Today the Texas House will consider House Bill 1, the state budget.
In the bill as currently written, lawmakers are proposing to increase the size of government by a jaw-dropping 16 percent—all while providing little in terms of property tax relief for overburdened Texans. The 16 percent spending increase is well beyond the state’s population growth and inflation, at only 8 percent.
That’s right! Despite campaigning on property tax relief, and raking in a $9 billion state surplus, lawmakers are preparing to increase public education spending by roughly three times the amount they plan to use to reduce school property tax burdens.
Is that what you voted for? More spending with only rationed relief?
If you didn’t, I encourage you to call your state representative at (512) 463-4630, and ask them to support all amendments that would prioritize spending and provide for significant property tax relief!
As currently proposed, HB 1 increases state spending too fast, beyond population growth and inflation, and provides inadequate property tax relief. Unless substantially amended, Texans for Fiscal Responsibility will negatively rate HB 1.
(A full accounting of our vote recommendations and rationale concerning the budget may be viewed here.)
| Author | Packet Number | Description | TFR Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchia | 860322 | Politically motivated effort to diminish border security | OPPOSE |
| Beckley | 860179 | Contingency funding for same day voter registration | OPPOSE |
| Beckley | 860180 | Politically motivated study | OPPOSE |
| Blanco | 860255 | Politically motivated census targeting | OPPOSE |
| Bowers | 860144 | Politically motivated report on state agencies | OPPOSE |
| Bucy | 860171 | Attempt to expand eligible population for Medicaid | OPPOSE |
| Button | 860156 | Shifts state lottery funding to DFPS | SUPPORT |
| Cain | 860265 | Shifts DRP funding to property tax relief | SUPPORT |
| Cain | 860266 | Shifts diversity scholarship funding to property tax relief | SUPPORT |
| Cain | 860267 | Shifts wine marketing funding for property tax relief | SUPPORT |
| Cain | 860268 | Cuts proposed increases in government across the board to provide property tax relief | SUPPORT |
| Cain | 860259 | Prohibition on purchasing fetal tissue from an elective abortion | SUPPORT |
| Cain | 860258 | Prohibits state dollars from funding elective surgeries for prisoners | SUPPORT |
| Calanni | 860160 | Prohibits schools from using state funds to pay superintendent severance | SUPPORT |
| Calanni | 860159 | Cuts the Alternatives to Abortion Program and shifts funds to family planning | OPPOSE |
| Dutton | 860208 | Defunds border security, funds the Texas Alliance of Black School Educators | OPPOSE |
| Flynn | 860150 | Takes ESF funding from Texas Judicial Council, gives to TRS | OPPOSE |
| Gervin-Hawkins | 860133 | Defunds AG, gives to affordable housing | OPPOSE |
| Gervin-Hawkins | 860184 | Defunds AG, provides for wigs for cancer patients | OPPOSE |
| Gervin-Hawkins | 860186 | Defunds AG, provides for wigs for cancer patients | OPPOSE |
| Gervin-Hawkins | 860278 | Requires spending on intergenerational Pre-K | OPPOSE |
| Gonzalez, Jessica | 860275 | Politically motivated report | OPPOSE |
| Gonzalez, Mary | 860063 | Review of STAAR test efficacy | SUPPORT |
| Goodwin | 860073 | Funding for electic vehicle charging stations at the Texas Capitol | OPPOSE |
| Gutierrez | 860033 | Defunding border security, funding special education | OPPOSE |
| Gutierrez | 860035 | Defunding election administration, increasing funding for welfare | OPPOSE |
| Gutierrez | 860037 | Defunding assistance for charter schools | OPPOSE |
| Gutierrez | 860044 | Appropriates ESF dollars to hospital renovation | OPPOSE |
| Hernandez | 860022 | Defunds DPS, shifts dollars to "improving disability access" at the Capitol | OPPOSE |
| Hernandez | 860038 | Prohibits DFPS from approving ICE detention centers | OPPOSE |
| Howard | 860226 | Additional reporting requirements for charter schools | OPPOSE |
| Howard | 860225 | Restricting the authority of the TEA Commissioner | OPPOSE |
| Howard | 860284 | Defunding border security, increasing mental health funding | OPPOSE |
| Howard | 860285 | Defunding Alternatives to Abortion, increasin funding for Home and Community Services | OPPOSE |
| Israel | 860079 | Online voter registration | OPPOSE |
| Johnson, Julie | 860188 | Protecting welfare | OPPOSE |
| Johnson, Julie | 860190 | Increasing welfare payments to doctors | OPPOSE |
| Krause | 860111 | Cuts proposed increases in government across the board to provide property tax relief | SUPPORT |
| Landgraf | 860247 | Defunds the Texas Lottery to increase DPS funding | SUPPORT |
| Martinez Fischer | 860151 | Politically motivated report | OPPOSE |
| Martinez Fischer | 860152 | Increasing state aid to county hospitals | OPPOSE |
| Middleton | 860198 | Defunds the Commission on the Arts, provides for property tax relief | SUPPORT |
| Middleton | 860197 | Cuts proposed increases in government across the board to provide property tax relief | SUPPORT |
| Middleton | 860194 | Ensures Harvey relief dollars assist US citizens | SUPPORT |
| Middleton | 860193 | Prevents local governments from subsidizing abortion | SUPPORT |
| Minjarez | 860312 | Politically motivated salary adjustments | OPPOSE |
| Minjarez | 860313 | Limits TABC travel expenditures and prohibits them from accepting payments from businesses | SUPPORT |
| Munoz | 860248 | Politically motivated rider opposing border security | OPPOSE |
| Neave | 860240 | Appropriates ESF dollars to hospital renovation | OPPOSE |
| Nevarez | 860212 | Appropriates border security dollars to local governments | OPPOSE |
| Oliverson | 860077 | Increasing funding for the dental education loan repayment program | OPPOSE |
| Raney | 860302 | Shifts dollars from advertising contracts to instruction | SUPPORT |
| Raymond | 860316 | Providing a pay increase to teachers | OPPOSE |
| Schaefer | 860254 | Removes the Statewide Safe Gun Storage Campaign rider | SUPPORT |
| Schaefer | 860253 | Cuts proposed increases in government across the board to provide property tax relief | SUPPORT |
| Shaheen | 860291 | Appropriates unexpended balances to reducing property taxes | SUPPORT |
| Shaheen | 860292 | Establishes a floor for property tax relief | SUPPORT |
| Springer | 860149 | Appropriates ESF dollars to junior colleges | OPPOSE |
| Stickland | 860023 | Abolishes the feral hog abatement program | SUPPORT |
| Stickland | 860099 | Prevents TXDOT from using state dollars on advertising | SUPPORT |
| Stickland | 860088 | Removes Lottery Commission advertising dollars | SUPPORT |
| Stickland | 860089 | Defunds the Department of Housing and Community Affairs | SUPPORT |
| Stickland | 860220 | Prohibits state dollars from being used to take down historical monuments | SUPPORT |
| Stickland | 860219 | Transfers funding from the Texas Facility Commission to trauma centers | SUPPORT |
| Toth | 860306 | Defunds the Commission on the Arts, increases funding for TRS | SUPPORT |
| Toth | 860307 | Cuts proposed increases in government across the board to provide property tax relief | SUPPORT |
