Texas Proposition 14, Creation of the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund Amendment (2023)
| Texas Creation of the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund Amendment | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Election date November 7, 2023 | |
| Topic Forests and parks | |
Status Approved | |
| Type Constitutional amendment | Origin State legislature |
The Texas Creation of the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund Amendment was on the ballot in Texas as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on November 7, 2023.[1][2]The ballot measure was approved.
A "yes" vote supported amending the state constitution to create the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund—a trust fund for the creation and improvement of state parks. |
A "no" vote opposed this amendment to create the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund. |
Election results
|
Texas Proposition 14 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
|
|
1,928,021 | 76.52% | ||
| No | 591,658 | 23.48% | ||
Overview
What did the amendment do?
- See also: Text of measure
The amendment created the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund as a trust fund outside of the state treasury. The fund consists of money appropriated, credited, or transferred by the legislature; gifts, grants, and donations received by the Parks and Wildlife Department; and investment earnings. Money appropriated by the state legislature is excluded from the state's appropriation limit. Money in the fund is to be used to create and improve state parks. Any expenses incurred by the fund are expensed from the fund.[1]
The state legislature also passed Senate Bill 1648 (SB 1648), the implementing legislation, during the 2023 regular legislative session. SB 1648 amended the Parks and Wildlife Code to authorize the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to administer the proposed fund. SB 1648 authorized the Parks and Wildlife Department to request a disbursement from the fund to acquire property in Texas to create and improve state parks. The bill also prohibits money in the fund to be used for department salaries, employee benefits, costs associated with employee benefits or the administration of the department, or the maintenance and operation of state parks. It took effect on January 1, 2024.[3]
Who supported and opposed the amendment?
- See also: Support and Opposition
Environment Texas, Sierra Club Lone Star Chapter, Texans for State Parks, Texas Foundation for Conservation, and Texas Travel Alliance registered in support of the amendment. Luke Metzger, executive director of Environment Texas, said in a statement, "This historic legislation would create a new golden age for our state parks. 2023 marks the centennial of the Texas state parks system and we have a lot to celebrate. What a great birthday present to give all Texans for the state parks system’s 100th."[4]
Ballotpedia did not locate a campaign in opposition to the ballot measure.
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title was as follows:[2]
| “ | The constitutional amendment providing for the creation of the centennial parks conservation fund to be used for the creation and improvement of state parks.[5] | ” |
Constitutional changes
- See also: Article 3, Texas Constitution
The measure amended section 49 of Article 3 of the state constitution. The following underlined text was added:[2]
|
Sec. 49-e-1. (a) The centennial parks conservation fund is established as a trust fund outside the treasury. In accordance with general law, the fund may be used only for the creation and improvement of state parks.
|
Readability score
- See also: Ballot measure readability scores, 2023
Using the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL) and Flesch Reading Ease (FRE) formulas, Ballotpedia scored the readability of the ballot title for this measure. Readability scores are designed to indicate the reading difficulty of text. The Flesch-Kincaid formulas account for the number of words, syllables, and sentences in a text; they do not account for the difficulty of the ideas in the text. The state legislature wrote the ballot language for this measure.
The FKGL for the ballot title is grade level 14, and the FRE is 34. The word count for the ballot title is 24.
Support
Texas Coalition for State Parks PAC led the campaign in support of Proposition 14. To see a full list of coalition members, click here.[6]
Supporters
Organizations
- Environment Texas
- Sierra Club Lone Star Chapter
- Texans for State Parks
- Texas Foundation for Conservation
- Texas Travel Alliance
Individuals
Arguments
Opposition
Opponents
Organizations
Arguments
Campaign finance
Texas Coalition for State Parks PAC registered in support of Proposition 14. The committee reported $271,789.78 in contributions. If you are aware of a committee registered to oppose this amendment, please email editor@ballotpedia.org.
| Cash Contributions | In-Kind Contributions | Total Contributions | Cash Expenditures | Total Expenditures | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Support | $268,000.00 | $3,789.78 | $271,789.78 | $211,760.00 | $215,549.78 |
| Oppose | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Support
The following table includes contribution and expenditure totals for the committee in support of Proposition 14.[7]
| Committees in support of Proposition 14 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Committee | Cash Contributions | In-Kind Contributions | Total Contributions | Cash Expenditures | Total Expenditures |
| Texas Coalition for State Parks | $268,000.00 | $3,789.78 | $271,789.78 | $211,760.00 | $215,549.78 |
| Total | $268,000.00 | $3,789.78 | $271,789.78 | $211,760.00 | $215,549.78 |
Donors
The following table shows the top donors to the committee registered in support of Proposition 14.[7]
| Donor | Cash Contributions | In-Kind Contributions | Total Contributions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rod Sanders | $50,000.00 | $0.00 | $50,000.00 |
| Arch Aplin | $25,000.00 | $0.00 | $25,000.00 |
| LMBI, L.P | $25,000.00 | $0.00 | $25,000.00 |
| Thomas and Debra Friedkin | $25,000.00 | $0.00 | $25,000.00 |
| Darwin Deason | $20,000.00 | $0.00 | $20,000.00 |
Methodology
To read Ballotpedia's methodology for covering ballot measure campaign finance information, click here.
Media editorials
- See also: 2023 ballot measure media endorsements
Ballotpedia identified the following media editorial boards as taking positions on the proposition.
Ballotpedia lists the positions of media editorial boards that support or oppose ballot measures. This does not include opinion pieces from individuals or groups that do not represent the official position of a newspaper or media outlet. Ballotpedia includes editorials from newspapers and outlets based on circulation and readership, political coverage within a state, and length of publication. You can share media editorial board endorsements with us at editor@ballotpedia.org.
Support
Opposition
You can share campaign information or arguments, along with source links for this information, at editor@ballotpedia.org
Background
Senate Bill 1648 (2023)
The state legislature also passed Senate Bill 1648 (SB 1648), the implementing legislation, during the 2023 regular legislative session. SB 1648 amends the Parks and Wildlife Code to authorize the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to administer the proposed fund. SB 1648 authorizes the Parks and Wildlife Department to request a disbursement from the fund to acquire property in Texas to create and improve state parks. The bill also prohibits money in the fund to be used for department salaries, employee benefits, costs associated with employee benefits or the administration of the department, or the maintenance and operation of state parks. It took effect on January 1, 2024.[8]
Senate Bill 1648 passed in the Senate by a vote of 26-3 with two absent. It passed in the House by a vote of 127-15 with seven not voting or absent.[8]
The state legislature authorized $1 billion in House Bill 1, the state budget bill, for the 2024-2025 fiscal year for state park acquisitions.[9]
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
In 1963, the State Parks Board and the Game and Fish Commission were merged to form the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. It consists of nine members appointed by the governor and approved by the Senate that serve staggered six-year terms. A chair of the commission is appointed by the governor from among the nine members. The agency has 13 internal divisions: Executive, Wildlife, Coastal Fisheries, Inland Fisheries, Law Enforcement, State Parks, Infrastructure, Legal, Financial Resources, Communications, Human Resources, Support Resources, and Information Technology.[10]
As of 2023, the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department oversees more than 640,000 acres of land including 89 state parks, historic sites, and natural areas.[11]
Texas Proposition 5 (1967)
In 1967, Texans approved Proposition 5, which created the Texas Park Development Fund to acquire lands for state park sites and to develop state parks. The measure also authorized the issuance of $75 million in bonds for the fund. In March 2020, the Texas Public Finance Authority (TPFA) closed the fund and redirected any remaining funds to the Texas Parks Development Bonds Interest and Sinking Fund, which is administered by the state Parks and Wildlife Department.[12]
Referred measures on the Texas ballot
- See also: List of Texas ballot measures
In Texas, a total of 281 ballot measures appeared on statewide ballots between 1985 and 2022. Two hundred forty-eight ballot measures were approved, and 33 ballot measures were defeated.
| Texas statewide ballot measures, 1985-2022 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total number | Annual average | Annual minimum | Annual maximum | Approved | Defeated | ||
| # | % | # | % | ||||
Texas ballot measures in odd-numbered years
Between 1995 and 2021, Texans decided on 175 statewide ballot measures appearing on odd-numbered year ballots. Voters approved 160 measures and defeated 15.
Path to the ballot
- See also: Amending the Texas Constitution
To put a legislatively referred constitutional amendment before voters, a two-thirds (66.67%) vote is required in both the Texas State Senate and the Texas House of Representatives.
This amendment was introduced as Senate Joint Resolution 74 on March 6, 2023. On April 20, 2023, the state Senate passed SJR 74 by a vote of 26-3 with two absent. On May 15, the state House passed an amended version of SJR 74 by a vote of 123-21 with five not voting. On May 21, the state Senate adopted the amended version by a vote of 28-3.[1]
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How to cast a vote
- See also: Voting in Texas
Click "Show" to learn more about voter registration, identification requirements, and poll times in Texas.
| How to cast a vote in Texas | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Poll timesIn Texas, all polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central Time. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote. Texas is divided between Central and Mountain time zones.[13]
Registration
To register to vote in Texas, an applicant must be a United States citizen, a resident of the county in which he or she is registering, and at least 17 years and 10 months old.[14] The deadline to register to vote is 30 days before the election. Prospective voters can request a postage-paid voter registration form online or complete the form online and return it to the county voter registrar. Applications are also available at a variety of locations including the county voter registrar’s office, the secretary of state’s office, libraries, and high schools. Voter registration certificates are mailed to newly registered voters.[15] Automatic registrationTexas does not practice automatic voter registration. Online registration
Texas does not permit online voter registration. Same-day registrationTexas does not allow same-day voter registration. Residency requirementsProspective voters must reside in the county in which they are registering to vote. Verification of citizenshipTexas does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. Section 18.068 of the Texas Election Code says the following:
In January 2019, the Texas secretary of state’s office announced that it would be providing local election officials with a list of registered voters who obtained driver’s licenses or IDs with documentation such as work visas or green cards. Counties would then be able to require voters on the list to provide proof of citizenship within 30 days.[17] The review was halted by a federal judge in February 2019, and Secretary of State David Whitley rescinded the advisory in April.[18][19] A news release from Whitley’s office stated that “... going forward, the Texas Secretary of State's office will send to county voter registrars only the matching records of individuals who registered to vote before identifying themselves as non-U.S. citizens to DPS when applying for a driver's license or personal identification card. This will ensure that naturalized U.S. citizens who lawfully registered to vote are not impacted by this voter registration list maintenance process.”[20] Verifying your registrationThe Texas Secretary of State’s office allows residents to check their voter registration status online by visiting this website.
Voter ID requirementsTexas requires voters to present photo identification while voting.[21] The following list of accepted ID was current as of February 2023. Click here for the Texas Secretary of State's page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.
Identification provided by voters aged 18-69 may be expired for no more than four years before the election date. Voters aged 70 and older can use an expired ID card regardless of how long ago the ID expired.[21] Voters who are unable to provide one of the ID options listed above can sign a Reasonable Impediment Declaration and provide one of the following supporting documents:[21]
The following voters are exempt from showing photo ID:[21]
Voters who do not have a photo ID can obtain a Texas Election Identification Certificate (EIC) at any Texas driver’s license office during regular business hours. Voters can also obtain an Election Identification Certificate from a mobile station. Locations are listed here.[21] | ||||||
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Texas State Legislature, "SJR 74 Overview," accessed April 21, 2023
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Texas State Legislature, "SJR 74 Text," accessed April 21, 2023
- ↑ Texas State Legislature, "Senate Bill 1648 Overview," accessed June 5, 2023
- ↑ Environment Texas, "Texas House votes to create new state parks," accessed June 27, 2023
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "quotedisclaimer" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid<ref>tag; name "quotedisclaimer" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Grow Texas Parks, "What is Prop. 14?" accessed September 5, 2023
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedfinance - ↑ 8.0 8.1 Texas State Legislature, "Senate Bill 1648 Overview," accessed June 5, 2023
- ↑ Texas State Legislature, "House Bill 1," accessed June 5, 2023
- ↑ Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, "History," accessed June 5, 2023
- ↑ Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, "Commission," accessed June 5, 2023
- ↑ Texas Comptroller Manual of Accounts, "Appropriated Fund 0408 – Texas Parks Development Fund," accessed June 27, 2023
- ↑ VoteTexas.gov, "Who, What, Where, When, How," accessed February 27, 2023
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, “Request for Voter Registration Applications,” accessed February 27, 2023
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, “Voter Registration,” accessed February 27, 2023
- ↑ Texas Constitution and Statutes, “Election Code,” accessed February 23, 2023
- ↑ The Texas Tribune, “Texas officials flag tens of thousands of voters for citizenship checks,” January 25, 2019
- ↑ The New York Times, “Federal Judge Halts ‘Ham-Handed’ Texas Voter Purge,” February 28, 2019
- ↑ The New York Times, “Texas Ends Review That Questioned Citizenship of Almost 100,000 Voters,” April 26, 2019
- ↑ Texas Secretary of State, “Secretary Whitley Announces Settlement In Litigation On Voter Registration List Maintenance Activity,” April 26, 2019
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 Texas Secretary of State, "Required Identification for Voting in Person," accessed February 27, 2023 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "tvid" defined multiple times with different content
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