Senator Joan Huffman Receives Final Legislative Approval for the State’s Budget

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May 31, 2025 Austin.Arceneaux@senate.texas.gov
Senator Joan Huffman Receives Final Legislative Approval for
the State’s Budget
AUSTIN — Today, Senator Joan Huffman received final approval for Senate Bill 1, the state’s General
Appropriations Bill, following the recent passage of House Bill 500, the Supplemental Budget. Like House
Bill 500, Senate Bill 1 received unanimous support in the Senate and now awaits Governor Abbott’s signature
to become law.
“This budget reflects conservative principles of fiscal responsibility and prioritizing the needs of Texans,”
said Senator Huffman. “Through months of diligent work and principled negotiations, we have crafted a
balanced budget that adheres to our constitutional and statutory spending limits while addressing the
challenges of our growing state. Despite pressures from population growth and global economic
uncertainties, this budget ensures Texas remains the premier destination for families, businesses, and
opportunity, thanks to the Legislature’s steadfast commitment to fiscal discipline and the well-being of our
citizens.”
Senate Bill 1 Highlights:
• Includes the largest increase in funding for the Foundation School Program in Texas history to
support pay raises for our teachers and support staff, provide better support for our special education
students, and to enhance school safety.
• It allocates funding to support new property tax relief through additional M&O rate compression, to
raise the residential homestead exemption to $140,000 with an additional $60,000 exemption for those
over 65 and disabled, and provide a $125,000 exemption from the business personal property tax.
• SB 1 prioritizes keeping Texas communities safe through several public safety initiatives such as hiring
additional DPS Troopers, bolstering law enforcement funds for rural communities, improving
initiatives to retain and recruit Department of Criminal Justice correctional and parole officer
positions, and equipping cities and counties to combat organized crime.
• This budget makes targeted investments toward our most vulnerable populations by raising the base
wage for attendants who serve individuals with disabilities in the community, additional funding to
operate newly constructed or expanded inpatient mental health facilities to reduce burdens on local
jails, and doubles the number of new Youth Crisis Outreach Teams to increase access to crisis mental
health services for youth.
• SB 1 provides the second tranche of funding for the Texas Energy Fund to ensure long-term reliability
and resilience of the state’s electrical grid; allocates funding for specific projects across the state to
address water infrastructure, flood, wastewater, and supply needs; and addresses our state’s
transportation needs for highway project development, construction, and maintenance.
(Senator Joan Huffman represents District 17, which is comprised of Colorado, Jackson, Matagorda, and Wharton Counties
and portions of Brazoria, Ft. Bend, Harris, and Waller Counties. Huffman currently serves as Chair of the Senate
Committee on Finance and as a senior member of the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice and the Legislative Budget
Board.)