The second week of the legislative session was quiet with the House and Senate adjourned through Tuesday afternoon, January 26th. However, Senator Jane Nelson and Speaker Dade Phelan both began the process of developing the 2022-2023 budget by releasing base budgets Thursday morning.
Senator Nelson filed SB 1. The Senate version appropriates $251.2 billion in All Funds and $119.7 billion in General Revenue and includes the 5% reduction in spending state agencies were directed to make for the current fiscal year. A summary of the Senate base budget can be found here. The yet to be filed HB 1 also appropriates $119.7 billion in General Revenue. Speaker Phelan issued a statement regarding the House’s base budget. He noted the base budget does not contemplate use of the Economic Stabilization Fund. The house bill will not be filed until an Appropriations chairman is appointed. House committee assignments may be announced soon as committee preference cards were due to Speaker Phelan Friday, January 22nd. A summary of the House base budget can be found here.
Both leaders highlighted provisions related to mental health, public school finance, and the Teacher Retirement System among many others. Comptroller Glenn Hegar previously announced the state’s general revenue for the 2022-2023 biennium is estimated to be approximately $112.5 billion, or about $7 billion less than the House and Senate are proposing in their base budgets.