HJR 5 – Permanent fund for technical college

HJR 5 proposes a constitutional amendment to permanently carve out a new funding stream for the Texas State Technical College System by creating two special funds supported by an initial $850 million taken from taxpayers. While the bill aims to provide financial stability for technical college infrastructure, it effectively shields this funding from future legislative oversight and separates it from standard budget processes. This permanent and constitutionally protected carveout sets a dangerous precedent by bypassing the usual appropriations process and dedicating a massive chunk of taxpayer money outside the General Revenue fund. Once approved by voters, this fund would be locked in, limiting flexibility for future legislatures to reprioritize funding as needs change. For fiscal conservatives, this represents a step away from transparent budgeting, fuels government growth, and removes taxpayer accountability from education spending.