Texas House Bill HJR73

Texas 2019 - 86th Regular

Caption

Proposing a constitutional amendment to reserve to the people the powers of initiative and referendum; authorizing new fees.

Impact

If enacted, HJR73 would enhance democratic participation in the legislative process by allowing the electorate to directly propose and repeal laws. The initiative process means that citizens could circumvent traditional legislative channels to enact reforms or changes in the law, thus increasing accountability among lawmakers. Conversely, this move could also lead to complications, such as the potential for ballot fatigue among voters faced with multiple initiatives or the influence of special interests on the petition process, stirring both support and opposition from various stakeholder groups.

Summary

HJR73 proposes a significant amendment to the Texas Constitution that would reserve the powers of initiative and referendum to the people. This legislative change aims to empower Texas citizens to propose statutory and constitutional measures through petitions. Additionally, the bill outlines the process for submitting such proposals, requiring a good faith filing fee to cover administrative costs and setting standards for the petition's form and language. A measure must be signed by at least five percent of the total votes received by all candidates for governor in the most recent gubernatorial election to be certified as valid for ballot submission.

Contention

There are notable points of contention regarding the implications of HJR73. Proponents argue that it provides a necessary tool for citizens to express their will and address issues that may be overlooked by the legislature. However, critics express concerns about the feasibility and efficacy of such a system, warning that the initiative process could be manipulated by well-funded interest groups that might prioritize specific agendas over broad public interest. Additionally, the introduction of fees for filing petitions raises questions about accessibility and fairness in the democratic process.