March 31 – April 4
This week, both the House and Senate passed their respective budget proposals, moving them into the “conference” phase where lawmakers will negotiate a final version. In addition to the budget discussions, hearings were held on proposed revenue plans.
Governor Ferguson weighed in on the budget and revenue proposals during a press conference on Tuesday, outlining his conditions for approving a budget that addresses the state’s growing shortfall:
- No reliance on the Financial Intangibles Assets Tax (Wealth Tax): The Governor emphasized that he does not support using this tax, which would generate $2 to $4 billion annually starting in fiscal year 2027. However, he expressed openness to a small-scale proposal (no more than $100 million per year) to test its legal viability.
- No tapping of the Rainy Day Fund/Budget Stabilization Account: The Senate budget proposes using this fund in the first year of the biennium, but the Governor is opposed to this approach.
- No assumption of 4.5% revenue growth: Although allowed under the four-year balanced budget outlook law, the Governor does not want to assume this level of growth. He insists that revenue projections should align with the Economic & Revenue Forecast Council’s estimates, rather than the House’s assumption of 4.5% growth.
- Less reliance on tax increases: The Governor advocates for fewer tax hikes as a solution to balancing the budget.
As negotiations continue, lawmakers will work toward finalizing both the budget and revenue solutions by April 27th, the last day of the regular session. Stay tuned for updates as the process unfolds.
Meanwhile, the cutoff for policy committees to advance bills was on April 2nd and the deadline for bills to be voted out of fiscal committees is April 8th. Fiscal committees are meeting over the weekend to work through bills, including priority bills for Partners for Our Children:
- SHB 1177: Scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Ways and Means Committee on April 4th and scheduled for executive session in committee on April 8th. This bill makes improvements to the Child Welfare Housing Assistance Program, which addresses housing instability when it is a barrier for families to reunite or stay together. The House budget includes $500,000 to implement the bill, specifically to address a waitlist for families eligible for housing.
- SHB 1509: Scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Ways and Means Committee on April 5th and scheduled for executive session in committee on April 8th. This bill continues an existing community-based model to deliver prevention services to families experiencing conflict. The House budget includes $600,000 to implement the bill.
Weekly bill tracker
The P4C tracker highlights bills related to our priorities, particularly in child welfare. Please note that the inclusion of bills in the tracker does not reflect P4C’s position for or against the bill.
Other ways to stay informed
- The legislative website provides comprehensive information on bills, committee schedules, and contact information for legislators.
- TVW offers live and archived coverage of legislative committees and other events.