Last Wednesday, members of the Texas House of Representatives and Senate filed preliminary budgets that propose the use of about $130 billion in discretionary state revenue on services over the next two years.
On Jan. 10, the 88th Texas legislative session commenced in Austin with a record-breaking surplus projected at $32 billion in the state treasury when the current biennium ends in September, according to the State Comptroller.
Senate Bill 1 and House Bill 1 include a write-off of $70,000 for homeowners in taxable value on their homes and $12 billion to be set aside for the purpose of reducing property taxes through additional legislation, according to the Texas Senate website.
“I have never been more excited about the beginning of a session than I am this year and there’s several reasons for that,” Gov. Greg Abbott told the lawmakers during the session, which was livestreamed. “We are blessed with a once-in-a-generation opportunity to put our state on a course of unassailable excellence for generations to come. Why we are situated that way is because of the $32.7 billion surplus that we have. That budget surplus is because of taxpayers in the state of Texas.”
Higher education institutions may see additional funding at the end of the 88th Texas Legislature after the House and Senate proposals that include $2.5 billion toward a new endowment to support public universities. This proposal will affect universities that do not receive money from the Permanent University Fund.
On the first day of the regular session, state Rep. Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) was elected Speaker of the House by a vote of 143 to 3.
“Members, though we face many challenges this session, there will be even more opportunities,” Phelan said during the Jan. 11 session. “The work is hard but it is worthwhile. The work is demanding but it is noble. The work is necessary. And because we have the privilege of doing it for the people of Texas, I know we will get it done together.”
On the following day, members adopted house rules for the 88th legislative session.
Although most rules were unchanged from last session, the most important rule change came in response to over 50 Democratic members fleeing the Capitol to block the passage of legislation during the last session.
To form a quorum, at least two-thirds of elected members must be present to conduct business, according to the Texas Constitution.
During the Jan. 11 session, State Rep. Todd Hunter (R-Corpus Christi) said if a member is absent without leave for the purpose of impeding the action of the House, the member is subject to a $500 fine for each calendar day of absence, payment of costs incurred by the sergeant-at-arms, reprimand proceeding, censure proceeding and/or expulsion.
“The intent of the rule is for somebody who actually intentionally tries to impede action of the state’s business,” Hunter said. “I would hope that the members, all 150, would work together to realize if there was an intentional act. Or [if] somebody was ill, that’s not what this is talking about.”
The amendment passed with 87 yeas and 59 nays.
The House adjourned last Wednesday and will convene Tuesday and meet Wednesday. To watch the 88th legislative session, visit Texas House of Representatives : Chamber Video Archives.
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