Today kicks-off the 84th session of the Texas Legislature. They will once again tackle recurring broad issues of transportation, education, health and human services, taxes, and local control.
Unusual agenda?
No, but this session has new players at the helm: a new governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, comptroller, land commissioner, agriculture commissioner and many freshman members of the Texas House and Senate.
The big elephant in the room of course is the drop in oil prices and the effect it has on forecasting revenue to support the state budget; particularly the impact on the gas-tax allocations and the state’s rainy day fund. Increased caseloads in health and human services require an additional $3.5B, the states’ retirement fund needs an additional $1.8B to be properly funded, and campaign promises to lower taxes must be fulfilled – all issues that the North Texas Commission will be advocating for on behalf of our members. Fasten your seatbelts everyone…
To download a copy of the North Texas Commission’s 2015 Legislative Agenda, please CLICK HERE.