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HJR 23

Proposing a constitutional amendment to reserve to the people the powers of initiative and referendum.

89th Legislature, 1st Called Session (2025) Introduced by Vikki Goodwin

Proposes Texas constitutional amendment enabling citizens to directly propose and vote on laws, shifting lawmaking power from legislature to voters through statewide initiative and referendum processes.

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#elections--initiative #referendum&recall(i0300) #legislativebudgetboard(v0161) #legislativecouncil #texas(v0001) #resolutions--constitutionalamendments(i0661) #secretaryofstate(v0042)
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Bill Summary · HJR 23

Legislative bill overview

HJR 23 proposes a constitutional amendment to the Texas Constitution that would establish statewide initiative and referendum powers for citizens. This would allow Texas voters to directly propose legislation (initiative) and approve or reject laws passed by the legislature (referendum) through ballot measures, similar to systems in other states like California and Colorado.

Why is this important

Currently, Texas is one of the few states without statewide initiative and referendum mechanisms, meaning citizens cannot directly bypass the legislature to create or challenge laws. This amendment would fundamentally shift power from elected representatives to voters on certain policy matters, potentially enabling significant policy changes without legislative approval. The outcome could reshape how laws are made in Texas and increase direct democratic participation.

Potential points of contention

  • Governance concerns: Critics argue direct democracy mechanisms can lead to poorly-drafted laws, inconsistent policymaking, and difficulty implementing complex legislation that bypasses legislative oversight and committee deliberation
  • Fiscal implications: Initiative and referendum processes require election administration costs, and voter-approved measures could create unexpected budget obligations without legislative budgeting controls
  • Special interest influence: Wealthy groups or out-of-state organizations could fund campaigns to pass amendments serving narrow interests, potentially overwhelming grassroots voices with superior funding
  • Legislative authority: Supporters of representative government may view this as an inappropriate erosion of the legislature's constitutional role and democratic accountability through elected officials

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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