The Home Builder - November 2025

THE HOME BUILDER

November 2025

Page Two

The HomeFront Government Affairs News and Info

David Lehde Director of Government Affairs

Fall Advocacy Update, A Cornucopia of Opportunity

legacy, succession, or gift.”

community stakeholders talk with each other, the community benefits. The Dallas BA appreciates Rep- resentative Bell and the Texas Associa - tion of Builders for affording us the opportunity to participate in this im- portant discussion with our Kaufman County and municipal partners. Registration Now Open for HOMEPAC of Greater Dallas HOMEPAC of Greater Dallas, the political action committee for members of the Dallas BA, has opened registration for its 2025-26 cycle. HOMEPAC of Greater Dallas helps support pro-housing candidates and incumbents for key city, county, and selected state level offices. A core mission of the Dallas Builders Association is advocacy. Successes have included needed code changes, favorable local tax structure, more efficient permitting processes and protection from harmful ordi- nances and regulations. As we head into the winter and spring months of 2026, we will be right back into election season, this time for multiple key municipal seats across the Dallas BA service area, as well as key county and state primary races. I HOMEPAC of Greater Dallas provides another opportunity for As - sociation members to participate in the Association’s advocacy efforts. Members interested in partici- pating should contact the Director of Government Affairs or visit https:// dallasbuilders.org/advocacy/.

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” – Benjamin Franklin

Dallas BA Participates in Legisla- tor’s Panel on Special Districts On Oct. 27, Dallas BA’s Director of Government Affairs David Lehde took part in a panel organized by Texas State Representative Keith Bell that served to inform local elected officials and decision makers on the nuances of special districts in Texas, as well as discuss apprehensions some may have. Texas’ rapid growth demands a steady supply of attainable housing and quality infrastructure. Special dis- tricts are crucial tools developers can use to help provide essential services and allow growth to pay for itself. Lehde explained how that is a benefit in areas that may wish to see the new development funded by the people who live in the new community. He also explained how, due to districts being subject to oversight, that the community gets the value of high-quality infrastructure where the risk is put on the developer and not the taxpayers, while the transparency in the districts’ governance helps assure accountability and local control. Special districts are reimburse- ment models where the developer gets paid back only after delivering on what they say they are going to do. It is a sustainable financing model that provides for more attainable housing. Lehde also stressed the impor- tance of the local government entity, and the developer or builder com - municating their needs and concerns early on in the process. When the

Proposition 9 - HJR 1 “The con- stitutional amendment to authorize the legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation a portion of the market value of tangible personal property a person owns that is held or used for the pro- duction of income.” Proposition 10 - SJR 84 “The constitutional amendment to autho- rize 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.” Proposition 11 - SJR 85 “The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to increase the amount of the exemption from ad valorem taxation by a school district of the mar- ket value of the residence homestead of a person who is elderly or disabled.” Proposition 13 - SJR 2 “The con- stitutional 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.” Proposition 17 - HJR 34 “The constitutional amendment to autho- rize the legislature to provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation of the amount of the market value of real property located in a county that borders the United Mexican States that arises from the installation or construction on the property of border security infrastructure and related improvements.” To view the Texas Secretary of State’s Explanatory Statements on each proposition visit https://www. sos.state.tx.us/elections/forms/2025- explanatory-statements.pdf.

Constitutional Amendments on November Special Election Ballot Nov. 4 is a big day on the govern - ment affairs front, as Texas voters take to the polls in the for 2025’s Consti- tutional Amendments Special Election Day. The amendments earned enough votes in the legislature to be placed on the ballot for voter approval in order to become law. Multiple propositions earned the support of our industry, including Proposition 1, which ensures Texas State Technical College (TSTC) has sufficient funds to expand job-training programs by authorizing two funds to expand classrooms and facilities, modernize labs and train more stu- dents to meet the challenges of today’s economy. Other propositions that have the home building industry’s support: Proposition 2 - SJR 18 “The constitutional amendment prohibiting the imposition of a tax on the realized or unrealized capital gains of an indi- vidual, family, estate, or trust.” Proposition 4 - HJR 7 “The constitutional amendment to dedicate a portion of the revenue derived from state sales and use taxes to the Texas water fund and to provide for the al - location and use of that revenue.” Proposition 8 - HJR 2 “The con- stitutional amendment to prohibit the legislature from imposing death taxes applicable to a decedent’s property or the transfer of an estate, inheritance,

TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF BUILDERS

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The Home Builder is published monthly by the Dallas Builders Association at 5816 W. Plano Pkwy., Plano, Texas 75093. Telephone 972-931-4840. BARCIE VILCHES, Editor

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