HJR128 - Proposing a constitutional amendment regarding the terminology used in the Texas Constitution to refer to the partially landlocked body of water on the southeastern periphery of the North American continent.

      By: Cain H.J.R. No. 128       A JOINT RESOLUTION   proposing a constitutional amendment regarding the terminology   used in the Texas Constitution to refer to the partially landlocked   body of water on the southeastern periphery of the North American   continent.          BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 33, Article I, Texas Constitution, is   amended to read as follows:          Sec. 33.  PUBLIC ACCESS TO AND USE OF PUBLIC BEACHES. (a) In   this section, "public beach" means a state-owned beach bordering on   the seaward shore of the Gulf of America [ Gulf of Mexico ], extending   from mean low tide to the landward boundary of state-owned   submerged land, and any larger area extending from the line of mean   low tide to the line of vegetation bordering on the Gulf of America   [ Gulf of Mexico ] to which the public has acquired a right of use or   easement to or over the area by prescription or dedication or has   established and retained a right by virtue of continuous right in   the public under Texas common law.          SECTION 2.  Section 1-i, Article VIII, Texas Constitution,   is amended to read as follows:          Sec. 1-i.  MOBILE MARINE DRILLING EQUIPMENT; AD VALOREM TAX   RELIEF. The legislature by general law may provide ad valorem tax   relief for mobile marine drilling equipment designed for offshore   drilling of oil or gas wells that is being stored while not in use in   a county bordering on the Gulf of America [ Gulf of Mexico ] or on a   bay or other body of water immediately adjacent to the Gulf of   America [ Gulf of Mexico ].          SECTION 3.  Section 1-A, Article IX, Texas Constitution, is   amended to read as follows:          Sec. 1-A.  AUTHORITY OF COASTAL COUNTIES TO REGULATE MOTOR   VEHICLES AND LITTERING ON BEACHES. The Legislature may authorize   the governing body of any county bordering on the Gulf of America   [ Gulf of Mexico ] or the tidewater limits thereof to regulate and   restrict the speed, parking and travel of motor vehicles on beaches   available to the public by virtue of public right and the littering   of such beaches.          Nothing in this amendment shall increase the rights of any   riparian or littoral landowner with regard to beaches available to   the public by virtue of public right or submerged lands.          The Legislature may enact any laws not inconsistent with this   Section which it may deem necessary to permit said counties to   implement, enforce and administer the provisions contained herein.     Should the Legislature enact legislation in anticipation of the   adoption of this amendment, such legislation shall not be invalid   by reason of its anticipatory character.          SECTION 4.  Section 7, Article XI, Texas Constitution, is   amended to read as follows:          Sec. 7.  COUNTIES AND CITIES ON GULF OF AMERICA [ GULF OF   MEXICO ]; TAX FOR SEA WALLS, BREAKWATERS, AND SANITATION; BONDS;   CONDEMNATION OF RIGHT OF WAY. (a) All counties and cities   bordering on the coast of the Gulf of America [ Gulf of Mexico ] are   hereby authorized upon a vote of the majority of the qualified   voters voting thereon at an election called for such purpose to levy   and collect such tax for construction of sea walls, breakwaters, or   sanitary purposes, as may now or may hereafter be authorized by law,   and may create a debt for such works and issue bonds in evidence   thereof.  But no debt for any purpose shall ever be incurred in any   manner by any city or county unless provision is made, at the time   of creating the same, for levying and collecting a sufficient tax to   pay the interest thereon and provide at least two per cent (2%) as a   sinking fund, except as provided by Subsection (b); and the   condemnation of the right of way for the erection of such works   shall be fully provided for.          SECTION 5.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be   submitted to the voters at an election to be held on November 4,   2025.  The ballot shall be printed to provide for voting for or   against the proposition: "The constitutional amendment   redesignating references in the Texas Constitution to the partially   landlocked body of water on the southeastern periphery of the North   American continent, commonly known as the "Gulf of Mexico", to the   "Gulf of America.""