Proposing a constitutional amendment to reserve to the people the powers of initiative and referendum.

HJR 23 proposes a constitutional amendment reserving initiative and referendum powers to Texas citizens. It would allow residents to directly propose new laws or constitutional changes by submitting a petition with a $1,000 fee (refundable if successful), two representative names, and a single-topic measure. The Texas Legislative Council would review petitions for constitutionality and fiscal impact, requiring a fiscal note if state funds are involved. If approved, the measure would proceed to a statewide voter referendum. This directly affects Texas citizens seeking to bypass legislative action to enact policies.