Texas Homestead Exemption 2025: $140k Now Official (Prop 13 Passed)
By Harsha N Hegde
Texans Approve Property Tax Relief Measures
On November 4, 2025, Texans voted YES on all 17 constitutional amendments — including four key property-tax measures (Props 7, 10, 11, and 13). These propositions mark the next phase of Texas’s ongoing property tax reform, building on the 2023 and 2024 relief packages.
Together, they:
- Raise the school-district homestead exemption to $140,000.
- Increase the senior and disabled exemption to $60,000, totaling $200,000 combined.
- Provide temporary tax relief for homes destroyed by fire.
- Extend homestead benefits to surviving spouses of veterans who died from service-connected illnesses.
✅ Election Results (Nov 2025) • Prop 13 — Raise school homestead exemption to $140,000 → PASSED
• Prop 11 — Increase senior/disabled add-on to $60,000 → PASSED
• Prop 10 — Temporary exemption for homes destroyed by fire → PASSED
• Prop 7 — Benefits for veterans’ surviving spouses → PASSED
All four measures take effect for the 2025 tax year, lowering property tax bills due January 31, 2026.
How much will you save?
| ISD school tax rate | Extra from +$40k (all) | Extra from +$90k (65+/disabled) | Breakdown (base + add-on) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.80% | $320 | $720 | $400 + $320 |
| 0.90% | $360 | $810 | $450 + $360 |
| 1.00% | $400 | $900 | $500 + $400 |
| 1.10% | $440 | $990 | $550 + $440 |
| 1.20% | $480 | $1,080 | $600 + $480 |
Simple math: savings = exemption increase × (rate ÷ 100).
What stays the same
- The 10% appraisal cap on homesteads remains.
- The over-65/disabled “tax ceiling” still limits school taxes to the qualifying year amount.
- Homestead verification letters (SB 1801) will continue — respond promptly if your CAD requests confirmation.
FAQs
Do seniors with homes under $200,000 pay any property tax?
If you are a senior and your home’s assessed value is $200,000 or less, the new $200,000 total exemption (base + senior/disabled) eliminates your school district property taxes entirely. However, you’ll still owe taxes to other local entities — such as your county, city, hospital, or utility district — since those taxing units have their own rates and exemptions. In most areas, the school district makes up about 50–60% of the total bill, so seniors will still pay a smaller amount for the remaining portions.
For seniors with their home’s assessed value over $200,000, the first $200,000 portion of their home’s value is exempt from ISD taxes. They will owe ISD taxes only on the remaining portion of the assessed value. e.g., if you are a senior with your home valued at $350,000, your taxable value for ISD taxes is now $150,000 only.
What to do next
- File or confirm your homestead exemption (Form 50-114).
→ How to fill the Texas Homestead Exemption form - If you’re 65+ or disabled, ensure your extra exemption is on file so your ceiling is locked.
→ Texas property tax exemptions for seniors - Expect lower taxable values for 2025 bills, thanks to the increased exemptions now approved by voters.
Background (Pre-Election Details)
The following section preserves our original pre-election explanations for historical reference.
Proposition 7 — Surviving Spouses of Veterans
Ballot language:
The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of all or part of the market value of the residence homestead of the surviving spouse of a veteran who died as a result of a condition or disease that is presumed under federal law to have been service-connected.
Explanation:
Authorizes the Legislature to let surviving spouses of U.S. military veterans — who died from a service-connected condition — claim a full or partial property-tax exemption on their home, as long as they remain unmarried and continue to live there.
✅ Our recommendation: YES — supports families of fallen veterans without significant cost.
Proposition 10 — Homes Destroyed by Fire
Ballot language:
The constitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to provide for a temporary exemption from ad valorem taxation of the appraised value of an improvement to a residence homestead that is completely destroyed by a fire.
Explanation:
Allows lawmakers to grant a temporary property-tax exemption for the value of a home completely destroyed by fire. The exemption would apply until the home is rebuilt or replaced, easing financial stress after disasters.
✅ Our recommendation: YES — a sensible, humane fix for post-disaster taxation.
Proposition 11 — Increase for Seniors & Disabled
Ballot language:
The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to increase the amount of the exemption from ad valorem taxation by a school district of the market value of the residence homestead of a person who is elderly or disabled.
Explanation:
Lets the Legislature raise the school-district exemption for Texans 65 or older or disabled from $10,000 → $60,000, on top of the general homestead amount. Combined with Prop 13, this means up to $200,000 total exempt for seniors/disabled.
✅ Our recommendation: YES — strong equity and fairness measure that protects vulnerable homeowners.
Proposition 13 — Raise General Homestead to $140,000
Ballot language:
The constitutional amendment to increase the amount of the exemption of residence homesteads from ad valorem taxation by a school district from $100,000 to $140,000.
Explanation:
Raises the base school-district homestead exemption for all owner-occupied homes from $100,000 → $140,000. Every homeowner benefits through lower taxable value on their primary residence.
✅ Our recommendation: YES — comprehensive homeowner relief and continuation of Texas’s property-tax reform path.
About the Author
Harsha N Hegde is the founder of squaredeal.tax, a DIY platform that helps Texas homeowners protest unfair property tax assessments. He has helped thousands of Texas homeowners save money using comps-based evidence and practical guidance.
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