Bill Text: TX SJR75 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Enrolled

Texas Senate Joint Resolution 75

Bill Title: Proposing a constitutional amendment creating the Texas water fund to assist in financing water projects in this state.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2023-05-30 - Filed with the Secretary of State [SJR75 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-SJR75-Enrolled.html



	S.J.R. No. 75




	proposing a constitutional amendment creating the Texas water fund
	to assist in financing water projects in this state.
	BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Article III, Texas Constitution, is amended by
	adding Section 49-d-16 to read as follows:
	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:
	(1) the Water Assistance Fund No. 480;
	(2) the New Water Supply for Texas Fund;
	(3) the Rural Water Assistance Fund No. 301; or
	(4) the Statewide Water Public Awareness Account.
	(c) The Texas water fund consists of:
	(1) money transferred or deposited to the credit of
	the fund by general law, including money appropriated by the
	legislature directly to the fund and money from any source
	transferred or deposited to the credit of the fund authorized by
	general law;
	(2) any other revenue that the legislature by statute
	dedicates for deposit to the credit of the fund;
	(3) investment earnings and interest earned on amounts
	credited to the fund;
	(4) money from gifts, grants, or donations to the
	fund; and
	(5) money returned from any authorized transfer.
	(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:
	(1) money in the Texas water fund is dedicated by this
	constitution; and
	(2) an appropriation of state tax revenues for the
	purpose of depositing money to the credit of the Texas water fund is
	treated as if it were an appropriation of revenues dedicated by 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.
	SECTION 2. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
	submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 7, 2023.
	The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
	proposition: "The constitutional amendment creating the Texas
	water fund to assist in financing water projects in this state."






	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House

	I hereby certify that S.J.R. No. 75 passed the Senate on
	April 3, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0;
	May 22, 2023, Senate refused to concur in House amendments and
	requested appointment of Conference Committee; May 23, 2023, House
	granted request of the Senate; May 28, 2023, Senate adopted
	Conference Committee Report by the following vote: Yeas 31,
	Nays 0.


	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate

	I hereby certify that S.J.R. No. 75 passed the House, with
	amendments, on May 16, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 135,
	Nays 4, one present not voting; May 23, 2023, House granted request
	of the Senate for appointment of Conference Committee;
	May 28, 2023, House adopted Conference Committee Report by the
	following vote: Yeas 142, Nays 0, one present not voting.


	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House



	Received:

	______________________________
	Date


	______________________________
	Secretary of State