State Lawmakers Convene with Huge Agenda and Revenue to Match

posted on 1.13.2025

- Texas Broadcasters Slated to Meet in Austin Jan. 22-Feb. 13

State lawmakers convened for the 89th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature this week, kicking off a 140-day process for approving the next two-year state budget and addressing a host of costly issues key to the state’s continued economic vitality. Fortunately, they have a huge growth in revenue and a multi-billion dollar surplus from which to draw.

Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Glenn Hegar announced the state has $362.2 billion dollars to spend on the biennial budget, with the state on track for a $23.8 billion surplus in the current year and another $26 billion in reserves known as the Economic Stabilization Fund, often called the “Rainy Day Fund.”

The total includes federal funds and state fees and tax revenues.

State budget writers last session limited spending growth to 12.3 percent which accommodated a $321 billion budget for 2024-2025. They have yet to announce the limit for the 2026-2027 budget.

State agencies have requested $24.6 billion more in funding to address the cost of serving a huge and fast-growing population, with more than half of that amount coming from a dozen of the largest agencies, such as the departments of Public Safety, Criminal Justice, Health and Human Services, Family and Protective Services and the juvenile justice system.

That doesn’t include additional revenue for public education – the state’s highest cost – or the push from Republicans to start funding private and religious schools.

Slow Start

As usual, the session is expected to get off to a slow start to allow for the House to organize committees, a process that typically takes three weeks.

Bill filing continues through March 14 which is when lawmakers can begin taking action on legislation not designated as an emergency by the Governor.

The session is slated to end June 2.

TAB Legislative Lunches in Austin

TAB’s regional luncheons in Austin replace the long running statewide event TAB hosted until it was canceled by the 2023 ice storm. The pivot to regional events proved more popular with both lawmakers and broadcasters.

These meetings allow broadcasters to talk directly with their constituent lawmakers about priorities and concerns for the session as TAB prepares to protect the Anti-SLAPP law and address concerns regarding the Texas Public Information Act, franchise and data processing sales taxes, and the UIL playoff game coverage policies, among other matters.

REGISTER HERE – SCHEDULE BELOW:

• Wed., Jan. 22 – Austin
• Tue., Jan. 28 – Dallas-Fort Worth
• Tue., Feb. 4 – Houston
• Thur., Feb. 6 – South Texas (RGV, Laredo, Corpus Christi, Victoria, San Antonio)
• Tue., Feb. 11 – West Texas (Lubbock, Amarillo, Odessa-Midland, Abilene-San Angelo)
• Thur., Feb. 13 – Central Texas (Waco-Killeen-Temple, Bryan-College Station)
• Note:  The East Texas and El Paso events have already occurred.

Each event is scheduled for 11 AM to 2 PM, opening with a TAB policy briefing, followed by lunch and conversations with lawmakers all at the TAB building just a couple blocks from the Capitol.

Questions? Contact Oscar Rodriguez or call (512) 322-9944.

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