Article XIII, § 14 — State coal mining enterprises

The mining, distribution and sale of coal are hereby declared to be works of public necessity and importance in which the state may engage, and the Legislature may enact suitable laws to carry this provision into effect and to empower the state to acquire, by purchase or appropriation, all lands, structures, easements, tracks, rights of way, equipment, cars, motive power, and all other facilities, implements, instrumentalities, and materials necessary or incidental to the acquisition, mining, manufacturing and distribution of coal for fuel purposes: provided, however, that no expenditure of money for the purposes enumerated in this section shall be made except upon a vote of two-thirds of the members elect of each branch of the Legislature.