Election Information
Vote YES on Prop. 5
Proposition 5 is one of 10 measures on which Texas voters were asked to vote in the November 2019 Constitutional Amendment Election. Prop. 5 dedicates revenue from the Sporting Goods Sales Tax, so those dollars can only be used by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Historical Commission on public parks and historic sites — not for any other purposes.
Importantly, Prop. 5 requires no new taxes or fees. A YES vote protects Texas’ natural areas and historic sites so we don’t lose the very things that make Texas a special place in which to live.
Election Information
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Make sure you are registered to vote
Check your voter registration status and learn more about voting in Texas. The deadline to register to vote in this election was October 7, 2019.
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Vote YES on Prop. 5
Early voting ran from Monday, October 21, 2019 through Friday, November 1, 2019. Election Day was November 5, 2019.
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Spread the Word
Make sure others go and vote! Help spread the word with our social media toolkit and tell your community about why protecting Texas parks matters.
Prop. 5 Ballot Language
“The constitutional amendment dedicating the revenue received from the existing state sales and use taxes that are imposed on sporting goods to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Historical Commission to protect Texas’ natural areas, water quality, and history by acquiring, managing, and improving state and local parks and historic sites while not increasing the rate of the state sales and use taxes.”
Why Vote YES on Prop. 5?
Texas state parks are a cherished part of our heritage. From the Guadalupe Mountains to Padre Island, from Enchanted Rock to Caddo Lake, our parks provide irreplaceable recreational opportunities, protect critical habitat, and preserve the history that defines our identity as Texans.
Yet these resources are under strain. State park visitation is nearing 10 million visitors annually, and aging infrastructure is struggling to keep pace. Prop. 5 provides a permanent, constitutional fix — ensuring that the Sporting Goods Sales Tax revenue Texans already pay actually flows to the parks it was intended to support.
No new taxes. No hidden costs. Just a commitment to protect what makes Texas great.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Proposition 5 on the 2019 Texas ballot?
Proposition 5 was a constitutional amendment on the November 5, 2019 Texas ballot. It permanently dedicated revenue from the state sales and use taxes imposed on sporting goods to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and the Texas Historical Commission (THC).
Before this amendment, the Legislature could — and often did — redirect those sporting goods tax dollars to general revenue or other budget areas, leaving parks chronically underfunded. Prop. 5 closed that loophole by enshrining the dedication in the Texas Constitution.
Did Prop. 5 require new taxes?
No. Proposition 5 required no new taxes or fees of any kind. It simply ensured that existing sales and use tax revenue from sporting goods — which Texas law had already intended to go to parks — could not be diverted to other state budget purposes.
Texans were already paying this tax every time they bought hunting or fishing equipment, camping gear, or other sporting goods. Prop. 5 guaranteed those dollars would actually reach the parks and historic sites they were meant to support.
What is the Sporting Goods Sales Tax?
The Sporting Goods Sales Tax is a portion of the standard Texas sales tax collected on the purchase of sporting goods — including hunting and fishing equipment, camping gear, and outdoor recreation supplies. Texas law directed this revenue to TPWD and THC.
Prior to Prop. 5, the Comptroller collected the tax but the Legislature was not constitutionally required to appropriate those funds to parks. Billions of dollars were diverted over the decades. The constitutional amendment fixed this by making the dedication binding.
How did the election process work for Prop. 5?
Proposition 5 was a statewide constitutional amendment election held on November 5, 2019. All registered Texas voters were eligible to participate. Early voting ran from October 21 through November 1, 2019.
Voters were asked to vote YES or NO on the amendment. A YES vote meant dedicating the sporting goods tax revenue to TPWD and THC. The amendment passed with strong support from Texans across the state.
What does the Prop. 5 ballot language say?
The official ballot language read: "The constitutional amendment dedicating the revenue received from the existing state sales and use taxes that are imposed on sporting goods to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Historical Commission to protect Texas' natural areas, water quality, and history by acquiring, managing, and improving state and local parks and historic sites while not increasing the rate of the state sales and use taxes."
The language was carefully crafted to make clear that no new taxes were involved and that the funds would benefit both natural areas and historic sites across Texas.
How does Prop. 5 affect Texas parks today?
Since Prop. 5 passed, TPWD has had a more reliable funding baseline for park operations, infrastructure improvements, and land acquisition. The agency can plan capital projects and staffing with greater confidence than when appropriations were uncertain.
Visitors to Texas state parks have seen improvements in facilities, trail maintenance, and park services. The funding also supports the Texas Historical Commission in preserving battlefields, missions, courthouses, and other historic properties across the state.