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. Money transferred from the Texas water fund to a fund or
  account may be spent without further legislative appropriation in
  the manner provided by general law governing the use of money in the
  fund or account to which the money was transferred.  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