Just over a week into the 89th Texas legislature, both chambers have submitted their budget proposals for the next two years. Though virtually impossible to mak
e it through the session without any changes, both proposals call for allocating billions of dollars in border security, further property tax cuts, and a private school vouchers-like program.
"Debating and passing the budget will be one of the most important undertakings of the session, as it will determine the financial boundaries under which we operate when considering all other major legislation, including school choice, water infrastructure, and more," House Speaker Dustin Burrows said in a statement.
Patrick said the Senate will propose $32.2 billion in total toward tax cuts, new and old, including to increase the homestead exemption to $140,000 , and "provide additional compression." The House budget calls to add $63 billion to "fully fund student enrollment," as well as an additional $4.84 billion in general new funding. Both the House and Senate call for $400 million to improvements in school safety.Hand-in-hand with public education, Texas leaders have publicly called for allocating a program that would allocate taxpayer dollars toward private education, referred to as "school choice" among supporters and "school vouchers" among critics.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Texas Legislature Kicks Off 89th Session with Pomp and CircumstanceThe 89th Texas legislative session begins on January 14th with a ceremonial swearing-in of lawmakers. While the first day is marked by tradition, the subsequent work will focus on crucial issues affecting the state's economy, infrastructure, and other vital areas.
Read more »
Texas Legislature Kicks Off 89th SessionThe 89th Texas Legislative Session begins with a day of pomp and circumstance before diving into the often mundane work of lawmaking.
Read more »
Texas Legislature Prepares for $24 Billion Surplus in 89th SessionThe Texas legislature will begin its 89th session on Tuesday with a budget surplus of nearly $24 billion. This surplus, while slightly lower than the previous session's $32 billion, presents a significant opportunity for lawmakers to allocate funds towards policy priorities. Key figures are emphasizing responsible spending and focusing on areas like property tax cuts, teacher salary increases, and grid reliability.
Read more »
Texas Democrats Ready to Fight for Education, Healthcare, and Reproductive Rights in 89th LegislatureTexas Democrats, facing a Republican majority in both the House and Senate, will focus their efforts on key issues during the 89th Texas Legislature. They aim to block school voucher legislation, promote quality healthcare access for all Texans, and advocate for a less restrictive abortion ban.
Read more »
What both Republicans and Democrats hope to accomplish in the 89th Texas legislative sessionTuesday is the start of the Texas 89th legislative session. More than 2,500 bills have been filed ahead of opening day.
Read more »
Texas Legislature faces flurry of proposals in 89th session, including immigration, education, and electric gridAs the Texas legislature kicks off the 89th session, lawmakers have introduced more than 2,400 bills across both the House and Senate. There was a flurry of bills filed November 12, 2024, the first day lawmakers could file.
Read more »