After 17 hours of floor debate and hundreds of amendments considered, the Texas House of Representatives on April 1 passed House Bill 1, a state budget for fiscal years 2016 and 2017 that appropriates $209.8 billion.
The vote was 141 in favor to 5 against, with nay votes cast by Reps. David Simpson, R-Longview; Matt Schaefer, R-Tyler; freshman Matt Rinaldi, R-Irving; freshman Tony Tinderholt, R-Arlington; and freshman Molly White, R-Belton.
The House version of the state budget, a 3.8 percent increase over the current 2014-2015 state budget, draws no funds from the Economic Stabilization (“rainy day”) Fund. Senate concurrence with the HB 1 is necessary for the state budget to be finally adopted. SB 2, the Senate version of 2016-2017 state budget, has been pending in the Senate Finance Committee since March 25.
