Texas conference committee convenes to finalize Senate Bill 1 General Appropriations Bill

The conference committee on Senate Bill 1 convened on April 24, 2025, to address the differences between the Senate and House versions of the General Appropriations Bill. The meeting began with the roll call, confirming a quorum with all members present, including Senators Huffman, Creighton, Kolkhorst, and others, alongside House Representatives Bonin, Gonzales, and Orr.

Chairman Bonin opened the session by emphasizing the critical nature of adopting a budget, stating it is the most important task for the legislature. He expressed gratitude to the Lieutenant Governor for his support and outlined the committee's goal to craft a final budget that adheres to constitutional and statutory spending limits while addressing the needs of Texas's growing population.

The committee members were assigned specific articles to work on: Senators Schwartner, Kolkhorst, Creighton, and Nichols were designated for articles 1 through 8, while House members, including Vice Chair Gonzales and Representatives Orr, Wally, and Kitzman, were similarly assigned.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to begin resolving the differences between the two legislative chambers immediately, with members expressing optimism about the collaborative process ahead. The committee plans to continue its work in the coming weeks to finalize the budget.