top of page

Lt.Gov. Dan Patrick: Statement on the Passage of House Bill 1 - State Budget

  • Apr 18, 2023
  • 2 min read

AUSTIN – Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issued this statement today following the unanimous passage of HB 1, the State Budget. Every session, the Texas House and the Texas Senate alternate sponsorship of the budget. By that tradition, the Texas House will sponsor the 88th Legislative Session’s budget. The Senate passed HB 1 with the language of Senate Bill 1, the Senate Budget, by Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston:


“The true strength of our state lies within every single Texan and our booming economy is the result of their hard work. Texans must be the ultimate beneficiaries of our conservative budgeting process and I believe the Texas Senate’s budget, which passed unanimously today, reflects our state’s values. Even before the Comptroller’s Biennial Revenue Estimate, I have been clear that we must return a significant portion of our unprecedented budget surplus to those who created it: the taxpayers.


“Some highlights of the Senate’s budget include:

  • $16.5 billion for the Senate’s property tax relief package, including raising the Homestead Exemption to $70,000 for all Texans and $100,000 for seniors 65 and older (40% of all homesteads in Texas are seniors)

  • $4.6 billion to continue current support for Operation Lone Star and to build the wall

  • $10 billion to create a low-interest loan program to fund the construction of desperately-needed new natural gas plants

  • $350 million to increase pay and training for rural law enforcement

  • $3.1 billion in mental health care funding, split between HB 1 and SB 30, the Supplemental Budget

"The Senate’s budget funds the largest increase in public education spending in state history, including:

  • $5 billion to address special education services, increased teacher compensation, curriculum, school safety, and school choice

  • $3.7 billion, in addition to $1 billion in the Senate’s Supplemental Budget, for cost-of-living adjustments for retired educators and a $7,500 supplemental payment to retired educators aged 75 and older

  • $589 million to limit health care premium increases for teachers

“Texas is the 9th largest economy in the world. Writing the budget is a massive undertaking. Senate Finance Committee Chair Joan Huffman has done a fantastic job working with my budget team and I thank her for her enthusiastic work and leadership. The Senate Finance Committee put in long hours of work to craft this budget. Like every budget passed by the Senate since I became Lt. Governor, this budget sits within all constitutional spending limits and does not exceed population times inflation. The Senate’s budget secures our conservative future and will help keep our state prosperous for all Texans for decades to come.”




 
 
 

Recent Posts

See All

2 Comments


Edith Harrison
Edith Harrison
Mar 18

The unanimous passage of HB 1 marks a significant step in shaping Texas’s financial priorities for the upcoming session. With both the House and Senate playing their roles, the budget reflects a collaborative effort to address key state needs. Just as careful planning ensures a balanced budget, students benefit from structured academic support—seeking Uni assignment help can enhance research quality and improve academic performance. Strategic decisions lead to better outcomes, whether in governance or education.

Like

Harry Kevin
Harry Kevin
Mar 15

The Texas Senate's unanimous passage of HB 1 highlights a commitment to responsible budgeting and taxpayer benefits. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick emphasizes that Texans should reap the rewards of the state's economic success. With a historic budget surplus, returning funds to taxpayers remains a priority. This approach ensures fiscal responsibility while supporting public needs. If you need assistance understanding budget policies, feel free to help me with my assignment on government finance.

Like
bottom of page