HB3668 - Relating to authorization for a statewide referendum allowing voters to indicate a preference for whether an additional restriction on abortion access should be repealed.

  89R8517 JG-D     By: Howard H.B. No. 3668       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to authorization for a statewide referendum allowing   voters to indicate a preference for whether an additional   restriction on abortion access should be repealed.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  STATEWIDE REFERENDUM. On enactment by the 89th   Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, of legislation imposing any   additional restriction on access to abortion in this state, at the   general election to be held November 4, 2025, the voters shall be   permitted to vote in a statewide referendum to express their   opinion on whether the legislature should repeal the additional   abortion restriction.          SECTION 2.  BALLOT PROPOSITION. The ballot for the   referendum shall be printed to provide for voting for or against the   proposition: "The legislature should repeal each additional   restriction on access to abortion enacted by the 89th Legislature,   Regular Session, 2025."          SECTION 3.  FORM OF BALLOT. The referendum proposition   shall be printed on the ballot beneath any proposed constitutional   amendments under the heading: "Referendum Proposition." Beneath   the heading shall be printed the following: "This referendum is an   expression of public opinion only and has no binding effect as law."          SECTION 4.  ELECTION PROCEDURE. (a) Notice of the election   shall be given by inclusion of the proposition in the governor's   proclamation ordering the election on any proposed amendment to the   state constitution and in each county judge's notice of that   election. If a proposed amendment to the state constitution is not   to be voted on in conjunction with the statewide referendum, notice   of the referendum election shall be given and the election held in   the manner applicable to a constitutional amendment election.          (b)  Returns of the votes cast on the proposition shall be   made and canvassed in the same manner as the returns on a proposed   constitutional amendment.          (c)  Immediately after the governor certifies the results of   the election, the secretary of state shall transmit a copy of the   certification to the speaker of the house of representatives and   the lieutenant governor.          SECTION 5.  STATEMENT OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT. It is the   legislature's strong intention that, though the legislature has   rarely conducted a referendum on matters of statewide importance,   given the importance of this particular issue in this state, the   will of the people should be considered.          SECTION 6.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This Act takes effect   immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members   elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas   Constitution.  If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for   immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025.