Texas voters reject school funding and approve Houston police reforms

During the November 2026 midterm elections, Texas voters approved significant changes to policing in Houston while rejecting several major funding proposals for schools and infrastructure.

In Houston, voters passed the Houston Freedom Act, which designates misdemeanor marijuana possession as a low priority for the Houston Police Department. The measure also bans no-knock warrants, requiring officers to announce their presence and wait at least 15 seconds before entering a premises. While the act changes local enforcement priorities, marijuana remains illegal under state law.

In the Houston area, voters in six school districts, including Cypress-Fairbanks, Channelview, Crosby, Huffman, La Porte, and Spring ISD, rejected property tax increase proposals. These failed measures included approximately $2 billion in proposed school bonds. In La Porte, the rejection of a proposition meant the district would not receive an estimated $8 million to help address a $12 million deficit. Experts suggest that ongoing concerns regarding property taxes and rising property values may be driving voters to reject local school funding initiatives.