Texas Proposition 2, Water Development Board Bonds Amendment (2019)

Texas Proposition 2
Election date November 5, 2019
Topic Bond issues
Status a Approved
Type Constitutional amendment	Origin State legislature
List of Texas measuresTexas Proposition 1Texas Proposition 2Texas Proposition 3Texas Proposition 4Texas Proposition 5Texas Proposition 6Texas Proposition 7Texas Proposition 8Texas Proposition 9Texas Proposition 10Submit

Texas Proposition 2, the Water Development Board Bonds Amendment, was on the ballot in Texas as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on November 5, 2019. The measure was approved.

A "yes" vote supported this amendment to allow the Texas Water Development Board to issue bonds on a continuing basis, but not exceeding $200 million in total principal at any time, for water supply and sewer service in areas defined as economically distressed.

A "no" vote opposed this amendment, thus discontinuing bond funding for the Texas Water Development Board's economically distressed areas program.

Election results

Texas Proposition 2
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		1,294,936	65.65%
No		677,619	34.35%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Overview

What did Proposition 2 do?

The ballot measure allowed the Texas Water Development Board to issue general obligation bonds on a continuing basis as long as the outstanding principal does not exceed $200 million for the state's Economically Distressed Areas Program (EDAP). The ballot measure required the bonds to be used for developing the water supply and sewer service in areas defined as economically distressed.

How was the EDAP funded in 2019?

As of 2019, EDAP was funded with general obligation bonds that voters approved at statewide elections. Whenever the Texas State Legislature wanted more bonds for the program, voters needed to approve a constitutional amendment. The original funding for EDAP came from Proposition 2 (1989), which authorized $500 million in general obligation bonds, including $250 million for EDAP. In 2007, EDAP received an additional $250 million in general obligation bonds from Proposition 16. Proposition 2 allowed the Texas Water Development Board to keep issuing bonds, as long as the outstanding principal did not exceed $200 million, without voter approval. However, the state Water Development Board was not allowed to issue more than $200 million in aggregate outstanding principal without a constitutional amendment. According to the Texas Senate Research Center, there were no remaining unissued bonds for EDAP as of June 2019.

How did Proposition 2 make the ballot?

State Senator Eddie Lucio (D-27) was the lead author of the constitutional amendment, and four Senate Democrats and one Senate Republican were listed as co-authors. In the House and Senate, legislative Democrats supported referring the constitutional amendment to the ballot. Legislative Republicans were divided. Senate Republicans voted 11-8 to pass the constitutional amendment. House Republicans voted 51-27 to pass the constitutional amendment.

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title was as follows:

“

The constitutional amendment providing for the issuance of additional general obligation bonds by the Texas Water Development Board in an amount not to exceed $200 million to provide financial assistance for the development of certain projects in economically distressed areas.

”

Constitutional changes

See also: Article 3, Texas Constitution

The measure added Section 49-d-14 to Article 3 of the Texas Constitution. The following underlined text was added:

Note: Use your mouse to scroll over the text below to see the full text.

Sec. 49-d-14. (a) In addition to the bonds authorized by the other provisions of this article, the Texas Water Development Board may issue general obligation bonds, at its determination and on a continuing basis, for the economically distressed areas program account of the Texas Water Development Fund II in amounts such that the aggregate principal amount of the bonds issued by the board under this section that are outstanding at any time does not exceed $200 million. The bonds shall be used to provide financial assistance for the development of water supply and sewer service projects in economically distressed areas of the state as defined by law.

(b) The additional general obligation bonds authorized by this section may be issued as bonds, notes, or other obligations as permitted by law and shall be sold in forms and denominations, on terms, at times, in the manner, at places, and in installments, as determined by the Texas Water Development Board. The bonds shall bear a rate or rates of interest the Texas Water Development Board determines. The bonds shall be incontestable after execution by the Texas Water Development Board, approval by the attorney general, and delivery to the purchaser or purchasers of the bonds.

(c) Section 49-d-8(e) of this article applies to the additional general obligation bonds authorized by this section. The limitation in Section 49-d-8 of this article that the Texas Water Development Board may not issue bonds in excess of the aggregate principal amount of general obligation bonds previously authorized for the economically distressed areas program does not apply to the bonds authorized by and issued under this section.

Readability score

See also: Ballot measure readability scores, 2019

Using the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL and Flesch Reading Ease (FRE) formulas, Ballotpedia scored the readability of the ballot title and summary 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 Texas State Legislature wrote the ballot language for this measure. The FKGL for the ballot title is grade level 24, and the FRE is -11. The word count for the ballot title is 39, and the estimated reading time is 10 seconds. In 2017, the average grade level for ballot measure titles in Texas was 25.

Support

Supporters

Officials

• Sen. Eddie Lucio (D-27)
• Sen. Juan Hinojosa (D-20)
• Sen. Charles Perry (R-28)
• Sen. Carol Alvarado (D-6)
• Sen. Jose Rodriguez (D-29)
• Sen. Judith Zaffirini (D-21)

Organizations

• Progress Texas

Arguments

The League of Women Voters of Texas published arguments for and arguments against the ballot measure. The following is the argument in support:

“

All citizens deserve clean water, regardless of their income. Socioeconomic factors should not determine access to safe water. It’s a basic right. This program needs to be replenished so it can continue funding existing and future projects for communities that could not otherwise afford it. Financing with bonds will provide more reliable funding over a longer period of time. Using general revenue would strain limited resources.

”

Opposition

Arguments

The League of Women Voters of Texas published arguments for and arguments against the ballot measure. The following is the argument in opposition:

“

The net impact to the general revenue fund will be $3,375,000 through 2021. This is another constitutionally dedicated fund which the state should avoid. Infrastructure improvements should be funded using general revenue. This is a local issue and should not be handled by the state.

”

Campaign finance

Total campaign contributions:
Support:	$0.00
Opposition:	$0.00

See also: Campaign finance requirements for Texas ballot measures

There were no ballot measure committees registered in support of the measure or in opposition to the measure.

Media editorials

See also: 2019 ballot measure media endorsements

Support

• Austin American-Statesman: “YES to allow the Texas Water Development Board to issue up to $200 million in general obligation bonds to help local governments build and improve water supply and sewer services.”
• The Austin Chronicle: “This is the third time the state (this time led by Rep. Mary Gonzál­ez, D-El Paso) has had to beg voters for funds to provide safe water to poor people (prior measures passed in 1989 and 2007).”
• Corpus Christi Caller-Times: “You could argue that providing a clean, safe water supply is a local responsibility, and technically you wouldn't be wrong. But do you want to leave economically distressed communities at risk of bad or unreliable water? Or their neighbors (that's you)?”
• The Dallas Morning News: “These dollars would allow the state to improve public health and provide for economic development. Approving this amendment is fiscally prudent and morally right.”
• The Eagle: “It is clear, though, that poor areas of Texas need state help to provide clean water and sewage removal they cannot afford on their own. After all, we are all Texans and we are all in this together.”
• Fort Worth Star-Telegram: “The Texas Water Development Board would be able to issue up to $200 million in bonds to pay for water and sewer projects in economically disadvantaged areas. Many are along the border with Mexico and badly need improved service.”
• Houston Chronicle: “Vote yes on Proposition 2. ... This approval will allow the board to raise funds needed to develop water and sewer service projects for areas designated by state law as distressed.”
• Longview News-Journal: “ Obviously, those in poverty areas deserve a ready, clean supply of water just like everyone else. This would improve the lives of about 400,000 Texans.”
• San Antonio Express-News: "This has been a successful program to ensure access to clean drinking water."
• Waco Tribune-Herald: “ With continued population growth, increasing industry demands and aging infrastructure, water remains a key challenge for Texas.”

Opposition

Ballotpedia had not identified media editorial boards in opposition to the ballot measure. If you are aware of a media editorial board position that is not listed below, please email the editorial link to editor@ballotpedia.org.

Overview of media editorials

The following table provides an overview of the positions that media editorial boards had taken on the Texas 2019 ballot measures:

Media	Prop. 1	Prop. 2	Prop. 3	Prop. 4	Prop. 5	Prop. 6	Prop. 7	Prop. 8	Prop. 9	Prop. 10
Austin American-Statesman	a	a	a	d	a	a	a	a	a	a
The Austin Chronicle	a	a	d	d	a	tc	a	a	d	a
Corpus Christi Caller-Times	a	a	a	d	a	a	a	a	a	a
The Dallas Morning News	a	a	a	d	d	a	a	a	d	a
The Eagle	a	a	a	d	a	a	a	a	a	a
Fort Worth Star-Telegram	a	a	a	a	a	a	a	a	d	a
Houston Chronicle	d	a	a	d	a	a	a	a	a	a
Longview News-Journal	a	a	a	d	a	a	a	a	a	a
San Antonio Express-News	d	a	a	d	a	a	a	a	a	a
Waco Tribune-Herald	a	a	a	d	a	a	a	a	d	a

Background

Texas Water Development Board

The Texas Water Development Board (WDB) was created in 1957 via Proposition 2. As of 2019, the WDP was a three-member board, with the governor appointing each member. The WDP oversaw state programs related to the conservation and development of water resources in Texas, including the Economically Distressed Areas Program (EDAP).

Economically Distressed Areas Program

In 1989, the Texas State Legislature passed a bill to establish the Economically Distressed Areas Program (EDAP). EDAP was designed to provide financial assistance to local governments to construct and improve water supply and sewer services.

The original funding for EDAP came from Proposition 2 (1989), which authorized $500 million in general obligation bonds, including $250 million for EDAP. In 2007, EDAP received an additional $250 million in general obligation bonds from Proposition 16.

As of 2019, counties eligible to receive EDAP financial assistance were those (a) with a per capita income that averaged 25 percent below the state average for the most recent three consecutive years and an unemployment rate that averaged 25 percent above the state average for the most recent three consecutive years; (b) located adjacent to an international border; or (c) located within 100 miles of an international border and contain a municipality with a population of more than 250,000.

The following is a map of counties that received EDAP financial assistance as of 2019:

Referred amendments on the ballot

See also: List of Texas ballot measures

The following statistics are based on ballot measures between 1995 and 2018 in Texas:

• Ballots featured 159 constitutional amendments.
• An average of 13 measures appeared on odd-year statewide ballots.
• The number of ballot measures on odd-year statewide ballots ranged from 7 to 22.
• Voters approved 91 percent (145 of 159) and rejected 9 percent (14 of 159) of the constitutional amendments.

Legislatively-referred constitutional amendments, 1995-2018
Total number	Approved	Percent approved	Defeated	Percent defeated	Odd-year average	Odd-year median	Odd-year minimum	Odd-year maximum
159	145	91.2%	14	8.8%	13.1	12.5	7	22

In 2019, 216 constitutional amendments had been filed in the Texas State Legislature. Legislators were permitted to file constitutional amendments through March 8, 2019, unless permission was given to introduce an amendment after the deadline. Between 2009 and 2017, an average of 187 constitutional amendments were filed during regular legislative sessions. The state legislature approved an average of nine constitutional amendments during regular legislative sessions. Therefore, the average rate of certification during regular legislative sessions was 4.7 percent. In 2019, 10 of the 216 proposed constitutional amendments were certified for the ballot, meaning the rate of certification was 4.6 percent.

Path to the ballot

See also: Amending the Texas Constitution

In Texas, a two-thirds vote is needed in each chamber of the Texas State Legislature to refer a constitutional amendment to the ballot for voter consideration.

The constitutional amendment was introduced into the state legislature as Senate Joint Resolution 79 (SJR 79) on March 21, 2019.

On May 8, 2019, the Texas State Senate voted 26-5 to pass SJR 79. The Texas House of Representatives, however, amended SJR 79, decreasing the amount of bond principal that can be outstanding at a given time from $400 million to $200 million. The state House passed the amended HJR 1 in a vote of 114-27 on May 21, 2019. At least 100 votes were needed to pass SJR 79. The state Senate concurred with the House on May 25, 2019, voting 22-8. At least 21 votes were needed to pass SJR 79 in the state Senate.

Vote in the Texas House of Representatives May 21, 2019
Requirement: Two-thirds (66.67 percent) vote of all members in each chamber
Number of yes votes required: 100  a
	Yes	No	Not voting
Total	114	27	9
Total percent	76.00%	18.00%	6.00%
Democrat	63	0	4
Republican	51	27	5

Vote in the Texas State Senate May 25, 2019
Requirement: Two-thirds (66.67 percent) vote of all members in each chamber
Number of yes votes required: 21  a
	Yes	No	Not voting
Total	22	8	1
Total percent	70.97%	25.80%	3.23%
Democrat	11	0	1
Republican	11	8	0

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in Texas

Poll times

In Texas, all polling places are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time. Texas is divided between the Central and Mountain time zones. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.

Registration Texas

Check your voter registration status here.

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.

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.

Automatic registration

Texas does not practice automatic voter registration.

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

Texas does not permit online voter registration.

Same-day registration

Texas does not allow same-day voter registration.

Residency requirements

Prospective voters must reside in the county in which they are registering to vote.

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

Texas does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury.

State law requires election officials to conduct a check of registered voters' citizenship status. Section 18.068 of the Texas Election Code says the following:

“	The secretary of state shall quarterly compare the information received under Section 16.001 of this code and Section 62.113, Government Code, to the statewide computerized voter registration list. If the secretary determines that a voter on the registration list is deceased or has been excused or disqualified from jury service because the voter is not a citizen, the secretary shall send notice of the determination to the voter registrar of the counties considered appropriate by the secretary.	”
—Section 18.068, Texas Election Code

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. The review was halted by a federal judge in February 2019, and Secretary of State David Whitley rescinded the advisory in April. 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.”

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment. As of January 2025, six states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, and New Hampshire — had passed laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration. However, only two of those states' laws were in effect, in Arizona and New Hampshire. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allowed noncitizens to vote in some local elections as of November 2024. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The Texas Secretary of State’s office allows residents to check their voter registration status online by visiting this website.

Voter ID requirements

Texas requires voters to present photo identification while voting.

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.

• Texas driver’s license issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
• Texas Election Identification Certificate issued by DPS
• Texas Personal Identification Card issued by DPS
• Texas handgun license issued by DPS
• United States Military Identification Card containing the person’s photograph
• United States Citizenship Certificate containing the person’s photograph
• United States passport (book or card)

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.

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:

• Copy or original of a government document that shows the voter’s name and an address, including the voter’s voter registration certificate
• Copy of or original current utility bill
• Copy of or original bank statement
• Copy of or original government check
• Copy of or original paycheck
• Copy of or original of (a) a certified domestic (from a U.S. state or territory) birth certificate or (b) a document confirming birth admissible in a court of law which establishes the voter’s identity (which may include a foreign birth document)

The following voters are exempt from showing photo ID:

• Voters with a disability
  • Voters with a disability "may apply with the county voter registrar for a permanent exemption to presenting an acceptable photo identification or following the Reasonable Impediment Declaration procedure in the county."
• Voters who have a religious objection to being photographed

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.

See also

2019 measures

• 2019 ballot measures
• Bond issues on the ballot
• Water on the ballot

Texas

• Texas ballot measures
• Texas ballot measure laws

News and analysis

• Ballot measure lawsuits
• Ballot measure readability
• Ballot measure polls

External links

• Senate Joint Resolution 79 (2019)