Other General Legislation

Other legislation that passed includes:

State budget: Lawmakers approved a $117.4 billion proposal that cuts many services, but not as deeply as once predicted, largely because of unexpected federal money.

Public education: Despite promises to kill the system known by critics as Robin Hood, lawmakers agreed to study the cost of education and return for a special session, perhaps this fall. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst’s plan to cut property tax rates and increase sales tax revenues was killed by the House.

Higher education: Universities will be allowed, starting with spring semester, to decide how much to charge for tuition.

Social services: Texas’ health and human services departments will be consolidated into three agencies under a new commission to save money. Eligibility requirements will be changed for health insurance for children and pregnant women.

Insurance: Insurers who write homeowners policies will be required to file their rates with state regulators, who will have the power to decide whether consumers are being overcharged. Lawmakers also gave their blessing to the controversial use of credit information to set rates. But insurers will not be able use credit information as the sole criterion.

Ethics: A bill passed that stiffens identification requirements for campaign contributors, requires disclosure of legal referral fees for lawyer-legislators and requires public officers to report their cash on hand.