Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas Today the Texas House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly in support of a balanced and fiscally responsible budget. House Bill 1 (also referred to as the General Appropriations Bill) funds state operations for the next two years while staying below the constitutional spending cap and increasing spending by less than 2 percent per year.
I was proud to vote for HB 1 State Representative Ron Simmons said. This budget addresses the needs of our rapidly growing state by dramatically increasing funds to secure our border as well as addressing our transportation challenges and the needs of our public schools and institutions of higher education.
House Bill 1 provides $565.2 million for border security operations increasing funding by more than 70 percent compared to the previous biennium. This marks the fourth consecutive legislative session in which the House has increased funding for border security.
The additional funding for border security will be used to provide hundreds of new troopers in the border region and fully fund the provisions of House Bill 11 the Stronger Border Safer Texas Act passed by out of the House on March 19 2015. HB 11 aims to strengthen border security and help law enforcement stop border-related crime wherever it occurs across the state.
HB 1 reflects a growing movement in the legislature to accomplish all of governments activities in a more transparent fashion Simmons continued. This budget continues our fight for transparency by ending diversions of State Highway Fund dollars away Sent from my iPhone to fight for small efficient government with prioritized spending accountability and transparency for every dollar spent.
HB 1 invests significant resources in public schools boosts formula funding for higher education invests additional General Revenue in transportation and prioritizes mental health and graduate medical education. HB 1 accomplishes this while still being $2 billion below the spending limit and $8.4 billion below the pay as you go limit leaving plenty of room for tax cuts.
Following this vote HB 1 now heads to the Texas Senate. When the Senate passes their version HB 1 will head to a conference committee for final approval.
