THE TEXAS TRIBUNE
passed by the Texas Legislature this year went into effect Friday, impacting everything from health care and education to public safety.
September 1 is the traditional start day for laws passed during a regular legislative session, though some can have their effective date delayed in order to be fully implemented, and bills passed by a two-thirds margin can go into effect immediately.
You can see the complete list at this link: https://capitol.texas. gov/reports/Report.aspx? LegSess=88R&ID=effectiv esept1.
And here’s a look at one of the big ones: a $321.3 billion budget. The General Appropriations Act, House Bill 1, directs the spending of state and federal tax dollars for the next two years, including $144 billion in state general revenue taxes. It spends more than half of a historic $32.7 billion surplus that was available to lawmakers this cycle, and it leaves more than $12 billion unspent in Texas coffers. It fills the state’s emergency and highway funds and makes payments toward stabilizing the state’s retirement investment fund. It includes pay raises for employees of state agencies and for retired teachers.
Voters will be asked to approve several measures, including $12 billion in property tax cuts and a $1.5 billion effort to expand broadband internet access.
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