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Senate concurs with House changes to budget resolution adding TSTC cap and HEIF limit
Summary
The Texas Senate moved to concur with House amendments to Senate Joint Resolution 59, adopting language that caps TSTC capital appropriations between the endowment and the Higher Education Innovation Fund and restores a 2.2% HEIF allocation cap, with inflation adjustments beginning in fiscal 2027.
Senator Burwell moved that the Senate concur with House amendments to Senate Joint Resolution 59, saying the changes reflect an agreement reached by budget conferees and align the resolution with that agreement.
The amendment adds a cap on Texas State Technical College's capital appropriation split between the endowment and the Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF), restores a 2.2% cap on HEIF allocations, and specifies that inflation adjustments begin in fiscal 2027. Senator Burwell said, "These amendments reflect an agreement that was made between the budget conferees." Representative Lambert was thanked for his work on the changes.
Why it matters: The motion implements conferees' negotiated language for a constitutional ballot measure and clarifies how capital and HEIF funds would be allocated if the resolution advances. The change affects the size and allocation rules for higher education capital funding and HEIF distributions statewide.
The Senate adopted the motion to concur. The roll call recorded 29 ayes and 2 nays; the motion was declared adopted on the Senate floor. No amendments were described as altering the substance further during the floor action.
Background and next steps: The House amendments reflect conferees' budget negotiations; concurring means the Senate accepts the House's wording rather than sending the item back to conference. The resolution would proceed according to the constitutional and statutory steps required for a joint resolution affecting fiscal matters.
