Texas Proposition 6, Creation of the Water Fund Amendment (2023)
| Texas Proposition 6 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Election date November 7, 2023 | |
| Topic Water and State and local government budgets, spending and finance | |
Status Approved | |
| Type Constitutional amendment | Origin State legislature |
Texas Proposition 6, the Creation of the Water 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 Texas Water Fund administered by the Texas Water Development Board to finance water projects in the state. |
A "no" vote opposed amending the state constitution to create the Texas Water Fund administered by the Texas Water Development Board to finance water projects in the state. |
Election results
|
Texas Proposition 6 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
|
|
1,969,996 | 77.66% | ||
| No | 566,712 | 22.34% | ||
Overview
What did Proposition 6 do?
- See also: Text of measure
Proposition 6 established in the Texas Constitution the Texas Water Fund administered by the Texas Water Development Board. The board was authorized to transfer funds between the state Water Fund and the Water Assistance Fund No. 480, the New Water Supply for Texas Fund, the Rural Water Assistance Fund No. 301, or the Statewide Water Public Awareness Account.
The Water Fund consisted of money allocated by the state legislature, gifts and grants, and investment earnings of the fund. The amendment required no less than 25% of the initial allocation to the fund by the legislature to be transferred to the New Water Supply for Texas Fund. Money appropriated by the state legislature to the fund is excluded from the state's appropriation limit.[2]
The state legislature also passed Senate Bill 28, the implementing legislation, during the 2023 regular legislative session.[3]
Who supported and opposed Proposition 6?
- See also: Support and Opposition
State Sen. Charles Perry (R-28) sponsored the amendment and said, "Water infrastructure needs in Texas total in the billions in order to cover aging and failing pipes and build out new water supply. It is estimated that the state loses 136 billion of gallons of water a year to leaking water main pipes. Additionally, the state will be 7 million acre feet short of supply in the next 50 years. S.J.R. 75 allows the Texas voters to decide if the state will create the Texas Water Fund to continue investment in water for years to come." During the legislative process, the Texas Water Development Board, the Texas Water Conservation Association, the Texas Oil & Gas Association, the Texas Association of Builders, the Texas Association of Business, and the Texas Desalination Association endorsed the amendment.[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 creating the Texas water fund to assist in financing water projects in this state.[5] | ” |
Constitutional changes
- See also: Article 3, Texas Constitution
Proposition 6 amended section 49 of Article 3 of the state constitution. The following underlined text was added:[2] Note: Use your mouse to scroll over the below text to see the full text.
Sec. 49-d-16. (a) The Texas water fund is created as a special fund in the state treasury outside the general revenue fund. The fund is administered by the Texas Water Development Board or by that board’s successor in function as provided by general law. The legislature may appropriate money for the purpose of depositing the money to the fund to be available for transfer as provided by Subsection (b) of this section. (b) The administrator of the Texas water fund may use the fund only to transfer money to other funds or accounts administered by the Texas Water Development Board or that board’s successor in function. The administrator may restore to the fund money transferred from the fund and deposited to the credit of another fund or account. Legislative appropriation is not required for the administrator to transfer money from or restore money to the fund, including the transfer of money from the fund to or the restoration of the money from:
(c) The Texas water fund consists of:
(d) The legislature by general law shall provide for the manner in which money from the Texas water fund may be used, subject to the limitations provided by this section. (e) Of the amount of money initially appropriated to the Texas water fund, the administrator of the fund shall allocate not less than 25 percent to be used only for transfer to the New Water Supply for Texas Fund. (f) The expenses of managing the investments of the Texas water fund shall be paid from that fund. (g) For purposes of Section 22, Article VIII, of this constitution:
(h) Any unexpended and unobligated balance remaining in the Texas water fund at the end of a state fiscal biennium is appropriated to the administrator of that fund for the following state fiscal biennium for the purposes authorized by this section.[5] |
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 13, and the FRE is 35. The word count for the ballot title is 17.
Support
Texas Infrastructure Coalition led the campaign in support of Proposition 6.[6]
Supporters
Corporations
Organizations
- San Antonio Water System
- Texas Association of Builders
- Texas Association of Business
- Texas Desalination Association
- Texas Farm Bureau (AGFUND)
- Texas Municipal League
- Texas Oil & Gas Association - TXOGA PAC
- Texas Realtors
- Texas Rural Water Association
- Texas Water Conservation Association
- Texas Water Development Board
- Texas Water Infrastructure Network
- Texas Water Supply Partners
- Water Environment Association of Texas
Arguments
Opposition
Opponents
Organizations
Arguments
Campaign finance
If you are aware of a committee registered to support or oppose this amendment, please email editor@ballotpedia.org.
| Cash Contributions | In-Kind Contributions | Total Contributions | Cash Expenditures | Total Expenditures | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Support | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Oppose | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Media editorials
- See also: 2023 ballot measure media endorsements
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 28 (2023)
During the 2023 legislative session, the Texas State Legislature passed Senate Bill 28 (2023) — the implementing legislation for the amendment. It passed in the Senate by a vote of 31-0 and in the House by a vote of 134-4 on May 28. It was scheduled to take effect because the amendment was approved by voters.[3]
SB 28 created the Texas Water Fund in state law to be administered by the Texas Water Development Board. Money in the fund can only be transferred to the WaterAssistance Fund, the New Supply Fund, the Water Implementation Fund, the State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas, the Financial Assistance for Water Pollution Control, Rural Water Assistance Fund, the state Water Account, the Financial Assistance Account, and the state Participation Account. Distributions to water infrastructure projects will prioritize projects in rural political subdivisions or municipalities with a population of less than 150,000.
SB 28 also created the New Supply Fund in state law to be administered by the Texas Water Development Board. The fund consists of money allocated to it by the legislature, interest, and investment returns from the fund, gifts, grants, donations, and any other fees or sources of revenue that the legislature authorizes. The fund is to be used to finance projects to create seven million acre-feet of new water supplies by December 31, 2033. The projects included marine and brackish water desalination, water treatment, aquifer storage and recovery, and the development of infrastructure to transport water.[3]
The law required the board to develop rules to administer financial assistance from the fund. The law also required the board to consider the following criteria when administering financial assistance:[3]
| “ | (1) the intended end users of the water supply, the needs of the area to be served by the project, the expected benefit
of the project to the area, the relationship of the project to the water supply needs of this state overall, and the relationship of the project to the state water plan; (2) the amount of water expected to be produced by the project; and (3) the availability of money or revenue to the political subdivision from all sources for the ultimate repayment of the cost of the project, including all interest.[5] |
” |
Texas Water Development Board
The Texas Water Development Board (WDB) was created in 1957 via Proposition 2. WDP is a three-member board, with the governor appointing each member. The WDP oversees state programs related to the conservation and development of water resources in Texas, including the Economically Distressed Areas Program (EDAP).[7]
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 75 on March 6, 2023. On April 3, 2023, the state Senate passed SJR 75 by a vote of 31-0. The state House adopted an amended version on May 16 by a vote of 135-4 with 10 not voting. The chambers met in a conference committee to decide on a final version of the amendment. The House adopted the conference committee version by a vote of 142-0 with seven not voting or absent on May 28. The Senate adopted the conference version on the same day by a vote of 31-0.[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.[8]
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.[9] 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.[10] 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.[12] The review was halted by a federal judge in February 2019, and Secretary of State David Whitley rescinded the advisory in April.[13][14] 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.”[15] 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.[16] 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.[16] 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:[16]
The following voters are exempt from showing photo ID:[16]
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.[16] | ||||||
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Texas State Legislature, "SJR 75 Overview," accessed April 3, 2023
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Texas State Legislature, "SJR 75 Text," accessed April 3, 2023
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Texas State Legislature, "Senate Bill 28," accessed June 12, 2023
- ↑ Texas State Legislature, "SJR 75 Analysis," accessed July 12, 2023
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 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 Cite error: Invalid<ref>tag; name "quotedisclaimer" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ Texas Infrastructure Coalition, "Home," accessed November 2, 2023
- ↑ Texas Water Development Board, "About," accessed June 24, 2019
- ↑ 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
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 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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