SB 30, Supplemental Appropriations Bill for the 2022-23 Budget: Items of Interest to Counties

SB 30 – Conference Committee Report: Funding of Interest to Counties SB 30 – Conference Committee Report: Behavioral/Mental Health Funding Schedule of Interest to Counties (last updated: 8/15/2023) SB 30 – Legislative Budget Board Infographics Conference Committee Report for Senate Bill 30 – Highlights (May 2023) House Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 30 - Highlights (March 2023) Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 30 - Highlights (March 2023) Senate Bill 30 – Highlights (March 2023)

State Budget

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2024-25 Biennium

Budget Writers Make Limited Progress; Funding Important to Counties Reported (May 2023)
Conference Committee Meets to Discuss 2024-25 Budget (April 2023)
Senate Finance Committee Passes Supplemental Budget Bill – Here are some of the highlights for counties in the Senate's version of the supplemental appropriations bill for the 2022-23 biennium (March 2023)
Legislative Budget Board Posts Initial Decision Documents for House, Senate – Here are some specific agency requests of interest to counties (March 2023)
Senate Finance Committee Announces Workgroups, House Appropriations Subcommittees Begin Meeting (February 2023)
State Budget Bills: County Highlights (January 2023)
Baseline Budget Bills Released (January 2023)
Comptroller Releases Record Revenue Estimate (January 2023)
The 2024-25 State Budget – Budget writers working on first drafts (County Magazine Winter 2023)
Patrick Lists 2023 Legislative Priorities – Lt. Governor's top issue include funds for county law enforcement, a new state hospital in the Panhandle and additional mental health beds in rural Texas (December 2022)
Lawmakers Adopt Growth Rate for Texas Budget Spending Limits (December 2022)
A Look at Some 2024-25 State Agency Funding Requests Important to Counties (October 2022)
Joint Budget Hearings for 2024-25 Legislative Appropriations Requests Begin (Aug-Sept. 2022)
Comptroller Projects $27 Billion Surplus (July 2022)
The 2024-25 budget cycle – what counties can expect (County Magazine Summer 2022)

Budget Surplus

The 2024-25 Biennial Revenue Estimate of $188.23 billion available for general purpose spending represents the largest revenue projection in state history, providing the 88th Legislature with a generational opportunity for one-time investments.

A key takeaway from the estimate is the $32.7 billion surplus Comptroller Hegar projects for the end of the current two-year budget, as of Aug. 31, 2023. To put that number in perspective – the estimated 2023 surplus is larger than the General Fund Fiscal 2023 enacted annual budgets of 41 states, according to a 2022 survey conducted by the National Association of State Budget Officers.

The surplus is far higher than any in history mainly due to record year-over-year growth in state tax receipts. According to the Comptroller’s Office, fiscal year 2022 state tax receipts represent a 25.6% increase over fiscal year 2021 – nearly double the prior record of 13.4% annual growth in 2011. The state sales tax – which accounts for more than 50% of state tax receipts – grew by 19.3% due to inflation, and severance taxes on oil production and natural gas grew by 84.4% and 185%, respectively. Other, lesser factors contributing to the record surplus—$3.8 billion in cost savings by funding eligible payroll expenses out of federal COVID19 relief instead of General Revenue funds, and $4.3 billion in lower costs for state aid to schools due to rising property values.

For more on this historic surplus see this graphic from Texas Comptroller Glen Hegar.