This bill mandates that the ballot for any election proposing an amendment to the Texas Constitution must include an estimate of the fiscal impact of the proposed amendment. The bill amends Section 274.001 of the Election Code to add a new requirement for the Secretary of State to prepare specific statements regarding the estimated costs associated with the amendment, depending on whether the Legislative Budget Board determines the amendment will incur recurring or one-time costs. The new language specifies that these statements must be included on the ballot, providing voters with essential financial information before they cast their votes.

Additionally, the bill modifies Section 314.001 of the Government Code to establish a system for fiscal notes that will identify the probable costs of each joint resolution that proposes a constitutional amendment. The Legislative Budget Board is tasked with determining the estimated costs and whether they are recurring or one-time, and must notify the Secretary of State accordingly. The bill also allows the Secretary of State to adopt rules necessary for implementing these provisions and clarifies that the changes will apply only to ballots for elections ordered after the bill's effective date.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Election Code 274.001, Election Code 274.003, Government Code 314.001 (Election Code 274, Government Code 314)