85TH 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 85th 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 85th 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