88(R) HB 3596 - Introduced version - Bill Text
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
relating to proposing a referendum to the people of the State of
 
Texas on the question of whether this state should reassert its
 
status as an independent nation.
 
             BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 
             SECTION  1.    (a) At the general election to be held November
 
7, 2023, the voters shall be permitted to vote in a referendum on
 
the question of whether this state should reassert its status as an
 
independent nation.
 
             (b)    Notice of the election shall be given by inclusion of
 
the proposition in the proclamation by the governor ordering an
 
election on any proposed constitutional amendment to the state
 
constitution and in the notice of that election given by each county
 
judge, or, if no constitutional amendment is proposed, the governor
 
shall order and each county judge shall give notice for an election
 
proposing the referendum required by this section.
 
             (c)    The proposition shall be printed on the ballot above any
 
proposed constitutional amendment under the heading: "Referendum
 
Proposition."
 
             (d)    The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or
 
against the proposition: "Should the State of Texas reassert its
 
status as an independent nation?"
 
             (e)    Returns of the votes cast on the proposition shall be
 
prepared and canvassed in the same manner as the returns on a
 
proposed constitutional amendment.
 
             (f)    Immediately after the results of the election are
 
certified by the governor, the secretary of state shall transmit a
 
copy of the certification to the lieutenant governor, the speaker
 
of the house of representatives, and each member of the
 
legislature.
 
             (g)    The referendum proposed under this section is
 
nonbinding on any decision of the legislature following the
 
submission of the report required by Section 2(i) of this Act.
 
             SECTION  2.    (a) The secretary of state shall immediately
 
transmit a copy of the governor's certification of the result of the
 
referendum required under Section 1 of this Act to:
 
                         (1)    the president of the United States;
 
                         (2)    the speaker of the House of Representatives and
 
the president of the Senate of the Congress of the United States;
 
and
 
                         (3)    the members of the Texas delegation to the
 
Congress of the United States.
 
             (b)    The Texas Independence Committee is a joint interim
 
committee established to study and make recommendations regarding
 
the most effective and expeditious method by which Texas may be
 
returned to its status as an independent nation.
 
             (c)    The committee shall consider:
 
                         (1)    recommendations for amending the Constitution of
 
Texas to accommodate the needs of an independent nation, including:
 
                                     (A)    the creation of new elected and appointed
 
offices;
 
                                     (B)    the modification of the powers, functions,
 
and titles of existing offices;
 
                                     (C)    the renaming of the State of Texas to the
 
Republic of Texas;
 
                                     (D)    the removal of unnecessary or undesirable
 
provisions that exist solely as a consequence of Texas' status as a
 
state within the United States of America; and
 
                                     (E)    the identification of fundamental rights
 
enumerated by the Constitution of the United States of America that
 
may not be adequately preserved in the Constitution of Texas;
 
                         (2)    recommendations for amending Texas statutes to
 
accommodate the needs of an independent nation, including:
 
                                     (A)    the creation of new agencies;
 
                                     (B)    the modification of the powers, functions,
 
and names of existing agencies; and
 
                                     (C)    the identification of necessary and
 
desirable functions of government that are provided for under the