Texas Infrastructure for Tomorrow

Constitutional Amendments. Generational Investments.

Texas Voters Decide.

This November, voters will get to decide about making generational investments in water infrastructure, state parks and broadband. Combined, these propositions open the door for greater economic development and enhanced community vitality across the state.

During the 2023 legislative session, Texas 2036 supported legislation establishing new, constitutionally-dedicated funds for water infrastructure, state parks and broadband. These pieces of legislation passed the Texas House and Senate and are now on the Nov. 7, 2023 ballot as proposed amendments – also known as propositions – to the Texas Constitution.

Here’s what you need to know about these opportunities to invest in the future of Texas.

Securing Texas’ Water Future

Texas faces two major challenges with regard to our state’s water future: a drought-prone and growing state that will need more water supplies and an aging, deteriorating water infrastructure.

To address these challenges, Proposition 6 on November’s state constitutional amendment proposes creating a new fund, the Texas Water Fund, to help fix aging, deteriorating water systems and develop new water supplies for our growing, thirsty state.

If Texas voters approve, then the Texas Water Fund will receive a $1 billion investment approved by the Legislature. This is thanks to legislation by Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, and Rep. Tracy King, D-Batesville.

Dive Deeper:

Did you know?

The price tag for these new water supply projects is estimated at $80 billion over the next 50 years.

Resource Tool Kit

Did you know?

Nearly 3 million Texas households and over 7 million Texans still lack access to broadband internet today.

Resource Tool Kit

Bridging the Digital Divide

The legislative session’s most important policy addressing broadband internet expansion would broaden the opportunity for all Texans to participate in the 21st century economy.

To help close the existing digital divide in Texas, Proposition 8 proposes creating a new fund, the Broadband Infrastructure Fund, that would allow the state to pull down billions of additional federal dollars through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program and would provide needed extra dollars for Next Generation 9-1-1 services.

This is due to efforts by Rep. Trent Ashby, R-Lufkin, and Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston.

Dive Deeper:

The Future of State Parks

Texans will now have the opportunity to ensure they have access to public parklands for generations to come with the constitutional amendment.

To safeguard, improve and create new state parks as the state’s population continues to grow, the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund holds the potential to preserve and expand our natural landscapes for future generations.

If voters approve Proposition 14, $1 billion will seed this dedicated parkland fund that will be administered by Texas Parks and Wildlife. This follows legislative efforts by Sen. Tan Parker, R-Flower Mound, and Rep. Armando Walle, D-Houston.

Dive Deeper:

Did you know?

$1 in public money spent on state parks can generate between $4 and $12 in economic return.

This is particularly relevant for rural counties with parks as they experience greater growth in employment, GDP and population than rural counties without parks.

What's Texas 2036?

Texas 2036 is a nonprofit organization building long-term, data-driven strategies to secure Texas’ continued prosperity for years to come. We engage Texans and their leaders in an honest conversation about our future, focusing on the big challenges. We offer non-partisan ideas and modern solutions that are grounded in research and data to break through the gridlock on issues that matter most to all Texans.

What we are working toward:

By 2036, Texas will turn 200 and will be home to millions more Texans. That growth represents significant opportunity, but also is expected to strain our infrastructure, water supplies, schools, health care system and economy and increase current inequities in our state.

To be the best place to live and work for the next generation of Texans, and the generations after them, we will need to come together to think strategically and forge the right solutions.

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