Centennial Parks Conservation Fund to be Proposition 14

During a ballot placement drawing, the Texas Secretary of State’s office randomly selected Proposition 14 for the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund. 

In May of 2023, the Texas House of Representatives, at Environment Texas’ urging, approved measures to invest $1 billion to create new state parks. The bills SB 1648 (Parker) and SJR 74 (Parker) seek to create the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund under the Texas constitution, subject to voter approval of the proposition in November.

Voters’ decisions on Prop 14 will determine the trajectory of state park conservation efforts, as well as the creation of new parks. While a 2001 Texas Tech report estimated that Texas needs to add 1.4 million acres of state parks by 2030 to keep up with public demand, in the two decades since the report came out, TPWD has only had the resources to add about 200,000 acres. This has led to a state park system that struggles to keep up with demand, with Texans often having to book campsites months in advance or getting turned away when parks hit capacity. 

Proposition 14 will reflect Texans’ commitment to preserve the state’s natural landscapes, biodiversity, and natural resources for generations to come. Texans can vote “yes” on Prop 14 to fund state parks on November 7th, 2023.