DALLAS - A Texas House and Senate conference committee will reconcile about $1.6 billion of differences in two versions of the state budget after the Senate passed a $211 billion spending plan on April 14.
The Senate version of the budget remains more than a billion dollars below the constitutional spending cap and represents growth over the last budget of 3.5%.
Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound and chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said the Senate budget increases funding for transportation, mental and women's health programs and border security.
"This is a budget that will keep our state strong, prosperous and compassionate," Nelson said.
The budget is the first passed under the leadership of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, presiding officer of the state Senate. Patrick defeated former Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst in a bruising primary runoff in 2014. The two often had contentious battles in the Senate.
"Texans have declared they want leadership that keeps this state the beacon of economic prosperity and freedom," Patrick said in a written statement after passage of the budget. "The Senate has been working day and night to deliver on Texans priorities because it is what Texans deserve.
"This comprehensive budget addresses the priorities and needs of Texans," he added. "It includes business and property tax relief, strong border security, quality public education, prioritized transportation funding and more."
The Senate version provides $811M to hire more Department of Public Safety troopers for border security. The bill continues funding for the Texas National Guard on the border until the DPS ranks can be expanded.
The Senate bill also provides a $4.9 billion increase in transportation funding, while adding $1.5 billion to public school funding, Patrick noted. The House budget puts $2.2 billion on top of what would be needed to fund enrollment growth in public schools, plus an additional $800 million if school finance reform legislation passes.
The House earlier this month approved a $209.8 billion budget after 18 hours of debate and more than 300 amendments.
Five senators and five representatives will be appointed to a conference committee to work out the differences between the two chambers. The two budgets are $1.6 billion apart, less than 1%, but a point of contention will be the way to deliver tax relief.
Gov. Greg Abbott has said he will reject any budget that lacks tax cuts. The Senate passed a plan to grant $4.4 billion in property and franchise tax cuts. The House also approved a plan to cut the franchise tax, but would cut sales taxes rather than property taxes. The House and Senate conferees must find a compromise between the two approaches before they can present a final budget to their respective chambers before the session draws to a close on June 1.
