Governor Greg Abbott signed a supplemental appropriations bill Friday that will restore funding for the salaries and benefits of some 2,100 legislative staffers, which he had vetoed in June in retaliation for a Democrat walkout to block an election bill.
The funding was set to expire September 1, but the Legislative Budget Board stepped in using its interim budget authority to secure an extra month of funding until lawmakers could pass a formal appropriation restoring the vetoed funds.
The legislation, House Bill 5 as passed by lawmakers in August, will reinstate about $316 million to Article X of the 2022-23 state budget, which funds the legislative branch of government, including various legislative agencies like the Legislative Budget Board and Legislative Reference Library. It’s effective immediately.
Abbott cast the veto as punishment for Democrat lawmakers, but the veto did not actually impact them because legislators’ salaries are constitutionally protected.
HB 5 will also add dollars to the budget to tackle items related to the state’s foster care system, retired teachers and cybersecurity. About $90 million will go to the Department of Family and Protective Services to help combat a shortage of foster care placements. And the Teacher Retirement System of Texas is set to receive over $700 million for the biennium to help implement a one-time payment for retired teachers and other school staff.
