Legislative Blog
J.B. Williams, J.D.
Appropriations Bill Part 7
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 - Business & Economic Development - Article VII
Appropriations Bill Part 7
Published: 2026-09-05
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.
Department of Housing and Community Affairs
| Item | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue, including federal funds | $487,262,121 | $423,289,819 |
| Executive Director, Group 6 salary | $216,351 | $216,351 |
| Affordable Housing including Section 8 rental assistance | $161,539,955 | $147,563,853 |
| Information and Assistance with Housing Resources | $1,035,346 | $1,046,546 |
| Poor and Homeless Programs including energy assistance programs | $299,665,305 | $249,562,183 |
| Manufactured Housing | $7,383,394 | $7,384,054 |
| Salaries and Wages | $34,757,764 | $34,424,328 |
| Employee benefits | $10,218,032 | $10,384,961 |
Department of Motor Vehicles
| Item | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue, 80% plus from the Tx Department of Motor Vehicles Fund Acct. | $270,568,226 | $262,972,682 |
| Executive Director, Group 7 salary | $230,000 | $230,000 |
| Optimize Services and Systems - licensing | $128,777,986 | $119,536,206 |
| Protect the Public | $62,786,766 | $63,447,634 |
| Salaries and Wages | $62,652,082 | $63,003,083 |
| Employee benefits | $19,031,450 | $19,295,237 |
Department of Transportation
| Item | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue, including federal funds | $21,200,203,979 | $18,724,105,535 |
| Executive Director, Group 10 salary | $344,000 | $344,000 |
| Commissioner (5) | $16,805 | $16,805 |
| Project Development and Delivery | $15,832,679,968 | $14,191,693,301 |
| Routine System Maintenance, including ferry operations | $2,922,357,852 | $2,424,977,282 |
| Optimize Services and Systems, including aviation and gulf waterway | $410,471,552 | $419,831,429 |
| Enhance Rail Transportation | $18,916,634 | $8,982,311 |
| Develop Toll Subaccount Projects | $421,000,000 | $171,000,000 |
| Debt Services, all but $500,000 is bonds | $1,100,500,000 | $1,025,500,000 |
| Debt Services, GO Bond | $6,241,892 | $5,549,253 |
| Salaries and Wages | $1,040,683,455 | $1,040,683,455 |
| Employee benefits | $388,109,903 | $395,734,138 |
Texas Workforce Commission
| Item | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $2,987,280,796 | $3,082,805,641 |
| Executive Director, Group 7 salary | $234,520 | $234,520 |
| Commissioner (Chair), Group 6 | $201,000 | $201,000 |
| Commissioner, Group 5 (2) | $201,000 | $201,000 |
| Local Workforce Solutions | $2,100,302,654 | $2,162,670,762 |
| State Workforce Development | $841,661,732 | $874,669,487 |
| Salaries and Wages | $302,255,498 | $305,027,296 |
| Employee benefits | $112,014,360 | $114,238,954 |
Reimbursements to the Unemployment Compensation Benefit Account
| Item | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $15,103,947 | $15,131,700 |
| State's UC Reimbursement | $15,103,947 | $15,131,700 |
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