Legislative Blog
J.B. Williams, J.D.
Appropriations Bill Part 5
A Blog about 89th Legislative Session
A Bit of Background
The following backgrounds help summarize the author's views on both the general topic: Texas and more specifically 89th Legislative Session as it relates to that topic.
Brief Summary of Texas
Texas is truly a Republic. There are a multitude of items that to modify the state constitution must be modified. So there are times when Constitutional amendments are on the voting ballots. While I sometimes abhor the wording, the concept that all of those legally able to vote in Texas must vote on the change is a good one. And bills in Texas are generally short, making it easier for everyone to understand.
Summary of 89th Legislative Session
This subtopic contains a list of some of the "new" laws reviews. Total laws signed/voted into effect = 1,192. This will begin with an appropriations bill, and then go through a few that went into effect immediately. The following dates were when different laws took, or will take, effect: 7/1/25; 9/1/25; 9/5/25; 9/17/25; 10/1/25; 12/5/25; 1/1/26; 6/1/26; 8/1/26; 9/1/26; 1/1/27; 4/1/27; 9/1/27; 1/1/28
Blog Summary
SB 1 - Public Safety and Criminal Justice - Article V
Appropriations Bill Part 5
Published: 2026-08-30
SB 1 - 1055 pages in total
I'll list items I think of as of interest to breakdown some of the overall appropriations. I will try to include wages/salaries and employee benefits for each category where it exists. I think every company should provide to each employee at the end of the year the total amount of 'compensation' the company incurred for them. This would include their pay, health insurance, 401k/pension, social security, etc. For each one the first number will be for August 31, 2026 and the second number will be for August 31, 2027.
Alcoholic Beverage Commission
| Item | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue, including federal funds | $60,389,643 | $60,389,644 |
| Administrator, Group 7 salary | $230,000 | $230,000 |
| Enforcement | $32,012,005 | $32,012,005 |
| Licensing | $5,980,387 | $5,980,387 |
| Compliance and Tax Collection | $13,316,562 | $13,316,562 |
| Salaries and Wages | $48,254,258 | $48,254,258 |
| Employee benefits | $15,766,141 | $16,082,621 |
Department of Criminal Justice
| Item | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue, including federal funds | $4,936,113,132 | $4,816,512,494 |
| Executive Director, Group 10 salary | $319,813 | $319,813 |
| Presiding Officer Board of Pardons and Paroles, Group 7 | $220,000 | $220,000 |
| Parole Board Member, Group 5 (6) | $155,000 | $155,000 |
| Prison Diversion | $371,599,712 | $374,309,734 |
| Special Needs Offenders | $35,353,735 | $35,311,736 |
| Incarcerate Felons | $4,151,751,862 | $4,019,483,873 |
| Parole System | $215,118,807 | $225,766,335 |
| Debt Service (Bond) | $21,739,411 | $19,729,761 |
| Salaries and Wages | $2,355,146,285 | $2,363,839,490 |
| Employee benefits | $835,811,745 | $850,626,775 |
Commission on Fire Protection
| Item | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $4,448,731 | $3,428,730 |
| Executive Director, Group 5 salary | $154,000 | $154,000 |
| Education and Assistance | $730,000 | $85,000 |
| Fire Department Standards | $2,529,887 | $2,154,886 |
| Salaries and Wages | $2,898,438 | $2,898,437 |
| Employee benefits | $922,329 | $942,558 |
Commission on Jail Standards
| Item | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $2,319,867 | $2,069,867 |
| Executive Director, Group 3 salary | $143,323 | $143,323 |
| Effective Jail Standards | $1,884,849 | $1,634,849 |
| Salaries and Wages | $2,016,841 | $1,766,841 |
| Employee benefits | $492,762 | $500,702 |
Juvenile Justice Department
| Item | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue, including federal funds | $481,934,633 | $471,139,714 |
| Executive Director, Group 8 salary | $237,802 | $237,802 |
| Community Juvenile Justice | $264,856,857 | $263,104,008 |
| State Services and Facilities | $173,790,215 | $167,775,838 |
| Parole Services | $2,923,930 | $2,923,930 |
| Debt Service (Bond) | $3,746,816 | $3,517,261 |
| Salaries and Wages | $151,785,491 | $151,785,491 |
| Employee benefits | $56,169,074 | $57,246,228 |
Commission on Law Enforcement
| Item | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $20,643,648 | $18,810,311 |
| Executive Director, Group 4 salary | $163,428 | $163,428 |
| License and Develop Standards | $10,891,183 | $9,446,010 |
| Regulation | $7,959,885 | $7,580,055 |
| Salaries and Wages | $15,254,671 | $14,190,926 |
| Employee benefits | $2,987,613 | $3,019,250 |
Military Department
| Item | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue, including federal funds | $1,044,132,742 | $1,036,049,626 |
| Adjutant General, Group 7 salary | $240,000 | $240,000 |
| Operations Response | $912,897,600 | $906,671,749 |
| Operations Support | $102,327,146 | $101,399,502 |
| Community Support | $19,722,562 | $18,722,562 |
| Debt Service (Bond) | $1,428,221 | $1,157,223 |
| Salaries and Wages | $226,255,892 | $166,325,089 |
| Employee benefits | $41,501,187 | $41,958,544 |
Department of Public Safety
| Item | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue, including federal funds | $2,040,198,205 | $1,736,993,417 |
| Director, Group 10 salary | $365,250 | $365,250 |
| Protect Texas | $899,987,970 | $691,921,698 |
| Secure the Texas Border | $400,979,849 | $383,025,340 |
| Driver License Services | $313,412,890 | $311,704,587 |
| Debt Service (Bond) | $13,117,298 | $12,345,670 |
| Salaries and Wages | $1,263,536,854 | $1,214,721,562 |
| Employee benefits | $324,985,563 | $321,247,293 |
Retirement and Group Insurance
| Item | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue, including federal funds | $1,194,080,027 | $1,289,313,195 |
| Employees Retirement System | $1,194,080,027 | $1,289,313,195 |
| Debt Service (Bond) | $39,851,746 | $36,749,915 |
| Licensing | $5,980,387 | $5,980,387 |
| Compliance and Tax Collection | $13,316,562 | $13,316,562 |
| Salaries and Wages | $48,254,258 | $48,254,258 |
| Employee benefits | $15,766,141 | $16,082,621 |
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