The bills will head to the governor’s desk for approval before going out to voters as a constitutional amendment in November.
by Ariana Garcia
May 19, 2023
Originally published in The Houston Chronicle
A fishing dock at Creekfield Lake inside Brazos Bend State Park near Houston. Texas could soon be home to more parks following approval from the Texas House of two bills that would create the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund.
Richard McMillin/Getty Images/iStockphoto
Texas could soon be home to even more state parks for fishing, hiking and camping now that lawmakers have paved the way for new funding. This week, the Texas House approved two bills to create a Centennial Parks Conservation Fund, which would invest $1 billion to purchase more land to develop into parks. Senate Bill 1648 and Senate Joint Resolution 74—authored by Sen. Tan Parker (R-Flower Mound)—will now head to the governor’s desk for final approval.
Per The Texas Tribune, Gov. Greg Abbott has previously called for an increase in the budget for state parks, so advocates are hopeful that he will approve the bills. “This would create a new golden age for our state parks,” said Luke Metzger, executive director of Environment Texas, in a statement. “We have a lot to celebrate. What a great present to give all Texans for the state park’s 100th.”
Should Abbott sign off on the bills, the issue will go before voters as a constitutional amendment in November. The state could begin spending the money as early as Jan. 1.
