SB 1 – General Appropriations Act

CSSB 1 represents a dramatic and fiscally irresponsible expansion of the Texas state budget that should be rejected by conservatives. State fund appropriations increase by roughly 8% from the last biennium and a staggering 42.8% since 2022–23—far above the benchmark of population growth plus inflation. Even with a historic $24 billion surplus, only $6 billion is allocated for property tax relief, leaving most of the surplus to grow government instead of reducing the tax burden.

The budget increases spending across nearly every category without enacting structural reforms or addressing inefficiencies. Education spending soars without delivering truly universal school choice or accountability, while billions are funneled into corporate welfare schemes like film subsidies and energy handouts. This spending locks in new baselines, making future reductions more difficult and setting taxpayers up for long-term liabilities. SB 1 reflects more centralized economic planning over free-market principles and does little to eliminate burdensome school property taxes. The budget fails to align with conservative goals of limited government and fiscal discipline. TFR opposes SB 1 and demands a smaller, leaner, more taxpayer-focused state government.