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TEXAS PRESS ASSOCIATION
STATE CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS
The Texas Senate’s chief budget writer said state agencies and higher-education institutions have requested nearly $25 billion in funding as the legislative session gets underway. State Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, told The Dallas Morning News the requests for new money reflect the growing functions and purposes of state agencies that serve the public.
“As the state continues to grow and inflation remains an issue, one can expect that agencies may request additional funding to maintain operations,” Huffman said in an email. The requests are predominantly for pay raises and new hires as state agencies deal with high turnover and pay that is not competitive with the private sector.
“I’m not surprised, overall, to see agencies continue to ask for more money to provide pay raises to stay competitive,” said Rahul Sreenivasan, director of government performance and fiscal policy at Texas 2036, an Austin think tank.
Some examples:
• The Texas Department of Public Safety is asking for an additional $1.58 billion to create more than 2,000 new positions, mainly for driver’s license offices.
• The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services wants to hire more than 600 new employees as it battles one of the highest turnover rates among state agencies.
• Texas Health and Human Services hopes to hire 1,772 new employees to check residents’ eligibility for social services, such as food benefits.
The Legislature begins the session with more than $20 billion in unspent tax money.
Inflation gap widens for per-student spending Advocates for public schools are urging the state to significantly increase funding to public education this session, as inflation continues to whittle away at the per-student funding level last increased in 2019.
The Austin American-Statesman reported that new inflation- adjusted figures indicate the base level per-student – now set at $6,160 – should be increased by $1,400.
Inflation has eaten into the buying power of schools, especially after public education funding was not increased during the 2023 session. Bob Popinski of Raise Your Hand Texas said the public-school shortfall annually is approaching $10 billion.
Public education funding became collateral damage during the last session because of the battle over school vouchers, which are once again under consideration.
Gov. Greg Abbott has again indicated vouchers are a top priority during this session.
Water supply infrastructure also high on agenda The Statesman reported that more than 8 million Texans live in areas affected by drought, and the infrastructure supporting the state’s water supply is likely to see its funding shored up during this legislative session.
“We will leave this session with a significant sum to jumpstart water supply development and have a constitutional vote in November for perpetual funding going forward,” said state Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock.
Perry said Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and numerous legislators have committed to supporting a new funding plan for water supplies. Water shortages have affected citrus growers in the Rio Grande Valley. Several fast-growing cities, such as Dripping Springs, Conroe and Magnolia, have had to put the brakes on further development.
The state is “about 25 years behind” on developing water supply, according to Perry.
Blacklock named chief justice of Supreme Court of Texas Following the retirement of Chief Justice Nathan Hecht, the state’s longest-serving justice with more than 35 years on the bench, Abbott appointed Jimmy Blacklock to take his place. He also appointed James P. Sullivan to take Blacklock’s Place 2 seat on the state’s highest civil court.
Blacklock has served on the Texas Supreme Court since January 2018. He previously served as Abbott’s general counsel. Sullivan has served as the governor’s general counsel since November 2021.
“The Supreme Court of Texas plays a crucial role to shape the future of our great state, and Jimmy Blacklock and James Sullivan will be unwavering guardians of the Texas Constitution serving on our state’s highest judicial court,” Abbott said.
