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Lawmakers say House police funding measure and budget options leave $100 million concept alive but uncertain
Summary
Reporters asked whether a previously proposed $100 million police funding concept would survive cutoff; lawmakers said the House passed Representative Entenmann’s bill (House Bill 2015) with similar authority and that funding could be advanced through the budget or other proposals, with attention to sustainability for local governments.
Reporters pressed lawmakers about whether a $100,000,000 police funding proposal associated with Rep. Jeff Holy would remain part of state action. Senator Petersen said the House passed Representative Entenmann’s proposal (referred to in the availability as 'House Bill 2015'), which contains a similar concept, and that lawmakers did not feel the need to move a duplicate Senate bill while the House version exists.
"I think one of the additive great things about the Entenmann bill is that it actually authorizes local governments, it provides taxing authority for them to fund public safety ... so beyond just law enforcement officers ... other counties might want law enforcement officers and certain kinds of behavioral health teams to be able to fund those," Jenkins said, characterizing the House bill as providing flexibility for local options.
Lawmakers cautioned there is no certainty on final dollar amounts. Jenkins said the revenue forecast and the revenue plan the legislature adopts will affect spending priorities and added that budget decisions are subject to multiple procedural steps. Petersen and others emphasized concern about sustainability, asking how cities and counties would pay ongoing salaries in subsequent years and pointing to state efforts to build workforce capacity, including a new training facility in Arlington to address officer shortages.
The press availability did not record a formal vote or a final funding decision. Lawmakers indicated the idea could be revived during the budget process or carried forward in other bills, and urged observers to await the revenue forecast and budget releases for concrete dollar decisions.
