Houston Voters to Decide on Police Reform Proposition

Houston residents will cast ballots on November 3, 2026, for a charter amendment regarding police search and enforcement policies.

Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Law Enforcement

Bold flat-color editorial illustration showing a geometric city silhouette, evoking the gravity of Houston's municipal police policy vote. — Houston voters head to the polls on November 3, 2026, to decide on Proposition A, a charter amendment concerning police no-knock warrants. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Should Houston police policies be legally required by the city charter?

Houston voters will decide on Proposition A on November 3, 2026, a charter amendment that targets police no-knock warrants and marijuana enforcement priorities. The measure reached the ballot after organizers collected 40,000 signatures.

Why it matters

Supporters of the proposal aim to codify current police policies into the city charter to prevent future leadership from reversing them. The movement is partially rooted in the aftermath of the 2019 Harding Street raid, which involved a no-knock warrant.

Proposition A requires the Houston Police Department to perform a one-time audit of misdemeanor marijuana enforcement covering a 5-year period. It also mandates annual reporting on arrest metrics and diversion program referrals.

The players

Ground Game Texas

This organization is a progressive advocacy group that manages petition drives to place policy initiatives on local ballots across the state.

Houston Police Department

This is the primary law enforcement agency responsible for maintaining public safety and executing search warrants within the city of Houston.

The details

Proposition A seeks to ban Houston police from executing or requesting no-knock search warrants while mandating that marijuana possession be treated as the lowest law-enforcement priority. Residents must approve or reject the entire charter amendment in an all-or-nothing vote, despite marijuana possession remaining illegal under Texas law.

The 2019 Harding Street raid involving a no-knock warrant occurred.
Houston voters will decide on Proposition A on November 3, 2026.

Legal Context

Proposition A mirrors efforts in other municipalities to use local charter amendments to limit the enforcement of state-level statutes. The proposal effectively attempts to create a local policy environment that diverges from the broader Texas state law prohibiting marijuana possession.

If passed, the measure would change how Houston police handle non-violent marijuana offenses and the protocols used for search warrants. Residents should note that the amendment would set permanent operational guidelines for the department.

The takeaway

Voters are evaluating whether to codify specific police procedure changes directly into the municipal charter. Implementation of these rules could fundamentally alter the department's interaction with the public regarding low-level drug offenses.