FrankGoortani/open-us-law huggingface dataset:
Tex. Const. art. 3, § 38 — Article 3 / Section 38
Texas Constitution Article 3, Section 38
Status: in_force

SIGNING BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS; ENTRY ON JOURNALS. The presiding officer of each House shall, in the presence of the House over which he presides, sign all bills and joint resolutions passed by the Legislature, after their titles have been publicly read before signing; and the fact of signing shall be entered on the journals. (Feb. 15, 1876.)
Tex. Const. art. 8, § 18 — Article 8 / Section 18
Texas Constitution Article 8, Section 18
Status: in_force

EQUALIZATION OF PROPERTY VALUATIONS FOR TAXATION; SINGLE APPRAISAL AND SINGLE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION. (a) The Legislature shall provide for equalizing, as near as may be, the valuation of all property subject to or rendered for taxation, and may also provide for the classification of all lands with reference to their value in the several counties. (b) A single appraisal within each county of all property subject to ad valorem taxation by the county and all other taxing units located therein shall be provided by general law. The Legislature, by general law, may authorize appraisals outside a county when political subdivisions are situated in more than one county or when two or more counties elect to consolidate appraisal services. (c) The Legislature, by general law, shall provide for a single board of equalization for each appraisal entity consisting of qualified persons residing within the territory appraised by that entity. The Legislature, by general law, may authorize a single board of equalization for two or more adjoining appraisal entities that elect to provide for consolidated equalizations. Members of a board of equalization may not be elected officials of a county or of the governing body of a taxing unit. (d) The Legislature shall prescribe by general law the methods, timing, and administrative process for implementing the requirements of this section. (Feb. 15, 1876. Amended Nov. 4, 1980; Subsec. (c) amended Nov. 3, 2009.)
Tex. Const. art. 17, § 2 — Article 17 / Section 2
Texas Constitution Article 17, Section 2
Status: in_force

(Repealed Nov. 2, 1999.) (TEMPORARY TRANSITION PROVISIONS for Sec. 2: See Appendix, Note 1.)
Tex. Const. art. 12, § 5 — Article 12 / Section 5
Texas Constitution Article 12, Section 5
Status: in_force

(Repealed Aug. 5, 1969.)
Tex. Const. art. 16, § 19 — Article 16 / Section 19
Texas Constitution Article 16, Section 19
Status: in_force

(Repealed Nov. 6, 2001.) (TEMPORARY TRANSITION PROVISION for Sec. 19: See Appendix, Note 3.)
Tex. Const. art. 7, § 9 — Article 7 / Section 9
Texas Constitution Article 7, Section 9
Status: in_force

(Repealed Nov. 6, 2001.) (TEMPORARY TRANSITION PROVISION for Sec. 9: See Appendix, Note 3.) Sec. 9-a. (Added Nov. 6, 2001; expired Jan. 1, 2005.) UNIVERSITY
Tex. Const. art. 3, § 1 — Article 3 / Section 1
Texas Constitution Article 3, Section 1
Status: in_force

SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The Legislative power of this State shall be vested in a Senate and House of Representatives, which together shall be styled "The Legislature of the State of Texas." (Feb. 15, 1876.)
Tex. Const. art. 1, § 35 — Article 1 / Section 35
Texas Constitution Article 1, Section 35
Status: in_force

RIGHT OF CERTAIN FACILITY RESIDENTS TO DESIGNATE ESSENTIAL CAREGIVER. (a) A resident of a nursing facility, assisted living facility, intermediate care facility for individuals with an intellectual disability, residence providing home and community-based services, or state supported living center, as those terms are defined by general law, has the right to designate an essential caregiver with whom the facility, residence, or center may not prohibit in-person visitation. (b) Notwithstanding Subsection (a) of this section, the legislature by general law may provide guidelines for a facility, residence, or center described by Subsection (a) of this section to follow in establishing essential caregiver visitation policies and procedures. (Added Nov. 2, 2021.)
Tex. Const. art. 14, § 6 — Article 14 / Section 6
Texas Constitution Article 14, Section 6
Status: in_force

(Repealed Aug. 5, 1969.)
Tex. Const. art. 8, § 24 — Article 8 / Section 24
Texas Constitution Article 8, Section 24
Status: in_force

(Repealed Nov. 5, 2019.) Sec. 24-a. INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAX PROHIBITED. The legislature may not impose a tax on the net incomes of individuals, including an individual's share of partnership and unincorporated association income. (Added Nov. 5, 2019.) Sec. 24-b. CAPITAL GAINS TAX PROHIBITED. (a) Subject to Subsection (b) of this section, the legislature may not impose a tax on the realized or unrealized capital gains of an individual, family, estate, or trust, including a tax on the sale or transfer of a capital asset that is payable by the individual, family, estate, or trust selling or transferring the asset. (b) This section may not be construed as modifying the applicability or prohibiting the imposition or change in the rate of: (1) an ad valorem tax on property; (2) a sales tax on the sale of goods or services; or (3) a use tax on the storage, use, or other consumption in this state of goods or services. (Added Nov. 4, 2025.)
Tex. Const. art. 17, § 1 — Article 17 / Section 1
Texas Constitution Article 17, Section 1
Status: in_force

PROPOSED AMENDMENTS; PUBLICATION; SUBMISSION TO VOTERS; ADOPTION. (a) The Legislature, at any regular session, or at any special session when the matter is included within the purposes for which the session is convened, may propose amendments revising the Constitution, to be voted upon by the qualified voters for statewide offices and propositions, as defined in the Constitution and statutes of this State. The date of the elections shall be specified by the Legislature. The proposal for submission must be approved by a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each House, entered by yeas and nays on the journals. (b) A brief explanatory statement of the nature of a proposed amendment, together with the date of the election and the wording of the proposition as it is to appear on the ballot, shall be published twice in each newspaper in the State which meets requirements set by the Legislature for the publication of official notices of officersâ and departments of the state government. The explanatory statement shall be prepared by the Secretary of State and shall be approved by the Attorney General. The Secretary of State shall send a full and complete copy of the proposed amendment or amendments to each county clerk who shall post the same in a public place in the courthouse at least 30 days prior to the election on said amendment. The first notice shall be published not more than 60 days nor less than 50 days before the date of the election, and the second notice shall be published on the same day in the succeeding week. The Legislature shall fix the standards for the rate of charge for the publication, which may not be higher than the newspaper's published national rate for advertising per column inch. (c) The election shall be held in accordance with procedures prescribed by the Legislature, and the returning officer in each county shall make returns to the Secretary of State of the number of legal votes cast at the election for and against each amendment. If it appears from the returns that a majority of the votes cast have been cast in favor of an amendment, it shall become a part of this Constitution, and proclamation thereof shall be made by the Governor. (Feb. 15, 1876. Amended Nov. 7, 1972, and Nov. 2, 1999.) (TEMPORARY TRANSITION PROVISIONS for Sec. 1: See Appendix, Note 1.) 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. 10, § 6 — Article 10 / Section 6
Texas Constitution Article 10, Section 6
Status: in_force

(Repealed Aug. 5, 1969.)
Tex. Const. art. 3, § 50b-2 — Article 3 / Section 50b-2
Texas Constitution Article 3, Section 50b-2
Status: in_force

(Repealed Nov. 2, 1999.) (TEMPORARY TRANSITION PROVISIONS for Sec. 50b-2: See Appendix, Note 1.)
Tex. Const. art. 5, § 12 — Article 5 / Section 12
Texas Constitution Article 5, Section 12
Status: in_force

JUDGES TO BE CONSERVATORS OF THE PEACE; INDICTMENTS AND INFORMATION. (a) All judges of courts of this State, by virtue of their office, are conservators of the peace throughout the State. (b) An indictment is a written instrument presented to a court by a grand jury charging a person with the commission of an offense. An information is a written instrument presented to a court by an attorney for the State charging a person with the commission of an offense. The practice and procedures relating to the use of indictments and informations, including their contents, amendment, sufficiency, and requisites, are as provided by law. The presentment of an indictment or information to a court invests the court with jurisdiction of the cause. (Feb. 15, 1876. Amended Aug. 11, 1891, and Nov. 5, 1985.)
Tex. Const. art. 5, § 13 — Article 5 / Section 13
Texas Constitution Article 5, Section 13
Status: in_force

GRAND AND PETIT JURIES IN DISTRICT COURTS: COMPOSITION AND VERDICT. Grand and petit juries in the District Courts shall be composed of twelve persons, except that petit juries in a criminal case below the grade of felony shall be composed of six persons; but nine members of a grand jury shall be a quorum to transact business and present bills. In trials of civil cases in the District Courts, nine members of the jury, concurring, may render a verdict, but when the verdict shall be rendered by less than the whole number, it shall be signed by every member of the jury concurring in it. When, pending the trial of any case, one or more jurors not exceeding three, may die, or be disabled from sitting, the remainder of the jury shall have the power to render the verdict; provided, that the Legislature may change or modify the rule authorizing less than the whole number of the jury to render a verdict. (Feb. 15, 1876. Amended Nov. 6, 2001, and Sept. 13, 2003.) (TEMPORARY TRANSITION PROVISION for Sec. 13: See Appendix, Note 3.)
Tex. Const. art. 16, § 63 — Article 16 / Section 63
Texas Constitution Article 16, Section 63
Status: in_force

(Repealed April 22, 1975.)
Tex. Const. art. 3, § 27 — Article 3 / Section 27
Texas Constitution Article 3, Section 27
Status: in_force

ELECTIONS FOR LEGISLATORS. Elections for Senators and Representatives shall be general througoutâ the State, and shall be regulated by law. (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, § 15 — Article 16 / Section 15
Texas Constitution Article 16, Section 15
Status: in_force

SEPARATE AND COMMUNITY PROPERTY OF SPOUSES. All property, both real and personal, of a spouse owned or claimed before marriage, and that acquired afterward by gift, devise or descent, shall be the separate property of that spouse; and laws shall be passed more clearly defining the rights of the spouses, in relation to separate and community property; provided that persons about to marry and spouses, without the intention to defraud pre-existing creditors, may by written instrument from time to time partition between themselves all or part of their property, then existing or to be acquired, or exchange between themselves the community interest of one spouse or future spouse in any property for the community interest of the other spouse or future spouse in other community property then existing or to be acquired, whereupon the portion or interest set aside to each spouse shall be and constitute a part of the separate property and estate of such spouse or future spouse; spouses also may from time to time, by written instrument, agree between themselves that the income or property from all or part of the separate property then owned or which thereafter might be acquired by only one of them, shall be the separate property of that spouse; if one spouse makes a gift of property to the other that gift is presumed to include all the income or property which might arise from that gift of property; spouses may agree in writing that all or part of their community property becomes the property of the surviving spouse on the death of a spouse; and spouses may agree in writing that all or part of the separate property owned by either or both of them shall be the spouses' community property. (Feb. 15, 1876. Amended Nov. 2, 1948, Nov. 4, 1980, Nov. 3, 1987, and Nov. 2, 1999.)
Tex. Const. art. 1, § 21 — Article 1 / Section 21
Texas Constitution Article 1, Section 21
Status: in_force

CORRUPTION OF BLOOD; FORFEITURE OF ESTATE; SUICIDES. No conviction shall work corruption of blood, or forfeiture of estate, and the estates of those who destroy their own lives shall descend or vest as in case of natural death. (Feb. 15, 1876.)
Tex. Const. art. 3, § 52j — Article 3 / Section 52j
Texas Constitution Article 3, Section 52j
Status: in_force

SALE OF REAL PROPERTY ACQUIRED THROUGH EMINENT DOMAIN. A governmental entity may sell real property acquired through eminent domain to the person who owned the real property interest immediately before the governmental entity acquired the property interest, or to the person's heirs, successors, or assigns, at the price the entity paid at the time of acquisition if: (1) the public use for which the property was acquired through eminent domain is canceled; (2) no actual progress is made toward the public use during a prescribed period of time; or (3) the property is unnecessary for the public use. (Added Nov. 6, 2007.)
Tex. Const. art. 5, § 7 — Article 5 / Section 7
Texas Constitution Article 5, Section 7
Status: in_force

JUDICIAL DISTRICTS; DISTRICT JUDGES; TERMS OR SESSIONS; ABSENCE, DISABILITY, OR DISQUALIFICATION OF DISTRICT JUDGE. (a) The State shall be divided into judicial districts, with each district having one or more Judges as may be provided by law or by this Constitution. (b) Each district judge shall be elected by the qualified voters at a General Election. To be eligible for appointment or election as a district judge, a person must: (1) be a citizen of the United States and a resident of this State; (2) be licensed to practice law in this State; (3) have been a practicing lawyer or a Judge of a Court in this State, or both combined, for eight years next preceding the judge's election, during which time the judge's license to practice law has not been revoked, suspended, or subject to a probated suspension; (4) have resided in the district in which the judge was elected for two years next preceding the election; and (5) reside in the district during the judge's term of office. (c) A district judge shall hold the office for the term of four years and shall receive for the judge's services an annual salary to be fixed by the Legislature. (d) A District Court shall conduct its proceedings at the county seat of the county in which the case is pending, except as otherwise provided by law. The Court shall hold the regular terms at the County Seat of each County in the Court's district in such manner as may be prescribed by law. The Legislature shall have power by General or Special Laws to make such provisions concerning the terms or sessions of each District Court as it may deem necessary. (e) The Legislature shall also provide for the holding of District Court when the Judge thereof is absent, or is from any cause disabled or disqualified from presiding. (Feb. 15, 1876. Amended Aug. 11, 1891, Nov. 8, 1949, Nov. 5, 1985, and Nov. 2, 2021.)
Tex. Const. art. 16, § 62 — Article 16 / Section 62
Texas Constitution Article 16, Section 62
Status: in_force

(Repealed April 22, 1975.)
Tex. Const. art. 5, § 5 — Article 5 / Section 5
Texas Constitution Article 5, Section 5
Status: in_force

JURISDICTION OF COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS. (a) The Court of Criminal Appeals shall have final appellate jurisdiction coextensive with the limits of the state, and its determinations shall be final, in all criminal cases of whatever grade, with such exceptions and under such regulations as may be provided in this Constitution or as prescribed by law. (b) The appeal of all cases in which the death penalty has been assessed shall be to the Court of Criminal Appeals. The appeal of all other criminal cases shall be to the Courts of Appeal as prescribed by law. In addition, the Court of Criminal Appeals may, on its own motion, review a decision of a Court of Appeals in a criminal case as provided by law. Discretionary review by the Court of Criminal Appeals is not a matter of right, but of sound judicial discretion. (c) Subject to such regulations as may be prescribed by law, the Court of Criminal Appeals and the Judges thereof shall have the power to issue the writ of habeas corpus, and, in criminal law matters, the writs of mandamus, procedendo, prohibition, and certiorari. The Court and the Judges thereof shall have the power to issue such other writs as may be necessary to protect its jurisdiction or enforce its judgments. The court shall have the power upon affidavit or otherwise to ascertain such matters of fact as may be necessary to the exercise of its jurisdiction. (Feb. 15, 1876. Amended Aug. 11, 1891, Nov. 8, 1966, Nov. 8, 1977, Nov. 4, 1980, and Nov. 6, 2001.) (TEMPORARY TRANSITION PROVISION for Sec. 5: See Appendix, Note 3.)
Tex. Const. art. 5, § 26 — Article 5 / Section 26
Texas Constitution Article 5, Section 26
Status: in_force

APPEAL BY STATE IN CRIMINAL CASES. The State is entitled to appeal in criminal cases, as authorized by general law. (Feb. 15, 1876. Amended Nov. 3, 1987.)
Tex. Const. art. 16, § 32 — Article 16 / Section 32
Texas Constitution Article 16, Section 32
Status: in_force

(Repealed Aug. 5, 1969.)
Tex. Const. art. 8, § 30 — Article 8 / Section 30
Texas Constitution Article 8, Section 30
Status: in_force

CERTAIN TAXES ON SECURITIES MARKET OPERATORS AND SECURITIES TRANSACTIONS PROHIBITED. (a) In this section: (1) "Registered securities market operator" means any of the following entities, to the extent the entity is subject to registration with and regulation by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or the United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission, or the successor in function to either commission: (A) a self-regulatory organization, financial institution, broker, dealer, clearing agency, or transfer agent, as those terms are defined by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. Section 78a et seq.) in effect on January 1, 2025; (B) an exchange that is registered as a national securities exchange under Section 6 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. Section 78f); (C) an alternative trading system, board of trade, commodity pool operator, derivatives clearing organization, electronic trading facility, or organized exchange, as those terms are defined by the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. Section 1 et seq.) in effect on January 1, 2025; (D) an affiliate, subsidiary, or facility of an entity described by Paragraph (A), (B), or (C); or (E) a trade reporting facility regulated under rules promulgated by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and in effect on January 1, 2025. (2) "Securities transaction" means the purchase or sale of a security, a contract or agreement to purchase or sell a security, or a service to facilitate, match parties to, process, report, clear, or settle the purchase or sale of a security on behalf of a customer. (3) "Security" has the meaning assigned by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. Section 78a et seq.) in effect on January 1, 2025. (b) The legislature may not enact a law that imposes: (1) an occupation tax on a registered securities market operator; or (2) a tax on a securities transaction conducted by a registered securities market operator. (c) This section does not prohibit: (1) the imposition of: (A) a general business tax measured by business activity; (B) a tax on the production of minerals; (C) a tax on insurance premiums; (D) sales and use taxes on tangible personal property or services; or (E) a fee based on the cost of processing or creating documents; or (2) a change in the rate of a tax in existence on January 1, 2026. (Added Nov. 4, 2025.)
Tex. Const. art. 5, § 5b — Article 5 / Section 5b
Texas Constitution Article 5, Section 5b
Status: in_force

SUPREME COURT AND COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS: LOCATION AND TERM. The Supreme Court and the Court of Criminal Appeals may sit at any time during the year at the seat of government or, at the court's discretion, at any other location in this state for the transaction of business, and each term of either court shall begin and end with each calendar year. (Added Nov. 6, 2001.) (TEMPORARY TRANSITION PROVISION for Sec. 5b: See Appendix, Note 3.)
Tex. Const. art. 5, § 4 — Article 5 / Section 4
Texas Constitution Article 5, Section 4
Status: in_force

COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS; JUDGES. (a) The Court of Criminal Appeals shall consist of eight Judges and one Presiding Judge. The Judges shall have the same qualifications and receive the same salaries as the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court, and the Presiding Judge shall have the same qualifications and receive the same salary as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The Presiding Judge and the Judges shall be elected by the qualified voters of the state at a general election and shall hold their offices for a term of six years. (b) For the purpose of hearing cases, the Court of Criminal Appeals may sit in panels of three Judges, the designation thereof to be under rules established by the court. In a panel of three Judges, two Judges shall constitute a quorum and the concurrence of two Judges shall be necessary for a decision. The Presiding Judge, under rules established by the court, shall convene the court en banc for the transaction of all other business and may convene the court en banc for the purpose of hearing cases. The court must sit en banc during proceedings involving capital punishment and other cases as required by law. When convened en banc, five Judges shall constitute a quorum and the concurrence of five Judges shall be necessary for a decision. The Court of Criminal Appeals may appoint Commissioners in aid of the Court of Criminal Appeals as provided by law. (Feb. 15, 1876. Amended Aug. 11, 1891, Nov. 8, 1966, Nov. 8, 1977, and Nov. 6, 2001.) (TEMPORARY TRANSITION PROVISION for Sec. 4: See Appendix, Note 3.)
Tex. Const. art. 16, § 13 — Article 16 / Section 13
Texas Constitution Article 16, Section 13
Status: in_force

UNOPPOSED CANDIDATE FOR OFFICE. For an office for which this constitution requires an election, the legislature may provide by general law for a person to take the office without an election if the person is the only candidate to qualify in an election to be held for that office. (Former Sec. 13 repealed Aug. 5, 1969; current Sec. 13 added Sept. 13, 2003.) Sec. 13A. UNOPPOSED CANDIDATE FOR OFFICE OF POLITICAL SUBDIVISION. For an office of a political subdivision for which this constitution requires an election, the legislature may provide by general law for a person to assume the office without an election if the person is the only candidate to qualify in an election to be held for that office. (Added Sept. 13, 2003.)
Tex. Const. art. 1, § 11 — Article 1 / Section 11
Texas Constitution Article 1, Section 11
Status: in_force

BAIL. All prisoners shall be bailable by sufficient sureties, unless for capital offencesâ , when the proof is evident; but this provision shall not be so construed as to prevent bail after indictment found upon examination of the evidence, in such manner as may be prescribed by law. (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, § 70 — Article 16 / Section 70
Texas Constitution Article 16, Section 70
Status: in_force

(Added Nov. 8, 1988; expired Sept. 1, 2008.)