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- Senate to take up the state budget this week
- Priority water legislation being heard in committees
- House to take up first floor calendar soon
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The 89th Texas Legislature has reached its midway point; there are 70 days remaining in the regular legislative session. No bills have advanced to Governor Greg Abbott’s desk yet, but the pace is picking up and legislation is expected to move more quickly in the coming weeks. The Senate plans to take up SB 1, the state budget, tomorrow, March 25. Senator Joan Huffman, Chairwoman of Senate Finance Committee, will lead the discussion of the Senate version of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Bill. The total funding is approximately $336 billion with Article III, Agencies of Education, accounting for the greatest allocation of funds.
The Senate also took action on several bills last week including, SB 6, which amends the Utilities Code related to electricity usage and large load growth. A bipartisan group of senators signed on to the bill which unanimously passed the Senate. The Senate also passed SB 17 by Senator Kolkhorst, which would prohibit the purchase of certain private property by governmental entities, companies and individuals domiciled in specific countries that are designated a threat to national security by the Director of National Intelligence.
The Senate passed SB 19, the ban on taxpayer funded lobbying by political subdivisions, along party lines after accepting an amendment by Senator Robert Nichols. The Nichols amendment, which passed 15-13, will allow nonprofit associations representing political subdivisions to hire lobbyists. The NTC submitted written testimony in opposition and will continue to work against this bill as it makes its way through the process. North Texas Delegation Representatives Mike Olcott and Jared Patterson are carrying companion versions in the House.
Both chambers are moving forward with legislation to address the state’s investment in water. House Natural Resources Chairman Cody Harris advanced HJR 7 last week. The joint resolution proposes to amend the Texas Constitution to dedicate a portion of the state sales and use tax to the Texas Water Fund not to exceed $1 billion annually. NTC team member Rebecca Montgomery testified in support of the bill last week. Senator Charles Perry laid out the Senate’s priority water legislation, SB 7, this morning.
House Calendars committee, chaired by Representative Todd Hunter, is expected to convene this week for the first time this session to set a calendar for the House. Bills currently in House Calendars include the House property tax relief package filed by Representative Morgan Meyer: HB 8, property tax relief through compression, and HB 9, an increase in the tangible personal property tax exemption from $2,500 to $250,000. Representative Candy Noble’s bill that would exempt all intangible personal property from the property tax, HB 22, is also in the Calendars Committee.
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As the end of the session approaches, ensure you are staying up to date with all the Legislature's internal deadlines. Bookmark this helpful End-of-Session Deadline calendar to ensure your priorities get across the finish line.
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