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HJR 46

Proposing a constitutional amendment changing the vote requirement in the legislature to approve a proposed constitutional amendment for submission to the voters of this state to two-thirds of the members present in each chamber of the legislature.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Carl Tepper

Texas constitutional amendment proposal would lower the legislature's vote threshold for advancing constitutional amendments to voters from three-fifths to two-thirds of members present.

Referred to State Affairs
#legislature(i0520) #resolutions--constitutionalamendments(i0661)
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Bill Summary · HJR 46

Legislative bill overview

HJR 46 proposes a constitutional amendment to lower the legislative vote requirement for advancing proposed constitutional amendments to voters from a three-fifths majority to a two-thirds majority of members present (rather than elected) in each chamber of the Texas Legislature. If passed by the legislature and approved by Texas voters, this would make it easier for the legislature to send constitutional proposals to the ballot.

Why is this important

Constitutional amendments in Texas require voter approval, but the legislature's ability to propose them significantly affects which changes reach the ballot. Lowering the threshold from three-fifths to two-thirds of those present could enable constitutional proposals to advance with smaller legislative coalitions, potentially shifting what constitutional issues Texans get to vote on. This directly impacts the amendment process that shapes state governance.

Potential points of contention

  • Reduced supermajority threshold: Lowers the bar for proposing amendments, which supporters argue democratizes the process but critics contend could enable more frequent or controversial constitutional changes with narrower support
  • "Members present" vs. "members elected" language: Using attendance-based calculations rather than total membership could allow amendments to pass with fewer total legislative votes, depending on who shows up
  • Meta-constitutional concern: This changes the rules for changing the constitution itself, raising questions about whether the threshold should require more consensus rather than less

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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