Amendments to the state constitution that would make it harder to enact a state income tax, stabilize funding for state parks and allow retired law enforcement animals to be adopted by their handlers were receiving wide support from voters Tuesday, according to early unofficial results.

One of the most contentious issues on the ballot — Proposition 4 — received 73% of the vote, according to unofficial results released Tuesday night. The proposition authored by state Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Plano, and state Sen. Pat Fallon, R-Prosper, eliminates the possibility of Texas imposing an income tax unless the state changes its constitution again. The proposal drew ire from left-leaning groups including the Center for Public Policy Priorities, which spent thousands to defeat it.

CPPP said this morning its efforts to defeat the proposition 4 continued through Election Day. The group ran digital ads in “targeted areas of the state” and sent out two mail pieces to tens of thousands of Texas households, according to a spokesman for the group.

The only item on the ballot that looked as though it might not pass was Proposition 1, which would permit elected municipal court judges to serve multiple municipalities at the same times. With nearly half of precincts reporting, the proposition only received 35% of the vote.

Almost 86% of voters had approved Proposition 5, which would stabilize funding for state parks. The proposition allows allow money accumulated from existing sales tax on sporting goods to be used for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Historical Commission. Current law allows the Legislature to allocate that money however they see fit.

Proposition 10, which had the highest level of support, amends the state constitution to allow retired service animals, such as dogs or horses, to be adopted by their handlers or other qualified caretakers. According to early voting results, it was passing with more than 93% of the vote. These animals are currently classified as surplus property or salvage and can be auctioned off, donated or destroyed. Proposition 6, which allows for an increase of bonds allocated to the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas was also ahead with 65% of the vote, according to unofficial results.

Voters were also overwhelmingly in favor of Proposition 8 which would set aside $800 million from the state’s rainy day fund for flood mitigation efforts. The amendment was approved by the Legislature following Hurricane Harvey’s devastation along the Texas coast. The proposition netted 78% of the vote, according to unofficial results.

Another Harvey-related item, Proposition 3, was ahead with 86% of the vote, according to unofficial results. The ballot initiative allows the Legislature to provide temporary tax breaks for people with property damaged in governor-declared disaster areas. The resolution and its legislation were approved by the Legislature unanimously earlier this year.

Turnout in constitutional amendment elections is historically low. In 2013, only 1.1 million voted. In 2011, only 690,052 Texans showed up — of the 12.8 million who were registered to vote at the time — to vote on 10 amendments.

Any changes to the Texas Constitution must be approved by a majority of Texas voters. Getting a proposed amendment on the ballot requires support from more than two-thirds of both chambers of the Legislature.

In addition to the constitutional amendments, Harris County voters had several other contentious elections on the ballot, including its mayoral race, city council elections and a state House special election.

Source: Texas Tribune Blue Government News