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Senate fast-tracks constitutional amendment to prohibit death, inheritance taxes
Summary
The Texas Senate voted to suspend rules and passed HJR 2, a proposed constitutional amendment that would prohibit state-level estate, inheritance and similar transfer taxes, moving the measure toward final passage.
The Texas Senate on Monday suspended its rules and advanced HJR 2, a proposed constitutional amendment that would bar the Legislature from imposing estate, inheritance, legacy, succession or similar transfer taxes on an individual’s property.
The measure matters because it would change the state constitution and prevent future legislatures from imposing taxes on property transfers at death — a policy with implications for state revenue and estate planning.
Senator Perry moved the suspension of the regular order to bring HJR 2 to the floor and said the amendment would “constitutionally prohibit an estate, death, inheritance, legacy, succession, gift generation skipping transfer tax on individual family estate and trust.” The Senate called the roll on the suspension and later on passage; the record shows the rules were suspended and votes taken by roll call. After moving HJR 2 onto the second reading calendar, Perry moved the bill through third reading and then final passage procedures, and the body suspended the constitutional three‑day rule so the measure could proceed immediately.
On the roll calls reported from the floor, the motion to suspend the regular order carried and the bill passed its third reading with the same recorded tally: 27 ayes and 3 nays on the roll calls announced from the floor. The chair then laid the measure out for final passage and reported the bill had “finally passed.”
Because HJR 2 proposes a constitutional amendment, the next steps are placement on the ballot for voter consideration if the process continues through enrollment and the governor’s signature where applicable. The transcript reflects floor procedural votes and the suspension of the three‑day rule to expedite the measure.
Details recorded on the Senate floor show the formal motions and roll calls that advanced HJR 2; no additional amendments or policy changes to the amendment text were discussed on the floor record captured in the transcript.
The Senate’s action now sends HJR 2 to the next steps prescribed for constitutional amendments under state law, where voter approval will be required for adoption.
