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TWC briefed on 89th Legislature outcomes: SB1 funding, childcare allocations, apprenticeship and workforce program bills
Summary
Texas Workforce Commission staff summarized legislative outcomes from the 89th Legislature, including SB1 appropriations for the agency, funding for childcare, apprenticeship, veterans programs, and bills affecting workforce data and program authorities.
Agency governmental-relations staff briefed the Texas Workforce Commission on the results of the 89th Texas Legislature and the agency—s appropriations and policy outcomes. Michael Britt, in governmental relations, provided the overview and thanked staff who served as resource witnesses during the session.
Britt reported that Senate Bill 1 (the general appropriations act) appropriated roughly $2.98 billion for fiscal 2026 and $3.08 billion for fiscal 2027 in all funds to the agency, and that most of the agency's exceptional-item requests were approved. Notable items included additional general revenue for vocational rehabilitation matching, $10 million for the chapter 133 apprenticeship program (a slight reduction from the agency request), funding for Texas veterans leadership and network programs, additional funding for the Older Individuals Who Are Blind program, and funding for the civil rights division.
Britt also noted SB1 included $100 million in general revenue for the childcare program and funding for senior independence, EMS staffing, industry-recognized apprenticeships for broadband, and enhanced workforce data system implementation required by SB 1786. House Bill 500 (supplemental appropriations) adopted most capital budget requests and provided $68 million to the unemployment insurance trust fund and $30.8 million to fully match the VR program for the current fiscal year.
On legislative proposals, Britt said the legislature passed six of TWC's 13 agency proposals, including HB 2788 and SB 765 (confidentiality of fraud detection information), HB 3698 (RESEA), HB 3699 (modifying the definition of last work — awaiting the governor), HB 3220/related JET and apprenticeship bills, and HB 3700 establishing fraud, waste and abuse detection and prevention for TWC programs. Several bills affecting childcare, workforce data, JET program eligible grantees, skills development eligibility, advanced nuclear workforce development, and rural workforce programming were also discussed. Britt noted many bills are effective Sept. 1 and a few were already signed earlier in the session.
Commissioners thanked the legislative team and resource witnesses for extensive work producing impact and cost analyses and participating as resource witnesses; staff noted they tracked roughly 1,100 bills and prepared over 2,000 impact and cost analyses during the session.
Britt also recognized staff who covered committee hearings and resource testimony and noted that staff will continue to monitor federal developments affecting Department of Labor matters and workforce grant funding. The commission acknowledged the workload and the importance of continued coordination with the legislature and partner state agencies.
