FrankGoortani/open-us-law huggingface dataset:
Tex. Const. art. 7, § 3 — Article 7 / Section 3
Texas Constitution Article 7, Section 3
Status: in_force

TAXES FOR BENEFIT OF SCHOOLS; PROVISION OF FREE TEXT BOOKS; SCHOOL DISTRICTS. (a) One-fourth of the revenue derived from the State occupation taxes shall be set apart annually for the benefit of the public free schools. (b) It shall be the duty of the State Board of Education to set aside a sufficient amount of available funds to provide free text books for the use of children attending the public free schools of this State. (c) Should the taxation herein named be insufficient the deficit may be met by appropriation from the general funds of the State. (d) The Legislature may provide for the formation of school districts by general laws, and all such school districts may embrace parts of two or more counties. (e) The Legislature shall be authorized to pass laws for the assessment and collection of taxes in all school districts and for the management and control of the public school or schools of such districts, whether such districts are composed of territory wholly within a county or in parts of two or more counties, and the Legislature may authorize an additional ad valorem tax to be levied and collected within all school districts for the further maintenance of public free schools, and for the erection and equipment of school buildings therein; provided that a majority of the qualified voters of the district voting at an election to be held for that purpose, shall approve the tax. (Feb. 15, 1876. Amended Aug. 14, 1883, Nov. 3, 1908, Aug. 3, 1909, Nov. 5, 1918, Nov. 2, 1920, Nov. 2, 1926, and Nov. 2, 1999.) (TEMPORARY TRANSITION PROVISIONS for Sec. 3: See Appendix, Note 1.)
Tex. Const. art. 3, § 15 — Article 3 / Section 15
Texas Constitution Article 3, Section 15
Status: in_force

DISRESPECTFUL OR DISORDERLY CONDUCT; OBSTRUCTION OF PROCEEDINGS. Each House may punish, by imprisonment, during its sessions, any person not a member, for disrespectful or disorderly conduct in its presence, or for obstructing any of its proceedings; provided, such imprisonment shall not, at any one time, exceed forty-eight hours. (Feb. 15, 1876.)
Tex. Const. art. 3, § 16 — Article 3 / Section 16
Texas Constitution Article 3, Section 16
Status: in_force

OPEN SESSIONS. The sessions of each House shall be open, except the Senate when in Executive session. (Feb. 15, 1876.)
Tex. Const. art. 8, § 25 — Article 8 / Section 25
Texas Constitution Article 8, Section 25
Status: in_force

WEALTH TAX PROHIBITED. The legislature may not impose a tax based on the wealth or net worth of an individual or family, including a tax based on the difference between the assets and liabilities of an individual or family. (Added Nov. 7, 2023.)
Tex. Const. art. 16, § 39 — Article 16 / Section 39
Texas Constitution Article 16, Section 39
Status: in_force

APPROPRIATIONS FOR HISTORICAL MEMORIALS. The Legislature may, from time to time, make appropriations for preserving and perpetuating memorials of the history of Texas, by means of monuments, statues, paintings and documents of historical value. (Feb. 15, 1876.)
Tex. Const. art. 3, § 43 — Article 3 / Section 43
Texas Constitution Article 3, Section 43
Status: in_force

REVISION OF LAWS. (a) The Legislature shall provide for revising, digesting and publishing the laws, civil and criminal; provided, that in the adoption of and giving effect to any such digest or revision, the Legislature shall not be limited by sections 35 and 36 of this Article. (b) In this section, "revision" includes a revision of the statutes on a particular subject and any enactment having the purpose, declared in the enactment, of codifying without substantive change statutes that individually relate to different subjects. (Feb. 15, 1876. Subsec. (a) amended and (b) added Nov. 4, 1986.)
Tex. Const. art. 3, § 52d — Article 3 / Section 52d
Texas Constitution Article 3, Section 52d
Status: in_force

COUNTY OR ROAD DISTRICT TAX FOR ROAD AND BRIDGE PURPOSES IN HARRIS COUNTY. (a) Upon the vote of a majority of the qualified voters so authorizing, a county or road district may collect an annual tax for a period not exceeding five (5) years to create a fund for constructing lasting and permanent roads and bridges or both. No contract involving the expenditure of any of such fund shall be valid unless, when it is made, money shall be on hand in such fund. (b) At such election, the Commissioners' Court shall submit for adoption a road plan and designate the amount of special tax to be levied; the number of years said tax is to be levied; the location, description, and character of the roads and bridges; and the estimated cost thereof. The funds raised by such taxes shall not be used for purposes other than those specified in the plan submitted to the voters. Elections may be held from time to time to extend or discontinue said plan or to increase or diminish said tax. The Legislature shall enact laws prescribing the procedure hereunder. (c) The provisions of this section shall apply only to Harris County and road districts therein. (Added Aug. 23, 1937; amended Nov. 2, 1999.) (TEMPORARY TRANSITION PROVISIONS for Sec. 52d: See Appendix, Note 1.)
Tex. Const. art. 1, § 19 — Article 1 / Section 19
Texas Constitution Article 1, Section 19
Status: in_force

DEPRIVATION OF LIFE, LIBERTY, PROPERTY, ETC. BY DUE COURSE OF LAW. No citizen of this State shall be deprived of life, liberty, property, privileges or immunities, or in any manner disfranchised, except by the due course of the law of the land. (Feb. 15, 1876.)
Tex. Const. art. 7, § 16 — Article 7 / Section 16
Texas Constitution Article 7, Section 16
Status: in_force

COUNTY TAXATION OF CERTAIN UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS LANDS. All land mentioned in Sections 11 , 12 and 15 of Article VII, of the Constitution of the State of Texas, now belonging to the University of Texas shall be subject toâ taxation for county purposes to the same extent as lands privately owned; provided they shall be rendered for taxation upon values fixed by the State Tax Board; and providing that the State shall remit annually to each of the counties in which said lands are located an amount equal to the tax imposed upon said land for county purposes. (Added Nov. 4, 1930.) 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 . Sec. 16-a. TERMS OF OFFICE OF EDUCATIONAL OFFICERS. The Legislature shall fix by law the terms of all offices of the public school system and of the State institutions of higher education, inclusive, and the terms of members of the respective boards, not to exceed six years. (Added Nov. 6, 1928; amended Nov. 4, 1997.)
Tex. Const. art. 16, § 54 — Article 16 / Section 54
Texas Constitution Article 16, Section 54
Status: in_force

(Repealed Aug. 5, 1969.)
Tex. Const. art. 3, § 21 — Article 3 / Section 21
Texas Constitution Article 3, Section 21
Status: in_force

WORDS SPOKEN IN DEBATE. No member shall be questioned in any other place for words spoken in debate in either House. (Feb. 15, 1876.)
Tex. Const. art. 14, § 3 — Article 14 / Section 3
Texas Constitution Article 14, Section 3
Status: in_force

(Repealed Aug. 5, 1969.)
Tex. Const. art. 8, § 19 — Article 8 / Section 19
Texas Constitution Article 8, Section 19
Status: in_force

EXEMPTION FROM TAXATION OF FARM PRODUCTS, LIVESTOCK, POULTRY, AND FAMILY SUPPLIES. Farm products, livestock, and poultry in the hands of the producer, and family supplies for home and farm use, are exempt from all taxation until otherwise directed by a two-thirds vote of all the members elect to both houses of the Legislature. (Added Sep. 2, 1879; amended Nov. 3, 1981.)
Tex. Const. art. 16, § 64 — Article 16 / Section 64
Texas Constitution Article 16, Section 64
Status: in_force

TERMS OF ELECTIVE DISTRICT, COUNTY, AND PRECINCT OFFICES. The elective district, county, and precinct offices which have heretofore had terms of two years, shall hereafter have terms of four years; and the holders of such offices shall serve until their successors are qualified. (Added Nov. 2, 1954; amended Nov. 6, 2007.)
Tex. Const. art. 3, § 34 — Article 3 / Section 34
Texas Constitution Article 3, Section 34
Status: in_force

DEFEATED BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS. After a bill has been considered and defeated by either House of the Legislature, no bill containing the same substance, shall be passed into a law during the same session. After a resolution has been acted on and defeated, no resolution containing the same substance, shall be considered at the same session. (Feb. 15, 1876.)
Tex. Const. art. 16, § 52 — Article 16 / Section 52
Texas Constitution Article 16, Section 52
Status: in_force

DESCENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF HOMESTEAD; RESTRICTIONS ON PARTITION. On the death of the husband or wife, or both, the homestead shall descend and vest in like manner as other real property of the deceased, and shall be governed by the same laws of descent and distribution, but it shall not be partitioned among the heirs of the deceased during the lifetime of the surviving husband or wife, or so long as the surviverâ may elect to use or occupy the same as a homestead, or so long as the guardian of the minor children of the deceased may be permitted, under the order of the proper court having the jurisdiction, to use and occupy the same. (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. 8, § 29 — Article 8 / Section 29
Texas Constitution Article 8, Section 29
Status: in_force

TRANSFER TAX ON TRANSACTION CONVEYING FEE SIMPLE TITLE TO REAL PROPERTY PROHIBITED. (a) After January 1, 2016, no law may be enacted that imposes a transfer tax on a transaction that conveys fee simple title to real property. (b) This section does not prohibit: (1) the imposition of a general business tax measured by business activity; (2) the imposition of a tax on the production of minerals; (3) the imposition of a tax on the issuance of title insurance; or (4) the change of a rate of a tax in existence on January 1, 2016. (Added Nov. 3, 2015.)
Tex. Const. art. 16, § 11 — Article 16 / Section 11
Texas Constitution Article 16, Section 11
Status: in_force

USURY; RATE OF INTEREST IN ABSENCE OF LEGISLATION. The Legislature shall have authority to define interest and fix maximum rates of interest; provided, however, in the absence of legislation fixing maximum rates of interest all contracts for a greater rate of interest than ten per centum (10%) per annum shall be deemed usurious; provided, further, that in contracts where no rate of interest is agreed upon, the rate shall not exceed six per centum (6%) per annum. (Feb. 15, 1876. Amended Aug. 11, 1891, Nov. 8, 1960, and Nov. 6, 2001.) (TEMPORARY TRANSITION PROVISION for Sec. 11: See Appendix, Note 3.)
Tex. Const. art. 8, § 10 — Article 8 / Section 10
Texas Constitution Article 8, Section 10
Status: in_force

RELEASE FROM PAYMENT OF TAXES RESTRICTED. The Legislature shall have no power to release the inhabitants of, or property in, any county, city or town from the payment of taxes levied for State or County purposes, unless in case of great public calamity in any such county, city or town, when such release may be made by a vote of two-thirds of each House of the Legislature. (Feb. 15, 1876.)
Tex. Const. art. 3, § 2 — Article 3 / Section 2
Texas Constitution Article 3, Section 2
Status: in_force

MEMBERSHIP OF SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The Senate shall consist of thirty-one members. The House of Representatives shall consist of 150 members. (Feb. 15, 1876. Amended Nov. 2, 1999.) (TEMPORARY TRANSITION PROVISIONS for Sec. 2: See Appendix, Note 1.)
Tex. Const. art. 7, § 6 — Article 7 / Section 6
Texas Constitution Article 7, Section 6
Status: in_force

COUNTY SCHOOL LANDS AND PROCEEDS OF SALES HELD AS SCHOOL TRUST. All lands heretofore, or hereafter granted to the several counties of this State for educational purposes, are of right the property of said counties respectively, to which they were granted, and title thereto is vested in said counties, and no adverse possession or limitation shall ever be available against the title of any county. Each county may sell or dispose of its lands in whole or in part, in manner to be provided by the Commissioners Court of the county. Said lands, and the proceeds thereof, when sold, shall be held by said counties alone as a trust for the benefit of public schools therein; said proceeds to be invested in bonds of the United States, the State of Texas, or counties in said State, or in such other securities, and under such restrictions as may be prescribed by law; and the counties shall be responsible for all investments; the interest thereon, and other revenue, except the principal shall be available fund. (Feb. 15, 1876. Amended Aug. 14, 1883, and Nov. 6, 2001.) (TEMPORARY TRANSITION PROVISION for Sec. 6: See Appendix, Note 3.)
Tex. Const. art. 16, § 61 — Article 16 / Section 61
Texas Constitution Article 16, Section 61
Status: in_force

COMPENSATION OF DISTRICT, COUNTY, AND PRECINCT OFFICERS, NOTARIES PUBLIC, AND PUBLIC WEIGHERS; SALARY OR FEE BASIS; DISPOSITION OF FEES. (a) All district officers in the State of Texas and all county officers in counties having a population of twenty thousand (20,000) or more, according to the then last preceding Federal Census, shall be compensated on a salary basis. (b) In all counties in this State, the Commissioners Courts shall be authorized to determine whether precinct officers shall be compensated on a fee basis or on a salary basis, with the exception that it shall be mandatory upon the Commissioners Courts, to compensate all justices of the peace, constables, deputy constables and precinct law enforcement officers on a salary basis. (c) In counties having a population of less than twenty thousand (20,000), according to the then last preceding Federal Census, the Commissioners Courts have the authority to determine whether county officers shall be compensated on a fee basis or on a salary basis, with the exception that it shall be mandatory upon the Commissioners Courts to compensate all sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, county law enforcement officers including sheriffs who also perform the duties of assessor and collector of taxes, and their deputies, on a salary basis. (d) All fees earned by district, county and precinct officers shall be paid into the county treasury where earned for the account of the proper fund, provided that fees incurred by the State, county and any municipality, or in case where a pauper's oath is filed, shall be paid into the county treasury when collected and provided that where any officer is compensated wholly on a fee basis such fees may be retained by such officer or paid into the treasury of the county as the Commissioners Court may direct. (e) All Notaries Public, county surveyors and public weighers shall continue to be compensated on a fee basis. (Added Aug. 24, 1935; amended Nov. 2, 1948, Nov. 7, 1972, and Nov. 2, 1999.) (TEMPORARY TRANSITION PROVISIONS for Sec. 61: See Appendix, Note 1.)
Tex. Const. art. 16, § 29 — Article 16 / Section 29
Texas Constitution Article 16, Section 29
Status: in_force

(Repealed Aug. 5, 1969.)
Tex. Const. art. 3, § 20 — Article 3 / Section 20
Texas Constitution Article 3, Section 20
Status: in_force

ELIGIBILITY OF COLLECTORS OF TAXES OR PERSONS ENTRUSTED WITH PUBLIC MONEY. No person who at any time may have been a collector of taxes, or who may have been otherwise entrusted with public money, shall be eligible to the Legislature, or to any office of profit or trust under the State government, until he shall have obtained a discharge for the amount of such collections, or for all public moneys with which he may have been entrusted. (Feb. 15, 1876.)
Tex. Const. art. 5, § 23 — Article 5 / Section 23
Texas Constitution Article 5, Section 23
Status: in_force

SHERIFFS. There shall be elected by the qualified voters of each county a Sheriff, who shall hold his office for the term of four years, whose duties, qualifications, perquisites, and fees of office, shall be prescribed by the Legislature, and vacancies in whose office shall be filled by the Commissioners Court until the next general election. (Feb. 15, 1876. Amended Nov. 2, 1954, and Nov. 2, 1993.)
Tex. Const. art. 4, § 21 — Article 4 / Section 21
Texas Constitution Article 4, Section 21
Status: in_force

SECRETARY OF STATE. There shall be a Secretary of State, who shall be appointed by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, and who shall continue in office during the term of service of the Governor. He shall authenticate the publication of the laws, and keep a fair register of all official acts and proceedings of the Governor, and shall, when required, lay the same and all papers, minutes and vouchers relative thereto, before the Legislature, or either House thereof, and shall perform such other duties as may be required of him by law. He shall receive for his services an annual salary in an amount to be fixed by the Legislature. (Feb. 15, 1876. Amended Nov. 3, 1936, and Nov. 2, 1954.)
Tex. Const. art. 3, § 10 — Article 3 / Section 10
Texas Constitution Article 3, Section 10
Status: in_force

QUORUM; ADJOURNMENTS FROM DAY TO DAY; COMPELLING ATTENDANCE. Two-thirds of each House shall constitute a quorum to do business, but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and compel the attendance of absent members, in such manner and under such penalties as each House may provide. (Feb. 15, 1876.)
Tex. Const. art. 1, § 9 — Article 1 / Section 9
Texas Constitution Article 1, Section 9
Status: in_force

SEARCHES AND SEIZURES. The people shall be secure in their persons, houses, papers and possessions, from all unreasonable seizures or searches, and no warrant to search any place, or to seize any person or thing, shall issue without describing them as near as may be, nor without probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation. (Feb. 15, 1876.)
Tex. Const. art. 8, § 15 — Article 8 / Section 15
Texas Constitution Article 8, Section 15
Status: in_force

LIEN OF ASSESSMENT; SEIZURE AND SALE OF PROPERTY OF DELINQUENT TAXPAYER. The annual assessment made upon landed property shall be a special lien thereon; and all property, both real and personal, belonging to any delinquent tax payer shall be liable to seizure and sale for the payment of all the taxes and penalties due by such delinquent; and such property may be sold for the payment of the taxes and penalties due by such delinquent, under such regulations as the Legislature may provide. (Feb. 15, 1876.)
Tex. Const. art. 3, § 52g — Article 3 / Section 52g
Texas Constitution Article 3, Section 52g
Status: in_force

DALLAS COUNTY BOND ISSUES FOR ROADS AND TURNPIKES. Bonds to be issued by Dallas County under Section 52 (b)(3) of Article III of this Constitution may, without the necessity of further or amendatory legislation, be issued upon a vote of a majority of the voting qualified voters of said county, and bonds heretofore or hereafter issued under Subsections (a) and (b) of said Section 52 shall not be included in determining the debt limit prescribed in said Section. (Added Nov. 5, 1968; amended Nov. 4, 1997, and Nov. 2, 1999.) (TEMPORARY TRANSITION PROVISIONS for Sec. 52g: See Appendix, Note 1.)
Tex. Const. art. 3, § 25 — Article 3 / Section 25
Texas Constitution Article 3, Section 25
Status: in_force

SENATORIAL DISTRICTS. The State shall be divided into Senatorial Districts of contiguous territory, and each district shall be entitled to elect one Senator. (Feb. 15, 1876. Amended Nov. 6, 2001.) (TEMPORARY TRANSITION PROVISION for Sec. 25: See Appendix, Note 3.)
Tex. Const. art. 3, § 65 — Article 3 / Section 65
Texas Constitution Article 3, Section 65
Status: in_force

MAXIMUM INTEREST RATE ON PUBLIC BONDS. (a) Wherever the Constitution authorizes an agency, instrumentality, or subdivision of the State to issue bonds and specifies the maximum rate of interest which may be paid on such bonds issued pursuant to such constitutional authority, such bonds may bear interest at rates not to exceed a weighted average annual interest rate of 12% unless otherwise provided by Subsection (b) of this section. All Constitutional provisions specifically setting rates in conflict with this provision are hereby repealed. (b) Bonds issued by the Veterans' Land Board after the effective date of this subsection bear interest at a rate or rates determined by the board, but the rate or rates may not exceed a net effective interest rate of 10% per year unless otherwise provided by law. A statute that is in effect on the effective date of this subsection and that sets as a maximum interest rate payable on bonds issued by the Veterans' Land Board a rate different from the maximum rate provided by this subsection is ineffective unless reenacted by the legislature after that date. (Added Nov. 7, 1972; Subsec. (a) amended and (b) added Nov. 3, 1981; Subsec. (a) amended Nov. 2, 1982.)