Texans Ask More About Prop 4 Before Voting on Water Infrastructure

Friends and neighbors here in Texas have asked, either in person around local restaurant tables or on the Internet, about Proposition 4 as early voting begins here in the Lone Star State.

I have to admit that I just didn’t know much about it. Proposition 4 is being promoted as a plan to “fix and build water infrastructure.” However, the language in this bill goes far beyond repairing old pipes and systems. (The language is VAGUE, no accountability, no transparency)

If approved, it would dedicate up to $1 billion a year in state sales tax revenue. This would all go to the Texas Water Fund. This would last for 20 years, beginning in 2027.

What I have learned is that The Texas Water Fund cannot legally be used for private industrial projects. Under Article III, (Section 49-D-16), of the state constitution and Chapters 15 and 16 of the Texas Water Code, the fund can only be used for public water infrastructure projects.

That sounds like a lot—but only a fraction of what’s actually needed to fix Texas’s existing water infrastructure. So Texans should be asking: If the money won’t cover most of the repairs, what else is it funding?

Susan Conway from Texas Landowners provides a knowledgeable perspective:

According to her, “the bill’s language allows funds to be used to ‘develop new water sources’ and mitigate flooding.’”

Those terms are very broad and could include projects like:

• Building new reservoirs, which often means taking or flooding private and agricultural land. (Like the proposed Marvin Nichols Reservoir and others).

• Drilling new wells or expanding systems that pull more from groundwater aquifers.

• Changing or diverting water flow in ways that reduce aquifer recharge.

• Funding industrial or urban projects that rely on water from rural areas.

“So while Prop 4 is marketed as an ‘infrastructure fix,'” she says. “It actually gives the state broad discretion to fund new development and industrial growth—not just repairs. These projects could directly affect rural communities, farmers, ranchers, property owners, and aquifers.”

“Adding to the concern, $2.5 billion has ALREADY been allocated to the Texas Water Fund, managed by the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB). Yet there’s been little public transparency about how that money is being spent, what projects are being prioritized, or who benefits most.”

And here’s something else Texans need to remember:

“Legislation—not the state constitution—is supposed to control funding. By putting this into the constitution, it becomes much harder to change or undo later, even if there are problems or misuse of funds. That’s why many believe (including myself) this proposal should have been handled in a special legislative session. This needs to be rewritten with specifics, safeguards, and clear accountability—not vague language that leaves room for misuse.”

“…Texans deserve clarity, accountability, and transparency. We should know where EVERY dollar goes. If this is truly about fixing infrastructure, then please show us the plan—and show us the receipts. Prioritizing industrial growth over Texans is wrong.”

“We are not expendable and inconveniences to be removed for the sake of the Texas Economic Miracle. The industrial growth is our nightmare, and the greed is stretching our resources that citizens depend on, to the breaking point. Texas is full.”

“Please don’t rely only on the short summary you’ll see on your ballot or short media pics online.
Read every proposition carefully— and most importantly, GO VOTE.”