICTION ON RATE OF GROWTH OF APPROPRIATIONS. (a) In no biennium shall the rate of growth of appropriations from state tax revenues not dedicated by this constitution exceed the estimated rate of growth of the state's economy. The legislature shall provide by general law procedures to implement this subsection. (a-1) Appropriations from state tax revenues not dedicated by this constitution that are made for the purpose of paying for ad valorem tax relief as identified by the legislature by general law are not included as appropriations for purposes of determining whether the rate of growth of appropriations exceeds the limitation prescribed by Subsection (a) of this section. (b) If the legislature by adoption of a resolution approved by a record vote of a majority of the members of each house finds that an emergency exists and identifies the nature of the emergency, the legislature may provide for appropriations in excess of the amount authorized by Subsection (a) of this section. The excess authorized under this subsection may not exceed the amount specified in the resolution. (c) In no case shall appropriations exceed revenues as provided in Article III, Section 49a , of this constitution. Nothing in this section shall be construed to alter, amend, or repeal Article III, Section 49a , of this constitution. (Added Nov. 7, 1978; Subsec. (a-1) added Nov. 7, 2023.)