85Th Session Opens with Bleak Budget Picture

85^TH SESSION OPENS WITH BLEAK BUDGET PICTURE

 

Slow economic growth means Texas legislators will have less money to spend on the state’s needs.

That was the message delivered by state Comptroller Glenn Hegar on the eve of the opening day of the 85^th Legislative Session.

Hegar delivered what is known as the Biennial Revenue Estimate (BRE). The report comes every other year before the start of a new legislative session and tells legislators how much the state has in its coffers and expects to bring in for both the current and coming budget cycle. After a budget is adopted by legislators—likely at the end of this session in May—it will have to be certified by Hegar’s office as not exceeding their revenue projections.

According to Hegar, legislators will have $104.87 billion in state funds available for the 2018-19. That is about 2.7 percent less than they had to spend in the 2016-17 budget.

Hegar said several factors led to the reduction in available revenues. Those include falling oil prices, lower growth in sales tax revenue, and the decision of voters in 2015 to dedicate up to $5 billion in sales tax every two years to the state’s highway fund.

With state leaders showing no interest in tapping Texas’ estimated $11.9 billion Rainy Day Fund, Rep. Drew Darby—who is expected by many to be named as Chair of the House Appropriations Committee—said there are “obviously going to be cuts to the budget.”

 

SENATE & STATE COMMITTEES NAMED

 

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick named Senate committees for the 85^th Legislature last week.  With little change to the membership from last session, the make-up of the committees remained fairly stable with only one committee getting a new chair (Administration).

The two committees that deal with long term care issues are Finance and Health and Human Services.

Their composition for this session is:

Finance	Health & Human Services
Jane Nelson, Chair Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, Vice Chair Paul Bettencourt Brian Birdwell Kelly Hancock Joan Huffman Lois Kolkhorst Robert Nichols Charles Schwertner Kel Seliger Larry Taylor Carlos Uresti Kirk Watson Royce West John Whitmire	Charles Schwertner, Chair Carlos Uresti, Vice Chair Dawn Buckingham Konni Burton Lois Kolkhorst Borris Miles Charles Perry Van Taylor Kirk Watson

Texas House Speaker Joe Straus released his committee assignments. Most of our issues are affected by two committees – Appropriations and Human Services.  Rep. John Zerwas, who has long been active on health care issues, is the new chair of the Appropriations Committee. Rep. Richard Pena Raymond will continue to serve as Chair of the Human Services committee.

Full Roster for these committees:

Appropriations

Human Services

CHAIR: John Zerwas, R-Richmond VICE-CHAIR: Oscar Longoria, D-MissionTrent Ashby, R-Lufkin Greg Bonnen, R-Friendswood Giovannie Capriglione, R-Southlake Scott Cosper, R-Killeen Sarah Davis, R-West University Place Jay Dean, R-Longview Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin Helen Giddings, D-Dallas Larry Gonzales, R-Round Rock Mary Gonzalez, D-El Paso Donna Howard, D-Austin Linda Koop, R-Dallas Rick Miller, R-Sugar Lane Sergio Muñoz, Jr., D-Palmview Mary Ann Perez, D-Houston Dade Phelan, R-Port Neches John Raney, R-Bryan Kevin Roberts, R-Houston Justin Rodriguez, D-San Antonio Toni Rose, D-Dallas J.D. Sheffield, R-Gatesville Ron Simmons, R-Carrollton Gary Van Deaver, R-New Boston Armando Walle, D-Houston Gene Wu, D-Houston

CHAIR: Richard Peña Raymond, D-Laredo VICE-CHAIR:  James Frank, R-Wichita Falls Mark Keough, R-The Woodlands Stephanie Klick, R-Fort Worth Rick Miller, R-Sugar Land Ina Minjarez, D-San Antonio Toni Rose, D-Dallas Valoree Swanson, R-Spring Gene Wu, D-Houston