04/12/2021 | News release | Distributed by Public on 04/12/2021 14:43
Each session, the Texas Legislature is required to pass just a single bill: a general appropriations act to fund the state government for the next two years. Last week, lawmakers took an important step toward doing so as the Texas Senate approved its version of the state's biennium budget for fiscal years 2022-23.
That legislation, Senate Bill (SB) 1, would spend a total of nearly $251 billion over the next two years. The money would come from state general revenue, federal funds, and other revenue. As passed, the bill represents a decrease of about $14 billion in spending compared to the current budget. However, as discussed in this Texas Tribune article, SB 1 does not account for over $38 billion in federal stimulus money as lawmakers continue to determine whether they will accept the dollars and how they might use them. The bill also does not take money from the state's Economic Stabilization Fund, or 'Rainy Day Fund,' which is expected to have a balance of nearly $12 billion by the end of the next biennium.
Among the bill's many spending items, SB 1 includes funding for 1,023 additional slots to reduce the interest lists for various Medicaid waiver programs. The bill also includes $3.4 million for technology enhancements for local intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) authorities, IDD providers, and service coordinators. SB 1 does not appear to include an increase in wages for personal care attendants. A detailed summary of SB 1, prepared by the Legislative Budget Board, can be found here.
SB 1 moved to the Texas House and received a hearing before the House Appropriations Committee on Monday morning, April 12. The committee swapped out the current text with its own version, and then passed the bill along for consideration by the full House within the next two weeks.
Unlike in the Texas Senate, which saw the bill pass quickly and without a single floor amendment, the House consideration will likely last for hours as members work their way through hundreds of amendments. Once the bill gets House approval, both chambers will create a conference committee to work out the differences between the two versions. The bill will then come back for a final vote just days before the session ends.
Hearings To Watch
The following section includes a sample of the hearings that we are monitoring this week. During these hearings, legislative committees may consider important disability-related bills. To receive notifications about new hearings that are scheduled with short notice, follow us on Twitter. You can find live and archived broadcasts of committee hearings on the House and Senate websites.
The House Human Services Committee will hold a hearing on Tuesday morning, April 13, on the following notable bills:
The Senate Education Committee will hold a hearing on Tuesday morning, April 13, on SB 2105 by Sen. Judith Zaffirini, which relates to the appointment of an educational representative for students with disabilities.
The House Public Education Committee will hold a hearing on Tuesday morning, April 13, on the following notable bills:
The Senate Health and Human Services Committee will hold a hearing on Tuesday morning, April 13, on the following notable bills:
The House Insurance Committee will hold a hearing on Tuesday morning, April 13, on the following notable bills:
The House Transportation Committee will hold a hearing on Tuesday afternoon, April 13, on HB 4080 by Rep. Jacey Jetton. The bill relates to the issuance of autism awareness specialty license plates.
The House Public Health Committee will hold a hearing on Wednesday morning, April 14, on the following notable bills:
The Senate Health and Human Service Committee will hold a hearing on Wednesday morning, April 14, on the following notable bills:
The House Elections Committee will hold a hearing on Thursday morning, April 15, on HB 3920 by Rep. Jay Dean. The bill relates to signature verification on an early voting mail-in ballot.
The House County Affairs Committee will also hold a hearing on Thursday morning, April 15, on HB 2831 by Rep. James White. The bill relates to the confinement in county jails of people with IDD.
Stay Informed
As part of our advocacy efforts to improve the service system for people with IDD, we have developed flyers on important disability-related bills in the 87th Texas Legislature. Visit our website to learn more about HB 168 (PDF), HB 3603 (PDF), and additional bills as the session continues.
To stay up to date regarding how disability-related issues are being addressed by the Legislature, subscribe to TCDD eNews. On our website, you can find legislative resources and video updates from TCDD Policy Director Scott Daigle on what's happening at the Capitol. To receive additional notifications, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.