Legislative Blog
J.B. Williams, J.D.
Supplemental Appropriations Part 3
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
HB 500 - Education, Judicial, Criminal Justice
Supplemental Appropriations Part 3
Published: 2026-05-29
Multiple short modifications
HB 500 - 114 pages
$1,149,607,286 (1.14 BILLION plus) for the Texas Education Agency. The Foundation School Program is allocated $30,924,285,550 (30 BILLION). $243,000,000 (243 Million) for using open educational resource instructional materials.
$35,300,000 (35 Million plus) for School for the Deaf for construction to expand capacity of the chilled water and heating water systems.
$1,394,000 (1.394 Million) for School for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
$124,754,143 (124 Million plus) for responding to natural disasters in the future, including mobilization of grand and aviation resources for wildfire suppression. This is all to Texas A&M Forest Service. $44,000,000 (44 Million) to volunteer fire department assistance account. $257,000,000 (257 Million) for purchasing, maintenance and operation of aircraft for wildfire suppression. $192,291,000 (192 Million plus) for backlog of volunteer fire department assistance. $59,800,000 (59 Million plus) for Bush Combat Development Center. $25,000,000 (25 Million) for funding capital improvements to the runway at Easterwood Airport.$71,000,000 (71 Million) for capital improvements to further pulsed power research.
$400,948,993 (40 Million plus) to address the backlog in eligible unmatched donations received thruogh the higher education coordinating board.
$135,000,000 (135 Million) for supporting regional emergency management operation facilities.
$89,500,000 (89.5 Million) funding higher than projected growth in fundable outcomes for public junior colleges.
$24,945,000 ($24.945 Million) funding construction for Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training Center.
$65,000,000 (65 Million) to Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso to support the development of phase II of a comprehensive oncology center partnership. $25,000,000 to support development of rural cancer collaborative. $120,000,000 for design, construction, and operation of advanced nuclear reactor.
$650,000,000 (650 Million) for higher education at Texas Universities.
$4,000,000 (4 Million) for behavioral health workforce alternative through West Texas A&M University.
$5,000,000 (5 Million) for University of Texas Medical at Galveston for creation of Aging and Technology Initiative.
$2,000,000 (2 Million) for Texas A&M to establish a Military Transition Program to support veterans transitioning to civilian workforce.
Judicial
$5,100,000 (5.1 Million) for Texas Indigent Defense.
$2,500,000 (2.5 Million) reconfigure the commission's existing office or obtain office space in a new leased facility.
Criminal Justice
$566,436,555 (566 Million plus) Department of Criminal Justice. $301,000,000 for dormitory expansion. $226,299,300 (226 Million) for construction and repair projects at department's facilities. $110,000,000 (110 Million) for purchase of Giles Dalby Correctional Facility in Post, Texas. $104,000,000 (104 Million) to Juvenile Justice Department for construction of 2 new facilities for 200 additional beds.
$2,000,000 (2 Million) to Juvenile Justice Department toward the new state facilities in Ellis and Brazoria counties. (previously the counties were not listed). $5,000,000 (5 Million) for life safety improvements and preventative maintenance upkeep. $13,300,000 (13.3 Million) for reimbursing counties for holding juveniles for a department that does not have adequate capacity.
$30,000,000 (30 Million) to Department of Criminal Justice for water and wastewater systems at the Memorial Unit.
$9,652,500 (9.6 Million plus) to Texas Military Department for critical roof replacement and facility operational support for five facilities. $75,000,000 (75 Million) for State of Texas Armory Revitalization program and deferred maintenance projects.
$300,000 for Department of Public Safety for deployment of additional security cameras. $20,000,000 (20 Million) for deferred maintenance and essential repairs.
$1,200,000 (1.2 Million) for replacing locks for the Department of Public Safety.
$30,000,000 (30 Million) for renovations at Hospital Galveston.
$675,000 for Juvenile Justice Department shortfall.
Reduced Texas Military Department by $159,000,000 (159 Million).
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