Capital Highlights
Senate passes version of 2008-09 state budget
Ed Sterling Texas Press Association

A USTIN - Both houses of the 80th Texas Legislature have fulfilled

their main constitutional

duty: to produce a budget for the 2008-2009 biennium.

The Texas House passed House Bill 1 by Reps. Warren Chisum, RPampa, and Ryan Guillen, D-San Diego, its $151 billion state budget, on March 30. The Senate completed its $153 billion version, SB 1 authored by Steve Ogden, RCollege Station, on April 12.

When adjusted for inflation, these budgets - the largest in state history - represent about an eight percent increase over the state's 2006-2007 budget.

Under the Senate version, the Children's Health Insurance Program would get an 80 percent increase, moving total funding for the program to $1.8 billion for the biennium.

Ogden said this amount plus additional appropriations for state Medicaid will ensure that every eligible child in Texas will receive health coverage.

Now the two versions go to a conference committee of five senators and five House members who must reconcile the differences. Once reconciled, HB 1 and SB 1 return to their respective chambers for final passage. The deadline is May 28, the last day of the session.

House passes utility legislation

The House on April 13 passed legislation supporters say will increase competition and lower electric rates. But opponents say the bill doesn't fix ongoing problems or necessarily help consumers in the long run.

Rep. Phil King, R-Weather-ford, serves as chair of House Regulated Industries, the committee that molded the legislation. King said SB 482 will give power companies the incentive to reduce rates and will switch to a lower-cost rate plan for those customers who are paying the highest rates in the state.

King also said that during hot summer months the bill would prevent power companies from cutting off electricity to customers who have not paid their utility bill.

O p p o n e n t s , however, pointed to high electricity rates related to spikes in natural gas prices after h u r r i c a n e s Katrina and Rita and alleged market abuses by TXU.

O p p o n e n t s also said the proposed acquisition of TXU by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and Texas Pacific Group could be a way to remedy these past concerns, but the legislation might put the transaction at risk and leave Texas "stuck" with TXU.

Now the legislation returns to the Senate where members must vote on whether to concur with the 27 floor amendments House members made to the bill. Any differences would have to be worked out in a conference committee. Marital course bill passes House

The House passed legislation authored by Rep. Chisum to nudge couples toward taking a course on marriage before they officially tie the knot. If a couple passes the 8- hour course, the marriage license would cost them nothing.

But Chisum's House Bill 2685 gives couples an option: take the course or just pay $60 for a marriage license. Presently, the cost is $30.

The bill authorizes marriage educators, clergy or their designees, licensed mental health professionals, faith-based organizations, and community-based organizations to provide courses.

If the Senate approves the bill, it will become law Sept. 1.

Janek bill requires steroid test

More than 700,000 students who participate in athletics at Texas public schools would be subject to random steroid testing under legislation approved by the Texas Senate on April 10.

SB 8 by Sen. Kyle Janek, RHouston, if also approved by the House, would go into effect Sept. 1. Texas primary date shift in works

The House on April 13 approved a proposal to move the state election primaries from the first Tuesday in March to the first Tuesday in February.

HB 2017 by Rep. Helen Giddings, D-Dallas, also would shift the candidate filing period two months earlier, from December to October.

Talk focuses on security data

At an April 13 committee hearing, lawmakers talked about moving the control of the governor's homeland security database to the Texas Department of Public Safety. The governor's homeland security office is tasked with gathering information on a wide range of activities in Texas. The database resides in Kentucky, the Texas Observer reported.

Ed Sterling is director of member services for the Texas Press Association in Austin.